Utköp eller försoning?

Under veckan har flera kyrkliga (och andra) tidningar skrivit om konflikten i Härnösands stift. Kyrkans tidning beskriver i nummer 39/2020 i en rubrik att

Härnösands stiftsstyrelse vill säga upp biskopen

På Svt’s webbplats beskrivs det i något skarpare ordalag:

Konflikt i stiftsledningen – styrelsen vill avsätta biskopen

Det är otvetydigt så att det råder en konflikt. Vilket i sig inte är vare sig ovanligt eller märkligt. Det som skapar rubriker är att det handlar om en biskop. Det är ovanligt. Senast en biskop i Svenska kyrkan fick sluta var 2010, när dåvarande biskopen i Växjö stift, Sven Thidevall, Växjö stift och Svenska kyrkan på nationell nivå, ingick en uppgörelse som innebar att biskopen fick arbeta som forskare med bibehållen lön och titel. Biskop är han fortfarande, även efter sin pension.

När detta skedde var jag präst i Växjö stift. Jag minns att jag var illa berörd över att det inte gick att lösa på annat sätt. Redan då tänkte jag på att det hade varit på sin plats att be om hjälp från sina vänstift. Jag tror inte det skedde men jag kan missta mig på den punkten.

Biskopsvigning
i ELCSA 12
februari 2017 

Nu väcks samma tanke i mig. Härnösands stift har flera vänstift i den världsvida kyrkan. Ett sådant är Cape Orange stiftet i Sydafrika, del av Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA). Det är en avsevärt mindre kyrka än Svenska kyrkan med betydligt sämre ekonomi. Jag har arbetat 7,5 år i ELCSA och vet att de inte är världsbäst på att lösa konflikter. Men det är inte poängen. De är kristna trossyskon och de skulle kunna bidra in i situationen i Härnösands stift.

I Sydafrika finns erfarenhet av försoningsprocesser. Den försoningskommission som den anglikanske ärkebiskopen emeritus, Desmond Mpilo Tutu, ledde är vida känd. Den är också kritiserad för att inte ha nått tillräckligt långt. Det går absolut att säga mycket om den. Men den var ändå ett försök att lösa konflikterna. Det fanns en möjlighet att be om förlåtelse och få amnesti. Den innebar en möjlighet till upprättelse, även om just denna del av många beskrivits som otillräcklig.

Ett annat initiativ i Sydafrika är Insitute for Healing of Memories. Deras grundare, Michael Lapsley, har varit i Sverige förut. Till och med i Härnösands stift. Han har bland annat anlitats i försoningsprocessen mellan Svenska kyrkan och samerna. Om detta skriver exempelvis Allehand.se år 2008.

Men det är klart att den konflikt vi nu talar om är akut. Är det inte naivt att tro, att det går att dra igång en försoningsprocess nu? Precis tvärtom, tror jag. Det är nu den måste börja. I ovan nämnda av Kyrkans tidning läser jag också om Caroline Edlunds doktorsavhandling. Rubriken är:

”Familjerådgivning” – för kyrkan

Det finns sådana rådgivningar runt om i landet. Dit går familjer när de är mitt i krisen. Min förhoppning är att Härnösands stift och den del av Svenska kyrkan på nationell nivå som säkert är inkopplad i krisen just nu, ska minnas att vi har vänner i den världsvida kyrkan som säkert är villiga att bistå.

The Past and the History

Every group of people has a past. A family, a village, a nation. The past consists of all that has happened, being said, written or built. No one can summarise the past. The past is everything. The past is incalculable.

When we look into the past we create history. This means that we select certain events or artefacts. We focus on specific casual links between those events. And we describe these chains of events with certain concepts.

Was F W de Klerk the President of South Africa or the Deputy President of South Africa? Or both? This is a question that South Africans answer differently today. On the website of F W de Klerk Foundation one can read that he is “the former President”.

In the State of Nation Address, however, South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, addressed him as “former Deputy President”. History is written differently. The truth is that F W de Klerk was State President in the apartheid era. When South Africa became a democracy in 1994 he was Deputy President.

Why is this important? Because de Klerk's presence in the parliament at the SONA this year was heavily questioned by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thandi Modise, did not entertain their complaint. The EFF wanted de Klerk to leave but his presence in the chamber was defended. Not because he claims that he once was the President but because he once was one of two deputy Presidents of South Africa.

I agree with what Michael Lapsley wrote on his Facebook wall the day after the SONA:

I consider the anti-democratic behaviour of the EFF at SONA totally unacceptable and actually reprehensible.Nevertheless I have to admit that emotionally part of me was pleased to hear FW called out.

