POVERTY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Land

Recognising that landlessness poses a serious threat to peace in the country, Conference:

DIRECTS the SACC National Executive Committee (NEC) to convene a national summit to discuss land hunger and its impact on society;

CALLS on the South African government to desist from criminalising the landless people by the imposition of the proposed Illegal Occupation of Land Bill, and, instead, should interact with the religious community and the landless people of South Africa in order to be guided by their insights; and

CALLS for legislation to limit the profits that may be made through land speculation and mandates the Public Policy Liaison Unit to investigate the feasibility of such legislation.

Basic Income Grant

Alarmed by the fact that more than half of all South Africans live in poverty and a majority of poor households have no access to existing social security grants, Conference:

CALLS for existing social security grants to be supplemented through the introduction of a Basic Income Grant of not less than R100 per month, payable to all in South Africa through public institutions and recovered, in part, through a progressive income tax structure; and

MANDATES the General Secretary to communicate this call to the President and the cabinet and Minister of Social Development.

Poverty eradication

Conference:

CALLS upon the SACC to make vulnerable children, refugees, informal settlements and rural communities primary emphases of activities undertaken in connection with the KPA of poverty eradication.

Economic justice

Being aware of:

• The alarming levels of economic injustice and inequality in South Africa,
• How these injustices and inequalities result in suffering and poverty of people in our world (especially women and children) and
• Believing that such injustices and inequalities are contrary to the will of God

Conference therefore CALLS:

• On the Government, the G8 nations and the United Nations (UN) to urgently seek for and implement more just economic systems which will prevent the exploitation of the poor people and poor countries to the benefit of the rich;
• On the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the UN to establish radical new trade agreements;
• On the G8 nations to cancel all odious and unpayable debts;
• On the members of the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCCISA) to consult with the leadership of SADC countries regarding the establishment of more just economic structures and forms of government;
• On SACC members to inform themselves and take action that would lead to economic justice and the establishment of an economic system that puts people first instead of profit; and
• On ESSET to develop relevant public educational materials, including resources that discuss the theological principles that should be used to assess the justice of economic systems.

Funerals

Noting with concern the exploitative and obnoxiously ostentatious manner in which funerals are conducted, believing these to be un-African and immoral, and believing further that, such conduct puts a price on reverence of the dead, Conference:

CALLS on Funeral Undertakers to desist from the exploitation of the bereaved and to conduct their business ethically;

CALLS the Churches, ministers in particular, to educate and counsel the bereaved to refrain from such impoverishing funerals; and

MANDATES the Member Churches and General Secretary to develop strategies that reintroduce moral values and conduct in funerals and tombstone unveiling.

HIV/AIDS

Acknowledging the devastating impact of the AIDS pandemic on our communities, Conference RESOLVES:

• That the SACC encourage churches to adopt a mindset of prevention in dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to develop pro-active measures aimed at eradicating the disease, rather than just pursuing an "ambulance ministry";
• That the SACC hold a theological consultation within the next year to develop joint strategies for dealing with the pandemic and to review the training of clergy and the teaching of the church in order to minister most appropriately to people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS;
• That the SACC should, together with all its member churches, commit itself to practical demonstrations of compassion, such as making its facilities available for the treatment, care and sustenance of infected and affected people as well as caregivers;
• That SACC member churches be encouraged to provide chaplains to caregivers;
• That the SACC should, together with other organizations who are involved in lobbying the government, work to ensure the availability of free anti-retroviral drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS, including Nevirapine for all pregnant women and their newborns, and the provision of adequate health care for all South Africans;
• That as part of its mission work, the SACC engage with the people of South Africa to promote a return to values of sexual abstinence before marriage and faithfulness within marriage and to encourage the use of measures necessary to prevent infection;
• That the SACC denounce all forms of discrimination, including the stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS, and work to create an environment conducive for people to declare their HIV/AIDS status and to undergo voluntary testing and counselling;
• That the SACC engage with business to improve access to affordable medication, to provide financial and material resources to community HIV/AIDS projects and to ensure that training and treatment programmes are implemented in the work place; and
• That the SACC engage vigorously with the media, especially television broadcasters, to discourage programming that promote sexual promiscuity.

