From netman at cpsa.org.za Fri Nov 7 20:23:58 2008 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Fri Nov 7 20:24:46 2008 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Fw: NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF ARCHBISHOP THABO MAKGOBA - EMBARGOED: NOT FOR BROADCAST/PUBLICATION BEFORE 7PM ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7 Message-ID: <743291EC80A74DAC81DB94F055AFA625@jenkins> ----- Original Message ----- From: Cynthia Michaels To: undisclosed-recipients: Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 8:48 AM Subject: NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF ARCHBISHOP THABO MAKGOBA - EMBARGOED: NOT FOR BROADCAST/PUBLICATION BEFORE 7PM ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7 NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF ARCHBISHOP THABO MAKGOBA EMBARGOED: NOT FOR BROADCAST/PUBLICATION BEFORE 7PM ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7 Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has criticized political leaders across the spectrum for calling their opponents "snakes," "dogs" and "counter-revolutionaries" and for using "militaristic metaphors" and "the vocabulary of violence." Delivering the Harold Wolpe Memorial Lecture in Cape Town on Friday night, Archbishop Makgoba also said that all South Africans had a responsibility to exercise their votes in next year's elections. "But political parties have to earn our vote," he added. "If politicians behave badly, they should expect supporters to withdraw their backing." He said critics of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who had raised doubts about voting in the current political climate should, instead of attacking him, "ought. to reflect on the challenges posed by his comments." Archbishop Makgoba said South African politicians loved to commend ubuntu. But he added: " I wish they would practice it in their conduct of political debate - both within and between parties. Is it in accordance with the values of ubuntu to call opponents 'dogs', or to brand former President Thabo Mbeki as a 'dead snake', and leaders of the new party as 'dangerous snakes'? Surely not! Ubuntu says politicians should criticise policies, not other politicians. Ubuntu says that personal attacks devalue and demean the attacker." Addressing the issue of violence, Archbishop Makgoba said: "Anyone who threatens, or intimidates - or stands by while their supporters do so - is not worthy to be a leader. Anyone who incites violence, or advocates harm to their political opponents - or allows others to do so - is a disgrace to democracy and deserves only our contempt. "Given our past, there can be no excuse for militaristic metaphors or the vocabulary of violence. Given the history of our struggle, and the implications of being branded a 'counter-revolutionary' in the past, I do not believe this is an appropriate way for ANC leaders to describe their opponents today. Nor was Terror Lekota wise in recently highlighting the possibility of violence, even if against his supporters. Such warnings can too easily become self-fulfilling prophecies." Discussing the principle of churches standing in "critical solidarity" with the government, Archbishop Makgoba said he was prepared to be in solidarity with those who promoted "sanctity of life, the integrity of the created world [and] the dignity of difference." "I am in solidarity with the needs of the poorest, the most vulnerable, the most marginalised; including the strangers, the foreigners, in our midst. On the other hand, I am critical of a response to crime that leads to escalating deaths among both police and suspects. "I will be critical of those who pay lip-service to the neediest in their electioneering, but who fail to deliver. And I will be critical of those who make undeliverable promises merely to gain votes." Details of how to access the full text of the address follow. MEDIA ACCESS TO EMBARGOED COPY OF TEXT By using this username and password, you are agreeing to observe the embargo: Embargo for Wolpe Lecture: 7 pm Fri Nov 7, 2008 URL: http://allen.org.za/webdav/anglican/ username: media pw: embargoed Issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Inquiries: Cynthia Michaels - 021- 763-1320 (office hours) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20081107/7ba18795/attachment.html From netman at cpsa.org.za Fri Nov 7 20:28:07 2008 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Fri Nov 7 20:28:49 2008 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Fw: New Dean of the Province appointed Message-ID: <3C2F486F0C364E5A98BA8A69B9539788@jenkins> > New Dean of the Province appointed > > > > The Most Revd. Thabo Makgoba, archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern > Africa, would like to announce that Bishop Paddy Glover, has been appointed > as the new Dean of the Province. This appointment follows the untimely > death of Bishop David Beetge. Bishop Paddy is bishop of the Diocese of the > Free State. > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20081107/a5b741b3/attachment.htm From peoadmin at anglicanchurchsa.org.za Tue Nov 11 14:58:27 2008 From: peoadmin at anglicanchurchsa.org.za (Gail Allen) Date: Tue Nov 11 14:58:41 2008 Subject: [Cpsa.news] November Laos Message-ID: <687CAE8D591FF84AB1CDA4C91E5918D4015FE9AD2E@HMC-MBX02.he.businessgateway.co.za> Below please find the Archbishop's November 'Laos' Gail E Allen (Mrs) Provincial Executive Administrator Provincial Executive Office Anglican Church of Southern Africa 20 Bishopscourt Drive BISHOPSCOURT 7708 Western Cape Fax: 021 797 1329 Switchboard: 086 100 1171 ext 1328 International: 021 763 1300 ext 1328 e-mail: peoadmin@anglicanchurchsa.org.za web: www.anglicanchurchsa.org Archbishop Thabo Makgoba To the People of God - To the Laos November 2008 Dear People of God This has been a momentous week. The election of Barack Obama to the White House is not only a first for African Americans. It has also brought a surge of joyful hope