To understand why Michael Lapsley writes this, one has to know that this Anglican priest lost both his hands and one eye when he opened a letter bomb in his home in Harare in 1990. The bomb was placed in the letter by the apartheid regime and at the time F W de Klerk was the State President. In his autobiography: Redeeming the Past. My Journey from Freedom Fighter to Healer (Orbis Books, Maryknoll 2012), Michael Lapsley writes:

So I hold de Klerk politically and morally responsible for my bombing. He may not have personally ordered it. He may not even have known about it, though it’s possible that he did. But he certainly knew about and did nothing to dismantle the machinery of state that carried it out. Despite this, I have yet to hear one word of remorse or acknowledgement of personal responsibility from F. W. de Klerk, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, about the evisl perpetrated by the apartheid state that he headed. Instead, his attitude is, “I saw nothing, I knew nothing, and I did nothing” (page139).

What really ignited the fire this time was that F W de Klerk Foundation had issued a statement saying that

… we cannot, from a legal point of view, accept that apartheid can in this manner be made a crime against humanity. 

I cannot understand why they had to come out with this statement right now. But it really shows that South Africa needs a continuing reconciliation process. Michael Lapsley also acknowledges this:

As an Institute for Healing of Memories we believe it is time for a new national conversation. [A]bout our pain and trauma that is so close to the surface and which needs to be healed if we are to attain peace with ourselves and create a kind, compassionate and just Society.

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) also issued a statement in response to the F W de Klerk Foundation. Amongst other things they said:

The statement issued by the De Klerk Foundation yesterday on February 14 - the Day of Celebrating Love, amplifying Mr De Klerk’s position that apartheid was not a crime against humanity, but a Soviet propaganda ploy, cannot go unchallenged by the South African Council of Churches. Apartheid was not only a crime, it was more than that, it was a gross sin against the image of God in the humanity of Black South Africans, generally called non-whites, who were legally treated as sub-human, and without the basic rights due to normal human beings.

So, one has to understand the dynamics behind the protests of the EFF. Still, I agree with the Speaker that F W de Klerk should remain in the room. One cannot remove him from the past. In my understanding the EFF tries to rewrite history.

The SONA itself dealt with the failure of Eskom to supply South Africa with electricity, the weak public finances and the problems with state-owned enterprises. Important issues and I really hope the present Government will be able to improve the lives of South Africans.

Ramaphosa also welcomed three distinguished persons the evening of the SONA:

Tonight, we are joined by Zozibini Tunzi, whose ascendance to the Miss Universe title is a reminder of our potential to achieve greatness against the odds. 

We also welcome Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who led a group of determined and united South Africans to become the 2019 World Rugby Champions. 

We are joined this evening by another remarkable young person, Miss Sinoyolo Qumba, a Grade 11 learner from Lenasia South, who spent much of yesterday helping me to write this State of the Nation Address.

Just to end this blog post I realised that I really appreciate the title of Michael Lapsleys autobiography. 

Redeeming the Past.

Not the History, but the Past. Food for thoughts.

The SACC calls for National Indaba on Xenophobia

Fr Michael is the Deputy President of the SACC

I would like to share what Fr Michael Lapsley just posted on Facebook. It is good that the South African Council of Churches (SACC) also reacts. After the text I will only make one comment about a sentence that can be contested.

April 13, 2015

Not in our name!
Stop attacking black non-South Africans!
Attacking fellow Africans is attacking our national values!
The South African Council of Churches is alarmed and dismayed at the growing instances of intolerance and violence that have broken out all over the country but most recently in KwaZulu Natal. These outbreaks signal a serious breakdown of the core African values that have hitherto made us an admirable and stable society at peace with itself. We appeal to all citizens of the Republic of South Africa to stop these unacceptable xenophobic attacks on fellow Africans.
We urgently call for an organized national dialogue on the “status” of foreign nationals, and our national “attitude” towards their presence in South Africa. These African nationals we are shamelessly persecuting, ransacking and killing today come from countries who sacrificed their national securities and economic development to give the liberation movement rear-guard bases to fight and eventually topple the Apartheid regime. Our future socio-economic development hinges on our ability to relate to other African nations in a manner that fosters unity of purpose and human dignity.
This unbridled violence directed at foreign nationals, which has also tragically culminated in the loss of lives, is an unspeakable tragedy. It reflects poorly on our African ethos and Christian values.
The South African Council of Churches calls for a National Indaba on the plight of foreign nationals in order to reach a consensus on a lasting solution that will preserve values that make South Africa a proud member of the community of nations. In another similar initiative, the Fellowship of Christian Councils of Southern Africa (FOCCISA) of which the SACC is a member, will, between May and June 2015, convene a special SADC meeting of Councils of Churches, to address the challenge of xenophobia in Southern Africa.
The SACC is employing its Anti-Xenophobia Action to promote interventions in the hotspots of Kwa-Zulu Natal. We call on South African business leaders to partner these initiatives. There is a very real danger that there may be a backlash against South Africans and their business operations throughout the continent in retaliation to our country being perceived as “Afrophobic.”
"Stop attacking black non-South Africans! Attacking foreigners is attacking our national values! Not in our name!
Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana Acting SACC General Secretary
bishopmalusi@sacc.org.za. 0760417244

My comment is: of course people must stop to attack other human beings in general. Not only fellow Africans. There are cases when for instance shop-owners from Pakistan have been attacked. This must also be condemned! But I agree about the focus on Afrophobia. With this amendment.