PEACE

Small Arms

Acknowledging the terrible toll that handguns and small arms have taken on our society and other countries throughout Africa, Conference:

CALLS on the South African government to intensify its efforts to restrict the trade in small arms;

URGES Member Churches to cooperate with government agencies and civil society organisations to facilitate implementation of the Firearms Control Act as one mechanism to limit the spread of gun violence in our communities; and

DISCOURAGES parents from buying toy guns for their children.

National security

Affirming that poverty constitutes the greatest threat to the security of most South Africans and recalling that "freedom from fear and want" is central to the definition of national security found in the South African Constitution, Conference:

EXPRESSES strong opposition to the expenditure of billions of rands on sophisticated and unnecessary weapons in the midst of such staggering human need; and

CALLS on the South African government to decline all optional purchases associated with the current strategic defence procurement package and to explore the total abandonment of the deal.

Peace Building

Noting the SACC's involvement in the Peace to the City Campaign of the World Council of Churches and acknowledging the WCC's launch of the Decade to Overcome Violence, Conference:

CALLS on SACC Member Churches to participate actively in the Decade to Overcome Violence; and

URGES the NEC to collaborate and network with other national Christian Councils and FOCCISA to help resolve the conflict in Angola and in the Great Lakes regions and to bring peace.

Beyers Naudé Peace Award

Conference RESOLVES that NEC should establish a peace award for successful justice and peace projects and, further, that this award should be named in honour of former SACC General Secretary Dr. Beyers Naudé.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Women

Considering that the Women's Ecumenical Conference (WEC) "demands the establishment of a women's department, to be coordinated and managed by women, to facilitate and coordinate women's activities, to serve as a resource center, data base for women, enhance a two way communications at all levels as well as monitoring and evaluating what other departments are doing in relation to issues affecting women," Conference:

RESOLVES that the NEC gives urgent attention to the establishment of a women's department; and

URGES the General Secretary and to ensure that women are included in the SACC budgeting process.

Youth

Recognizing the importance of youth participation in the life and ministry of the church, mindful of the many challenges with which youth are faced; and Affirming the work being done by the SACC Youth Forum, Conference:

CALLS on the NEC to appoint a full time staff person in the National Office to coordinate ecumenical church youth programmes; and

DIRECTS the NEC to ensure that youth are represented on the Finance Committee.

Refugees

Conference URGES the SACC to include life and employment skills training in its refugee programmes; and mandates Uprooted People and Public Policy Liaison to work for legislation and policies that treat refugees with fairness and dignity.

Reparations

Welcoming recent legal action that has recognised the right of communities damaged by asbestos mining to claim reparations,

Recalling that the United Nations declared apartheid a crime against humanity, and

Believing that such crimes also demand reparations, Conference:

URGES all institutions that benefited from apartheid to make reparations and calls on churches, in particular, to lead by example (e.g., by establishing a bursary fund for the children of victims of apartheid, by returning land to its original owners, etc.);

RECOMMENDS that the issue of reparations should be considered on the agenda of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance so that countries that benefited from apartheid can join hands in rebuilding our country and campaigning for debt cancellation, as demanded by the Jubilee Movement; and

CALLS on SACC members to support and network with initiatives such as CARI and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

Transcending Racism

Noting with concern the unacceptable and increasing levels of racism and intolerance in our society, Conference:

PLEDGES to work actively within our own faith communities to discourage racist and other intolerant behaviour and opinions, including discrimination against women, strangers, the disabled and those living with HIV/AIDS;

CALLS on member churches to endorse an ongoing "Transcending Racism" campaign to commence from Easter 2002 and to demonstrate their support by developing and using liturgical material dealing with racism; and

DIRECTS the NEC to facilitate a process of dialogue and interaction among racial groups in member churches through mechanisms such as joint meetings of women or youth.

