7: Commitment to Reconciliation

• 

 
Healing for the past and preparing for the future were major themes for South Africa in 1994. The words reconciliation, reconstruction and development were everyday vocabulary. Never mind ANC, we knew what TRC and RDP stood for.  I gave a great deal of thought to how best to proceed. 

There comes a time when the leader has to make the decision. It must be a decision in the best interests of the people he leads. 

Example is undoubtedly the most powerful way of proclaiming the kingdom as the best way for all to live.
 
Preaching and healing were the instructions of Jesus to the disciples. 
 
I am less inclined and more reluctant to preach than I am to promoting life in all its fullness. 

I have promoted a definition of health adapted from that of WHO: Health is a state of physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being in which we are in harmonious relationship with each other, the creator and all creation. If my earlier years had focussed on well-being, here the focus had to be on harmonious relationships.  
 
Conversation with Margaret and consultation with senior colleagues were important parts of the process.  I consulted several others including James Khumalo, not only a well-known academic but also much-respected Salvationist.
‘You say white Salvationists will try to get rid of me if we engage in the reconciliation process and therefore urge me not to get involved. If that’s your only reason, then all the more reason why we will.’ 
'Then go all the way - nothing half-hearted,' was his advice.  
 
Early steps in the reconciliation process included encouraging key leaders to attend seminars held in several centres around the country organised by Theological Education by Extension on the topic of healing. The theme chosen for the executive officers retreat was on 'opening up'. Some objected vigorously to the process, feeling we should rather concentrate on further strategic planning. The seminar however proved fruitful in leading to more open conversation. 
 
Engagement in the process prompted a great deal of personal reflection for me. I concluded that in spite of hoping and working for a more just society in our country I was not exempt from racist tendencies myself. 
 
Am I a racist?
 
As I continued to promote the reconciliation process in post-apartheid South Africa I drew comparison with Alcoholics Anonymous where the first step is to admit what we are.
 
To say I am a racist simply means that one usually considers ethnic background above that of thinking of them as a person.     
 
Dealing with my own racism is not a one-off event. It requires constant reflection, and, if necessary, readjustment.
 
I also needed to reconcile this process with the key principles of the Army. 
'We can evangelise through reconciliation,' I explained.  'Our respect for each other will be a powerful witness to our faith.'
I promoted the concept widely. 
Eventually I proposed that we should invite all Salvationists to commit themselves: to give thanks for all achieved to date and to work together for reconciliation. 
 
We presented a bound copy of the signatures of the commitment to thousands of South African Salvationists to Salvation Army international leader, Paul Rader at a national Salvation Army gathering. We processed to the stirring tune of Finlandia with the words: 
 
'This document does not resolve every difficulty,' I told the congregation, 'It is really a statement of intent. And our signatures indicate our commitment.'
 
 
 

• < Prev
• Next >