SACC renewal event

A few days ago a re-launch of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) was held in Khotso house, Johannesburg. I got a media release in my mail box and the theme was:

SACC Vital Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

I first saw it on Facebook the same day. The deputy president, Michael Lapsley, had posted a short video with former General Secretary, Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu dancing together with the acting General Secretary of the SACC, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana.

It is very good. The council is needed. The vision is important and I hope that the council will be able to live up to it:

The council will stand as a prophetic voice that will speak truth to power and hold political leadership accountable to the citizens who vote them into power.

I am however, a bit surprised that I find very little news about this in media and also nothing on the website of the SACC. Hopefully this will change.

I would also like to see younger persons in the leadership as well as another gender balance.

Having said this I hope and pray that this initiative will be a blessing to South Africa as a nation. Especially to the poor!

The SACC gets a new leadership

Some weeks ago I got the invitation to the Triennial Conference of the South African Council of Churches. I knew that it was coming, after having met the President of the SACC, Bishop Joe Seoka, when I was in Busan for the WCC Assembly in November last year. But I was not sure about the dates. It would have been great to be part of this occasion but unfortunately work kept me busy at the university.

A short background: The SACC has had severe problems the last few years. One could even discuss whether it still existed. My opinion is that, although the office had to close due to bankruptcy, and that the Triennial Conference should have met already in 2013, the Council has existed. The Council is first and foremost a fellowship of churches and other organisation. This very fellowship exists even if the organisation and office is experiencing a crisis.

The theme of the conference, which took place yesterday and today, was:

God of Life: Renew, Restore and Transform us for the service of your Kingdom. Isaiah. 43:19

It reflects the need for something dramatically new to happen. In order to accomplish this, the new leadership is:

President: Bishop Ziphozihle D. Siwa. (Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. He preached at the funeral of Mandela. The sermon is here!)

Senior Vice President:  Dr Frank Chikane. (He was the General Secretary of the SACC 1987-1993, when he was head hunted to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and after that to the Presidency of Thabo Mbeki. With him, I think the Council wants to get the organisation in order. The question is how people will regard his close links to the ANC. One student said spontaneously: “He is polluted!”)

Vice President: Father Michael Lapsley. (He is the founder of the Institute for Healing of Memories. Fr Lapsley is a staunch member of the ANC.)

So, will this new leadership be able to give the necessary renewal, restoration and transformation to the Council? Are they the three wise men, who will accomplish that? There is no doubt that they have experience. Time will show.

On a critical note I want to say two things:

1) Why only men?

2) Why three leaders with (as far as I understand) close links to the ruling party? (About Bishop Siwa I’m speaking under correction. He did preach at the Funeral of Mandela – the reason was of course that Mandela was a Methodist, not that Siwa belongs to the ANC. So I might be wrong!) But the other two are ANC members and highly respected. 

Interestingly enough, when I googled for this news (which I didn’t find on the web) I found something else instead. (I googled on SACC, Chikane and Lapsley.) I found an Eulogy by President Zuma which he gave at the funeral of the struggle veteran and former Member of Parliament, Sister Bernard Ncube. Zuma said, among other things:

South Africa produced exceptional men and women of the cloth who fulfilled Biblical scriptures through bravely using the church as a site of struggle to free the people they ministered to.

These leaders included church leaders like Dr Beyers Naude the founder of the Christian Institute, Archbishop Dennis Hurley, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr Alan Boesak, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa and Father Albert Nolan and the Reverends Frank Chikane, Mcebisi Xundu, Michael Lapsley, and of course Sister Bernard Ncube.

The illustrious list also includes Father Trevor Huddlestone, who became a founder member and President of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement. He played a critical role in both the World Council of Churches and the SACC to ensure that the church adopted the programme to combat racism.

Both Chikane, Lapsley and the SACC are mentioned. Zuma also manages to mention at least one women: Sr Ncube (after all it was her funeral).

About Zuma it is also interesting to know that he, contrary to Mandela and Mbeki, has communicated more with charismatic and evangelical churches. Mandela and Mbeki supported the NRLF (The National Religious Leaders Forum) where the SACC was very active and so called mainline churches in majority. Zuma opted for something else and the National Interfaith Leadership Council (NILC) was formed. Those two bodies later merged into the National Interfaith Council of South Africa (NICSA). Instrumental in this process was Pastor Ray McCauley of the Rhema Bible Church.

