Reading the Belhar Confession in a Wounded World

Thias Kgatla

doi:10.25159/2412-4265/11477

Authors

Thias Kgatla University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/11477

Keywords:

confession, fake news, inequality, corruption, Pentecostalism, globalisation

Abstract

This paper was presented by the author as the annual Belhar Confession lecture at the University of the Western Cape on 21 April 2022. First, the paper presents what the Belhar Confession is, as well as how it has evolved in the church. The South African political, economic, social, religious and cultural landscape is portrayed as representing the “wounded world.” Second, the message of the Belhar Confession is applied to the situation, and attention is given to how this triune message can be read in the midst of emerging societal challenges.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Ababa, A. 2002. “The Challenges of Globalization in Africa: What Role for Civil Society and Other Stakeholders?” Conference paper presented at UCT, Cape Town.

Acta URCSA. 1994. “Act of the first General Synod of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa 14 to 17 April 1994.” Belhar, Cape Town.

Beerkens, E. 2006. “Globalisation: Definitions and Perspectives.” Accessed November 12, 2020. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Globalisation:-Definitions-and-Perspectives-by-Eric/38c57353e2dc966fa01ed3ccaadb442b9ab569c6.

Belhar Confession. 1986. Dutch Reformed Mission Church Belhar Centre Bellville.

Boesak, A. A., J. Weusmann, and C. Amjad-Ali. 2009. “Dreaming a Different World: Globalisation and Justice for Humanity and the Earth. The Challenge of the Accra Confession for the Churches.” WARC, Geneva.

Boesak, A. A. 1977. Farewell to Innocence. Scottville, Johannesburg.

Boesak, A. A. 2009. “Theological Reflections on Empire.” In Globalisation: The Politics of Empire, Justice and the Life of Faith, edited by A. Boesak and L. Hansen. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.

Bonhoeffer, D. 2004. “The Young Bonhoeffer: 1918–1927.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, vol. 9, edited by P. D. Matheny, C. J. Green, and M. D. Johnson. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

Bosch, D. J. 1983. “Nothing but Heresy.” In Apartheid is a Heresy, edited by J. de Gruchy and C. Villa-Vicencio. Cape Town: David Phillip.

Bosch, D. J. 1991. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. Maryknoll: Orbis. https://doi.org/10.1177/009182969101900203. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/009182969101900203

Boyle, D. 2003. Authenticity: Brands, Fakes, Spin and the Lust for Real Life. UK: Harper Collins.

Brueggemann, W. 2017. Being Prophetic in Today's World. New York Avenue: Presbyterian Church.

Busch, E. 2004. The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth's Theology, translated by G. W. Bromley, edited by D. L. Guder, and B. William. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Cannon, L. 2014. “What is the Value of Religion?” Accessed May 25, 2019. https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/more/cannon20141204.

Chatteris, S. J. 2017. “Committing Ourselves to the Search for Truth.” Accessed May 20, 2021. https://www.jesuit.org.uk.

Clarke, R. G. 1973. “Apartheid is a Heresy.” Accessed May 12, 2021. https://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archive-files2/remar84.7.thumb.gif.

Corringe, T. 2014. “Climate Change: A Confessional Issue for the Churches?” Accessed June 1, 2021. http://www.operationnoah.org.Tim_Gorringe_lecture.

D’Acona, M. 2017. Post Truth: The New War on Truth and How to Fight Back. London: Ebury.

De Gruchy, J. 2016. “Kairos Moments and Prophetic Witness: Towards a Prophetic Ecclesiology.” HTS Theological Studies 7 (4). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i4.3414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i4.3414

Dreyer, W. 2016. “Church, Mission and Ethics. Being Church with Integrity.” HTS Theological Studies, 72 (1). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i1.3163. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i1.3163

Duhrow, U. 1987. Global Economy: A Confessional Issue for the Churches? WCC: Geneva.

Fyke, J. 2013. “Euphemisms and Ethics: A Language-centered Analysis of Penn State’s Sexual Abuse Scandal.” Journal of Business Ethics 122: 551–569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1777-0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1777-0

Glanzberg, M. 2009. “Descriptions, Negation, and Focus.” In Compositionality, Context and Semantic Values, 193–220, edited by J. Stainton and C. Viger. Springer-Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8310-5_8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8310-5_8

Gupta, S., H. Davoodi, and R. Alonso-Terme. 1998. “Does Corruption Affect Income Inequality and Poverty?” International Monetary Fund IMF Working Paper. JEL D73, D31, 132. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.882360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.882360

Holland, C. P. 2011. “The Impact of Globalisation and Information Technology on the Strategy and Profitability of the Banking Industry.” Proceedings of the Thirtieth Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 3: 418–427. https://doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.1997.661663. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.1997.661663

Ibrahim, A. A. 2013. “The Impact of Globalization on Africa.” Department of Sociology Yobe State University PMB 1144, Damaturu Yobe State, Nigeria.

