Statement of the South African Council of Churches at the end of its Central Committee Meeting, Cedar Park Convention Centre, Woodmead, Johannesburg in May 2009.

Context

The Central Committee of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), being a fellowship of Churches and Organisations which confesses the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour, seeking to fulfil a common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, met in Woodmead, Johannesburg from the 27th - 29th May 2008 under the theme: " You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above" John 19:11 (NIV).

As we reflected on this theme, we were struck by some of the 'issues of power' at the heart of our witness as the Church of Jesus Christ. While our focus was more inwardly looking, we were further deeply struck by the power issues that are at play in the productions of poverty, conflict, suffering in South Africa, the African continent and the globe.

Conference Proceedings

Having chosen this theme, we are mindful of the primary role of the Central Committee of the SACC which is to implement the policy and programmes approved by the Triennial National Conference and to oversee the administration of the Council's affairs when the National Conference is not in session. The theme of this Central Committee meeting aptly captured the broad mood and thrust of the 2007 Triennial National Conference resolutions.

Inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, to examine how we bow and kneel to powers often to the detriment of our witness as a Council, our proceedings included the following:

• A moving service in the Central Methodist Church in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.
• Lively Communal Morning Worship.
• Challenging Plenary Addresses on re-visioning the work of the SACC.
• Contextual Bible Studies.
• Imvuselelo and the SACC's Covenant.
• An update on an ongoing comprehensive audit with a view to the renewal of the SACC

Central Committee resolutions

Among others, the following were Central Committee resolutions:

1. We have set up a Task Team which will take the ongoing work of the renewal of the SACC, including the auspices of the NEC. On the basis of the proposals that emerged from the Task Team, the NEC will construct a submission to be presented first to the next Central Committee meeting and finally to our next Triennial conference in June - July 2010.
2. We urge the Task Team to enhance greater participation by member churches and provide them with the necessary reports when requested to do so. We urge churches to do the same so as enhance the quality of the work of the Task Team.
3. The recent and successful elections held on the 22nd of April. We congratulate the IEC for enabling South Africans to have their fourth successful National and Provincial elections. We congratulate President Jacob Zuma and the ANC for winning the elections. We lift the new National and Provincial governments up to God in Prayer, wishing them strength and every blessing as they embark on the many challenges that lie ahead of them.
4. While we recognize the mandate that the new government has received and while we pledge our support, we also assert that ultimately the government's mandate and power are loaned to them by God. We urge the government to be mindful of the concern that the country is now officially in recession. We therefore urge government to do everything in their power to put interventions in place, which are designed to create and protect jobs as well as enhancing social cohesion in these difficult times. We urge civil and union leaders to lead responsibly at these times.
5. We urge the government and all political parties to set aside petty squabbles and to move away from the politics of disgrace and focus on serving the people of God.
6. As the country prepares for the Confederation Cup and Fifa World Cup, we pray that God inspires all those who have been tasked to prepare for this event, the nations that will be hosted and the people of land.

May the Lord Almighty guide and influence our leaders. May God open his heart on the people of this land, especially the poor, and bring us peace, prosperity and abundant life.

For further information, contact:
Eddie Makue, General Secretary (011 241 7817 or 082 853 8781) or
Tinyiko Maluleke, President (082 925 5232)