Well, time will show what happens with the SACC. I pray that these three competent persons will be able to facilitate the process of getting the Council back on track.

If I were to add something I would like the whole Council to be restructured. Just like it happened with the Christian Council of South Africa (CCSA) in 1967-68, when it got new constitution and a new name. This organisation was only 31 years old. (It was formed in 1936). The SACC is 46 years old. To me it makes sense to restructure an ecumenical movement from time to time, because the ecumenical landscape changes. I hope the new leadership read the WCC document: “Together Towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes” closely. Especially the part called: “Mission from the margins”. The questions should be:

Who are on the margins in South Africa today?

How do we make sure that their voice is being listened to?

May God bless the SACC! South Africa needs it!

Closing prayer in Busan

Father Michael Lapsley, who lost both his hands and one of his eyes in a letterbomb attack carried out by the South African Security Police in 1990 - after the release of Mandela. He can speak convincingly about the need for healing of memories. 

The 10 Assembly of the World Council of Churches is over. I am just back from the closing prayer. Allow me to quote the preacher, Father Michael Lapsley, on some important points:

About post-apartheid South Africa:

In our context in South Africa when a black mother sits with a white mother and says that her child never returned form fighting apartheid, the white mother may reply, my child did return but is still damaged by what s/he experienced. Suddenly they are both mothers united by the pain they carry.

About the Armenian genocide in 1915:

Your Holiness and All Armenians – may I today say from this place, we have heard what you said – your people did indeed suffer a great wrong. May the Great healer accompany you so those wounds may truly heal to enable all Armenians to also help others on their journey of healing.

About human sexuality:

Today I want to say as a Christian, as a priest, to all the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community, I am deeply sorry for our part as religious people, in the pain you have experienced across the ages. I have a dream that in my lifetime, I will hear all the leaders of all our great faith traditions making the same apology.

Referring to the context of the risen Lord, as the scripture was read from Luke 24:28-35:

The crucified and risen one invites us to look at and touch one another’s wounds – to listen and to hear the pain of each other and so become one.

It was a strong message about how we as an ecumenical movement, being so different, still are called into unity.

The need for this became very clear when after the sermon we were invited to exchange peace with one another. Just before this one or maybe two protesters ran into the worship hall and aimed for the microphone in order to denounce the WCC as evil. The protesters were literally carried away and we were a few who felt sorry that they were handled quite brutally.

Tomorrow I will start the journey back home, back to South Africa. It has been very rewarding weeks. Although I am quite exhausted I know I will cherish this for the rest of my life. And I am more dedicated than ever to the theme of the Assembly:

God of life, lead us to justice and peace.

The Marikana shootings, justice and healing

Today I come across two reactions to the Marikana shootings. Both are expressed by church leaders in South Africa. I think they relate to one another although they don’t address the same aspects.

The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, has a blog. This week he publishes a letter to the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. In the letter the Archbishop strongly urges the President to make state funded legal representation available to families of those mine workers, who were killed at the Lonmin mines in Marikana in August this year. Apparently the Government is funding the legal representation of the police, who killed mine workers but similar legal support is not being extended to the miners themselves nor to the families of those who lost their lives. It is not often that the Archbishop nowadays writes this kind of appeals to the President. Former Archbishop, Desmond Mpilo Tutu, often did so. It is a good sign. Archbishop Makgoba ends his letter in the same tradition as Tutu used to do:

Please be assured that you remain always in my own prayers, and those of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, that God will bless you with his wisdom and grace to follow his best paths in all you do, so that you might be a blessing to this nation, and to all its people.

Yours in the service of Christ

+Thabo Cape Town

Another example where the Marikana shootings are commented on comes from Fr Michael Lapsley, also an Anglican Church leader. He is the founder of the Institute for Healing of Memories. In an interview in the Mail and Guardian he is described as a struggle veteran who became a healer. A letter bomb in 1990 shattered both his ear drums, destroyed one eye and blew off both hands. He then discovered his new calling, namely to become a healer of the South African nation. He says that the Marikana shootings is the latest example that South Africa is still a traumatised nation.

We need to find a way of listening to each other and not simply shouting past one another. But that also needs to be coupled with the challenge that the income distribution between rich and poor in South Africa is the most unequal on earth. We need to speak not only about poverty but also about greed.

I hope that many more Church leaders start to voice their critique. To me it brings hope. Do we hear a voice like this in Sweden? Well, it happens that our own Archbishop, Anders Wejryd, writes letters to our Prime Minister. Last year he critisised the Swedish Government for voting against the Palestinian application to join United Nations' cultural organisation UNESCO. He also strongly opposed Sweden’s arms export in an article in Dagens Nyheter last year. But when does he critisise the Government for injustices in the Swedish society?