Church and community leaders from around the region will come together next week (14-17 July) in Johannesburg to take part in an international ecumenical summit on Zimbabwe.

Entitled "Overcoming Fear by Faith: Churches in Solidarity with the People of Zimbabwe", the meeting will be hosted by the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa and the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, in cooperation with the Council for World Mission and the South African Council of Churches.

The summit is an expression of the Church's profound concern about the deepening political, economic and humanitarian crises in Zimbabwe. It reflects not only a recognition that fear and intimidation have become alarmingly common features of Zimbabwe's political landscape, but it also demonstrates the hosts' shared conviction that God calls us not to be overcome by fear, but to overcome fear through the exercise of a courageous faith. The gathering will therefore explore ways in which churches can bring their faith to bear on the quest for justice, peace and reconciliation in Zimbabwe in practical ways.

The programme will commence with an ecumenical service of worship at 14h00 on Monday, 14 July at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Benoni (Miles Sharp Road, Rynfield). The Moderator of the Council for World Mission, the Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt, will preach at this service.

Following the opening worship, participants will meet at Willow Park Conference Centre in Benoni. The summit will feature keynote addresses on Tuesday morning by dedicated human rights activist Prof. John Mkumbe, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe, and on Wednesday by the Rev. Dr. Allan Boesak, one of the region's most prominent theologians and a Fellow of the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology at the University of Stellenbosch.

Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke, President of the SACC and Executive Director of Research at the University of South Africa, will lead morning Bible Studies, and the Rev. Susan Matale, General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia, will conduct the closing worship service on Thursday afternoon.

Members of the public are invited to hear the Rev Dr Hewitt preach at the opening worship service. Media representatives are welcome to attend the opening and closing worship services, the keynote addresses, and the summit's plenary sessions. The main speakers and leaders of the sponsoring denominations and organizations will also be available for press interviews and comment throughout the summit.

For more information or to arrange interviews with summit leaders, please contact Douglas Tilton, South African Council of Churches, on 011 241 7833 or 082 079 0520