Diocese of Grahamstown

Report on the Conference: NIRSA 22-23 April 2008

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Thank you very much for allowing me to attend the conference of the National Initiative for the Reformation of South Africa (NIRSA). Travelling was safe and smooth, sleeping accommodation was scarce but accepted what came my way.

NIRSA has been one of the big initiatives taken by the Christian leaders in South Africa. We were led by Convenor Dr Michael Cassidy (Founder, AE) and Revd Moss Ntlha (General Secretary TEASA). It has been a blessing to be part of this conference and to meet other Christian leaders. The conference was good, vibrant, highly engaging and enriching spiritually though it lacked proper planning in some areas. For example, I noticed the absence of the senior leadership of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the Bishop’s Conference of the Catholic Church and other small ecumenical bodies, without explanation or apologies forwarded.

« Meals and tea were provided in good time

« Times were kept

« Times for groups to meet and discuss were given, though insufficient

« Question time was limited

« More time was given to allow speakers and attendants to listen and reflect on what God is telling us, more time on worship and praise.

« There were book stalls

THE CONFERENCE ITSELF

The conference focussed mainly in the following areas: The Family, The Church, Education, Business, Politics and Government including Justice, Safety and Security, Health, Science and Technology, Communication, Sport, Arts and Culture, Entertainment.

What undergird those topics was the question of morality. The Christian leaders of NIRSA felt that:

(i) as Christian leaders we need to encourage the people of South Africa to look critically at what type of leaders they need in these areas. The type of qualities and values expected of a leader were: Integrity, Accountability, People who promote value based ethical living, advocacy (the quietness of the Church);

(ii) as Christians we need to sound loudly a wake up call at all South Africans to respond to God’s Word and live a life that is above immorality as it is prescribed in the Bible;

(iii) The spirit of the conference was welcoming, lovingly, allowing fellowship, laughing, prayer, worship, affirming one another, brotherly and sisterly, calling one another by name and not by status, etc.

At the end of the conference a Summary of the Declaration of Intent was drawn. My understanding is that the Bishop of Grahamstown’s Office has a copy of this document which was e-mailed to me on 29 April 2008.

EVALUATION

« NIRSA felt that we need to go back to our various churches and should never be silent again and continue with wake up calls to promote the Kingdom of God values in our families, our churches, education, business, politics and government.

« NIRSA felt that we are not going into battle alone but will join hands with other Ecumenical bodies like SACC and other alliances so that we can become one vocal voice of the Church in South Africa.

« Such conferences are needed but it may be worthwhile to consider that a lot of work needs to be done or planned prior to the conference so that all relevant stakeholders in the Church of God may be involved.

COMPILED BY ARCHDEACON EBENEZER NTLALI, ARCHDEACON OF KING WILLIAM’S TOWN