The South African Council of Churches (SACC) received information about the recent launch of the National Interfaith Leaders Council (NILC), under the leadership of Pastor Ray McCauley. It is important for the SACC to declare that SACC structures and leadership have neither been informed, nor invited or consulted in the setting up of the NILC. Similarly, we were neither informed nor invited at the recent meeting with President Zuma. Nor do we know how the leadership and structures of the NILC were (s)elected and constructed.

We have several problems with aspects of the founding document of the NILC. Although we do not presume that our exclusion was malicious, but the SACC is disappointed at not having been offered the courtesy of invitation.

We have already made contact with the leadership of the NILC, the state presidency and the Commission for Religious Affairs of the ANC with a view to finding an amicable way forward. Most importantly we shall soon be hosting a meeting of church leaders to consider these developments.

In the light of the above developments we urge all SACC members to either put on hold or consider carefully the implications of their participation in the NILC – until the SACC has clarified a number of issues with the NILC leadership.

The SACC participates actively in the National Religious Leadership Forum (NRLF) and continues to offer its full support to this body. It seems to us that the NILC may replicate the work of the NRLF.

We call on all religious bodies in this country to seek the path of unity and mutual respect.

The SACC remains committed to the vision of united religious witness. We also remain committed to collaborating with various faith traditions and government in combating poverty, moral degeneration, crime and social disintegration.

For more information contact:
Mr Eddie Makue – General Secretary 011 241 7817 or 082 853 8781
Prof Tinyiko Maluleke- President, 012 429 2970 or 082 925 5232