Reflection on UCCSA’s Theme “Reaching New Frontiers: Hope & Healing” 50 Years and Beyond

REFLECTION ON UCCSA’s THEME REACHING NEW FRONTIERS:

HOPE & HEALING 50 YEARS AND BEYOND

By Motsilisi Morobe

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) adopted the theme “Reaching New Frontiers: Hope and Healing” in 2017 ahead of and in celebration of its 50th celebration since the Congregational Union of South Africa, London Missionary Society and the Bantu Congregational Church of the American Board had joined together in 1967 to form the UCCSA. The theme encompasses some sentiments of the past, future and present challenges, opportunities and achievements of the UCCSA.

With hope and healing, the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the coming together of the UCCSA in 1967 was a direct violation of racial segregation laws of South Africa at that time. All the joining member churches did lose members who were not ready to be in a mixed-race church. It also lost some of those who were xenophobic as the union meant that the so-called “foreigners” would be part of the church. It is my understanding that segregation laws were abolished but scars of the people never healed. It is also my understanding that no African can be a foreigner on African soil; but this view of being “foreigner” was given to us by the scramble for Africa era and nurtured by our colonial masters. It is a view that has outlasted its creators. Racial and xenophobic scars sit upon our members. Not everyone can heal on their own.

During apartheid, in South Africa, many local churches have had to give up properties and land. As an institution we have had to walk away from schools such as Tiger Kloof, hospitals such as Livingston and at some point, we were at the brink of losing heritage sites such as Moffat Mission. We later lost Joseph Wing. These are injuries that have hindered our missional heritage and capacity; and also impacted opportunities to make means for mission.

In the 80s Zimbabwe went to what we today know as Gukurahundi. It was a terrible time that split the nation as the national army intentionally targeted and brutally killed Ndebele civilians. These are some of the scars that our members in Zimbabwe have. There are those who have healed and those who have not. Those who were directly affected and those who were indirectly affected. One can only assume that it also split the church because to my knowledge there is no Shona-speaking UCCSA. I am also uncertain about the acceptance of Shona-speaking members within our church in Zimbabwe. These make one question the commitment of the church to issues of peace, reconciliation and justice in Zimbabwe. Perhaps there have been attempts to do mission among the Shona-speaking people before Gukurahundi. Perhaps there are reconciliatory programmes that the church as a whole has been involved in. Perhaps the current political and economic state of Zimbabwe is not a result of their past hurts. Perhaps the Zimbabwe synod is not left to fend for themselves in this difficult time.

As I type this, Mozambique is going through extreme youth radicalisation which was earlier said to be ISIS operating within the country. But the pattern is different, they are doing a religious cleansing which is not specific to any religion as though they are trying to wipe out religion completely. These are scars that are affecting our members both directly or indirectly. In the 80s when the country had a civil war, it also caused different types of scars that have affected our members. Some people have lost loved ones while others lost their homes. It does not end there; Mozambique is prone to natural disasters. There is so much healing that needs to happen there. The church can do better. We have a heritage of public service and building each other up; we can do definitely better.

So, to hope is to look forward to a place where as a church, we have overcome the national borders, tribalism, racism, classism, xenophobia and other boundaries that limit our missional efforts. To heal is to deal with our past and anything in it that still causes us pain. It is to be reconciled to ourselves and each other in order to rightfully take our place in the Missio Dei without dragging along any hindrances. It is not an easy task but with God as our help, we will and we can.

To reach new frontiers we must first be certain that we have crossed the old frontiers. We must get to a place where we speak of equity in all aspects of the church instead of equality. A small synod must have an equitable piece and so must a large synod. Gender must be equitable in all respects, regardless of sexual orientation. We must be in a place where all our children go to bed with full stomachs regardless of our backgrounds or areas of work. These are frontiers that my observation tells me we still have to cross. For now, we are hoping and healing.

Thereafter, having settled across those frontiers and having dealt with our pain and scars we can begin to move. As a church created for unity out of unity; to continue where we left off. To continue to seek unity with those with whom we share ancestral missional links, such as Angola and the likes. Then turn to seek unity with others; such efforts as this have previously led us to the beautiful work done by the Church Unity Commission. Proving that we do not have to merge with everyone but seek to work with many to fulfil our covenant and work towards the building up of the Body of Christ together with others as the Church. Then get to a point where once again as Congregationalists in Southern Africa, we publicly express our voice in issues of peace and justice for the benefit of our members and all of God’s people without waiting upon others to speak first. Only then can I as an individual agree that we are reaching new frontiers. We once broke South Africa’s segregation laws for the greater good, we definitely can move mountains.

Note: The segregation laws and bylaws of South Africa included but were no limited to laws that forbade different skin colours(races) from living in the same area, getting married to each other, sitting in one chair together, eating at the same restaurants, worshiping together, and other types of segregation. Disposition of land was also part of these laws. Although apartheid was the highest form of racism legally practiced, it was not the first action in South Africa to attempt racial segregation.

Motsilisi Morobe is a former CWM Young Women Enabling Transformation (YWET) Programme participant and is currently pursuing a Masters in Theology under CWM’s Academic Accompaniment Programme (AAP).