Uniting Churches

Confessing our failure to confront and uproot racism in our own churches, Conference:

AFFIRMS and supports those churches that have taken the initiative to come together across racial boundaries; and

URGES those churches that have not begun this process to give urgent consideration to the matter in faithfulness to our Lord's call to the Oneness of the Church and as a witness to the reconciling power of the Gospel.

Environmental Justice

Recognising the importance of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development Conference to be held in South Africa during 2002 and believing it important that the faith communities participate, make a contribution and learn from this, Conference RESOLVES:

• To request the Central Committee to establish a national group of church representatives to coordinate plans and prepare for this Conference;
• To ask the NEC to take appropriate action so as to ensure that endangered habitats and species are protected;
• To urge Justice Ministries to focus more attention on the integrity of creation as part of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Conciliar process as adopted by the World Council Of Churches; and
• To call on SACC members to engage in programmes on environmental care and environmental justice.

Church State Relations

Considering the need for cooperation between the church and the state and other organs of civil society and being aware of the potential within the SACC members to contribute towards nation building and witness to the intervention of God in human history, Conference:

RESOLVES that the SACC adopt an attitude of critical engagement in its dealings with the state and other organs of civil society and therefore requests the NEC to develop clear policies that will inform the concept of "critical engagement and to assist SACC members in defining our relationship with the State;

COMMENDS the Public Policy Liaison Office (in Cape Town) for the work it is doing to inform SACC members on public policy matters and urges the NEC to consider ways to strengthen and support its work.

Ethics, Governance and Corruption

Noting with serious concern the extent of corruption in business, government, civil society and even the church itself, Conference:

CALLS upon the National Office through the General Secretary and Provincial Councils to facilitate the development of programmes to assist member churches to understand the extent, challenges and responsibilities related to corruption, governance and ethics in our society;

CALLS upon the SACC and member churches to endorse and participate in the forthcoming civil society summit on corruption, governance and ethics in order to develop strategic partnerships to deal with these matters; and

CALLS on member churches to support the call for Commitment Against Corruption issued by the SA Catholic Bishops' Conference and to participate in the programme to be launched between 3 February and Easter 2002.

Moral Reconstruction

Conference URGES the SACC's Faith and Mission Unit to formalise links and work with other organizations on the moral regeneration/reconstruction/renewal.

Religious Education

Believing that religious education in public schools is a complex and sensitive issue; that it is important for learners to be informed about the various religious beliefs of the people of South Africa; and that spiritual resources of religious communities are crucial in the building of a just, moral and peaceful South Africa; Conference

RESOLVES that the General Secretary should initiate engagement with the Education Ministry with the intention of promoting a religious education policy that makes provision for both a multi-religious approach and for single faith learning programmes.

FINANCE AND COMMUNICATION

Tax

Noting that recent amendments to the Income Tax Act will change the process by which churches may secure a tax exemption, Conference:

COMMENDS to member churches the Public Policy Liaison Unit booklet on "Churches and Taxation in Democratic South Africa" for their study and comment; and

MANDATES the NEC to create a special advisory committee on taxation that can study the new tax system, inform member churches of their obligations under the new law, and work with the Public Policy Liaison Unit to motivate changes to the law or implementation procedures that do not hamper the ministry of member churches and the broader faith community.

Financial Sustainability

Conference RESOLVES that the SACC establish a separate legal trust for the purpose of building a capital fund for the self-sustainability of the SACC. The sole beneficiary of this trust shall be the SACC, which shall be entitled to receive at least 75% of the annual income of the trust. (Referred to the NEC for action.)

Communications

Recognising the importance of keeping member churches, provincial councils, partner organisations and society at large informed about the programmes and activities of the SACC, Conference:

DIRECTS the NEC to:

• Explore the feasibility of establishing a Communications portfolio within the General Secretariat of the SACC;
• Consult with other ecumenical structures dealing with media;
• Devise a comprehensive strategy to promote internal communication within the SACC, including member churches and provincial councils; and
• Develop an effective media strategy that may include both the print and broadcast (radio and television) media.