4: Widening Horizons
In the early 1980s The Leprosy Mission invited me to assess services in Zimbabwe. This included a visit to Mutemwa Leprosarium, where a few years earlier Franciscan layman, John Bradburne, had been murdered during the liberation war. I travelled with Presbyterian, Stella Rowse, Baptist, Bill Edgar, and then spoke with the Catholic priest appointed to succeed Bradburne. I asked him whether he was afraid in the wake of what had happened. He simply pointed to the crucifix above his bed in the sparsely furnished room. He was a black Zimbabwean, Stella a white Zimbabwean, Bill, Australian.
The ecumenical movement brings people together.
John Bradburne's service, and subsequent martyrdom, has led to his designation by Rome as 'Servant of God.'
Norman Murdoch's research and subsequent publication revealed significant Salvation Army background negotiation with both the United States and United Kingdom governments about Zimbabwe that was tantamount to support for the Rhodesian government.
'I am willing to represent The Salvation Army at the WCC Assembly where I will uphold our politically neutral position.'
With that in mind I agreed to attend the 1983 assembly in Vancouver, one of four Salvation Army representatives.
Not unexpectedly, racism and apartheid were significant themes. I was unable to hear Desmond Tutu speak, but did attend the meeting convened by SWAPO on Namibia. I was impressed by the way they put their faith into practice in a reasonable way.
During the assembly, I met Mr Pentecost, David, du Plessis, only to discover we'd been born within miles of each other. I shared his rejection of apartheid and his commitment to ecumenism.
The Salvation Army delegation leader. Victor Keanie, explained the Salvation Army's new relationship with the council when speaking in the assembly. 'We have a voice but no vote', he said, 'and we are still here.' He was warmly applauded. But his embargo on us not to accept the Eucharist left me extremely uncomfortable. I enjoyed the international flavour of the singing, tried to encourage The Salvation Army to introduce some, but it fell on deaf ears. It was not our style.
A change of heart and mind is necessary.
My own thinking was slowly becoming clearer, but not without some massive and even turbulent upheavals. The 1980s had exposed us to the growing opposition in the UK to apartheid:
- disgust expressed by friends
- limitations on international travel
- disowning of their nationality by some South African friends
- meeting black South African colleagues and feeling their pain
- the reaction of a counselling teacher when as a volunteer guinea-pig I shared some of my dilemmas in the group.
The chapter in William Booth's book: In Darkest England and the Way Out on the Essentials of Success emphasise this, but he does go on to speak of a change of circumstances being necessary also. Although drafted in relation to 19th century England, I found them applicable also to the issue of racism.
We lead most of all by example - and that may require a change of mind on our own part first of all. And how do you remain loyal to the country of your birth. It really is not a sin to be born a South African.
Suggestions that we should change nationality met with opposition, especially from Margaret. Slowly we came round to the idea of acquiring a second nationality. We also decided we would stand with all South Africans, share their sadness and shame, their hopes and aspirations.
And what about sanctions? The Leprosy Mission was discussing investments, and Eddie Askew felt we should not support any fund likely to reach South Africa. I spoke up.
'These will hurt the economically most disadvantaged,' I told the committee; 'They ask us not to support the boycott.'
He and the General Purposes Committee rejected my position.
I presented the same argument to the Assembly of the British Council of Churches. Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, strongly rejected the suggestion, saying he had an exactly opposite view from his colleagues in South Africa. Years later I met him at the retirement of Desmond Tutu. He'd probably forgotten my intervention 10 years earlier.
Decisions are taken by the majority, but people of standing have significant influence.