Kestler-D’Amours, J. 2017. “How to Fight ‘Fake News’ in a Post-truth Environment.” Accessed April 3, 2022. https://www/freedom of the Press, Al Jazeera.

Keyes, R. 2004. The Post-truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life. New York: Amazon Business.

Kgatla, S. T. 2018. “The Decolonisation of the Mind: Black Consciousness Community Projects by the Limpopo Council of Churches.” Missionalia 46 (1): 146–162. https://doi.org/10.7832/46-1-270. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7832/46-1-270

Langa, M., T. Masuku, D. Bruce, and H. van der Merwe. 2016. “Facilitating or Hindering Social Cohesion? The Impact of Community Work Programme in Selected South African Townships.” SA Crime Quarterly 55 (3): 41–48. South African Journal. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3108/2016/v0n55a159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3108/2016/v0n55a159

Levinson, O. 2018. “Embedded Deception: How the FTC’s Recent Interpretation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Missed the Mark.” University of Minnesota School Scholarship Repository.

Meiring, P. G. J. 2019. “The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Rev. James Buys at the Microphone.” Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 45 (3). https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6225. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/6225

Mgoqi, W. 2018. “Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Impropriety at Public Investment Corporation Submitted to the President of the Republic of South Africa to His Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.” Government Archives Pretoria.

Mlaba, K. 2020. “5 Shocking Facts that Show Why South Africa Is the ‘Most Unequal Country in the World’.” In Why Global Citizens Should Care. Accessed March 20, 2021. https://www.globalcitizen.org/facts-why-south-africa-most-unequal-country-oxfam.

Moltmann, J. 2000. God in Creation. New York: Amazon.

Moss, T. 2009. “Where Does Africa Fit in the Globalization Puzzle?” Accessed December 1, 2020. https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/where-does-africa-fit-in-the-globalization-puzzle.

Myers, B. L. 2015. “Progressive Pentecostalism, Development, and Christian Development NGOs: A Challenge and an Opportunity.” Accessed May 24, 2019. http://www.internationalbulletin.org/issues/2015-03/2015-03-115-myers.

Nolte, S. P., and Y. Dreyer. 2010. “The Paradox of Being a Wounded Healer: Henri J. M. Nouwen’s Contribution to Pastoral Theology.” HTS Theological Studies 66 (2). University of Pretoria. Pretoria. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v66i2.861. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v66i2.861

Nordhaus, W. 2018. The Climate Casino, Risk, Uncertainty, and Economics for a Warming World. Connecticut: Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300203813. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300203813

Nyiawung, M. D. 2010. “The Prophetic Witness of the Church as an Appropriate Mode of Public Discourse in African Societies.” HTS Teologiese Studies 66 (1): 791–799. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v66i1.791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v66i1.791

Ogola, G. 2017. “Africa Has a Long History of Fake News after Years of Living with Non-truth.” Accessed June 21, 2021. https://theconversation.com/africa-has-a-long-history-of-fake-news-after-years-of-living-with-non-truth-73332.

Plaatjies-Van Huffel, M. A., and R. Vosloo. 2013. Reformed Churches in South Africa and the Struggle for Justice. Stellenbosch: Sun Press. https://doi.org/10.18820/9781920689117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18820/9781920689117

Richard, G. 2018. “On Colonialism and Development: Why the Underdevelopment of the South Cannot be Delinked from the Experience of the Past.” The Graduate Institute Geneva.

Schoeman. W. J. 2017. “South African Religious Demography: The 2013 General Election.” Accessed April 20, 2022. http://www.scielo.org.za. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i2.3837

Starman. 2014. “Cristiano Ronaldo Snubbed Coca-Cola. The Company’s Market Value Fell $4 Billion.” https://washingtonpost.com.sports//2021/06/16-christiano-ronaldo-coca-cola/.

State of the Nation Address. 2022. SONA South African Government 2022. www.gov.za.

Torres, I. 2020. “Elites Can Take Care of Themselves: The Rude Awakening for the Political Elite in Low-income and Middle-income Countries.” BMJ Global Health 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003063

Tutu, D. M. 2012. “When White People Came to South Africa, they said: Let us pray; after the Prayer, the Whites had the Land, and we Had the Bible.” Accessed March 1, 2020. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/desmond-tutu-107531.

Uslaner, E. 2007. Corruption and Inequality Trap in Africa. University of Maryland, College Park.

Wolf, E. 1968. Toward the Future of Reformed Theology: Tasks, Topics, Traditions. Grand Rapids, MI: WB Eerdmans.

Wu, T. 2017. The Attention Merchants Review: How the Web is Being Debased for Profit. Amazon Books.

Zandman, J. G. 2007. “The Reformed Confessions and church Membership Ethically Appraised.” Die Skriflig/In Lux Verbi 41 (1). https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v41i1.299. https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v41i1.299. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v41i1.299