and eager anticipation, across the United States and the world. We must pray for him as he prepares to take office, remembering that all those who hold authority have potential to be 'God's servant for our good' (Rom 13:4). Our God is certainly the God of new beginnings, who redeems the past, and tells us to hope and trust with certainty, as we look to the future. At times like these, and during South Africa's elections in 1994 with their repercussions that spread far beyond our borders, it is easy to believe that we can see God's hand at work in events around us. And we may feel we can do so in other events such as the recent peaceful elections in Angola. But perhaps we are not so good at discerning God's redemptive finger prints at a smaller-scale level. Yet the message of the incarnation is that the God who transcends time and space, is also Emmanuel, God with us, who numbers the hairs on our heads. All the promises of the gospel - of salvation and redemption, healing and wholeness, forgiveness and reconciliation, liberation from all that oppresses - are for us to know and experience at every level from the grand sweep of history through to communities, families and individuals, as we put our trust in Jesus. One way of becoming more aware of God's active presence in our lives is to cultivate what I like to call 'an attitude of gratitude'. This habit is one of the most powerful ways I know of learning to recognise God at work, to become aware of his promptings in our lives, and to walk more closely with him. What I have in mind is this: to set aside time - 10 minutes daily, if you can - and to be conscious of coming to sit quietly before the Lord. As you breathe gently, remember that you are in the presence of the God who loves you more than you can ever fully grasp. Perhaps you want to close your eyes, and say to yourself 'God loves me.' Now, slowly and gently, ask Jesus to bring to your awareness the moments of the day for which you are most grateful. Of course, sometimes large events dominate our consciousness. When the aeroplane on which I was travelling to Bishop David's funeral last month came in to land, we had to make an emergency evasion, because there was another plane on the runway. If it had not been for the pilot's skill, there would have been terrible tragedy - I was aware of the fragility of life, and yet also of being held safe in the palm of God's hand. But when I reflect on today, or on the past few days, I find that the Lord brings to mind all manner of memories. These span the joy of family jokes at the breakfast table, or finding that the lectionary readings leap out of the page and speak into some circumstance with which I am dealing. Sometimes a complex problem falls easily into place. Someone I need to speak with just happens to phone. A need I have is met so effortlessly I take it for granted. Or coincidences occur. Perhaps some event didn't go as badly as I had been fearing! Or, especially when I see a beautiful sunset, or am struck afresh by the miracle of parenthood, I am just overwhelmed by the wonder of life itself. By taking time to recall such moments - brought to mind in prayer by the prompting of the Spirit - I am drawn to recognise God's care, God's love, at work in my life in ways I did not always notice at the time. I am now finding this meditative process is helping me become more aware of his presence actually in each present moment - and, I hope, to respond as he would have me do. This is something on which I have been deliberately and specifically reflecting in recent months, and I feel myself profoundly touched by God as I have done so. More than this, I find I am drawn to live out of a spirit of thankfulness. 'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,' writes St Paul (1 Thess 5:16-18). Taking up the role of Archbishop has been hugely daunting, but living with gratitude helps me recognise and acknowledge how much I am dependent on God, and, more than this, how much he equips us and directs us, as we rely on him. So even when we see great turmoil around - perhaps in the international credit crunch and looming recession, or in political turbulence, and in the effects these have on our lives - we should not be daunted. Living with an attitude of gratitude helps us become aware of how much God really does take care of us. There is something else for which I am grateful. In London at the beginning of this month, the Archbishop of Canterbury awarded me, and all the members of the Lambeth Conference Design Group, the Cross of St Augustine - the highest honour of the Anglican Communion. In receiving this, I also want to pay tribute, and give thanks, to all the people of ACSA, for the support you have given to me, to my predecessors, and to all the Bishops and the leaders of our church. It is your prayers, encouragement, and other help that has enabled our Province over many years to contribute so much to the life of our Communion. In my last letter, I mentioned that at Provincial Standing Committee we had discussed the development of a Vision Statement. This is a process that we began in 2002 Resolution 44 when Provincial Synod passed a motion asking us to do this. However, what we do as a Province must also reflect the realities of life at the grass roots level, and the specific expressions of the gospel to which we are called. So as we continue to 'seek afresh to discover what is it to be the body of Christ in our time, and who God is in Jesus Christ, for us here and now' (our key calling, as I said in my charge, and have mentioned before in these letters), can I please ask all of you who have Diocesan or Parish Mission or Vision Statements to forward a copy to the Provincial Executive Office at Bishopscourt, or to peoadmin@anglicanchurchsa.org.za. Thank you. Yours in the service of Christ Archbishop Thabo Cape Town -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20081111/a2ae581a/attachment.htm From netman at cpsa.org.za Fri Nov 21 10:25:32 2008 From: netman at cpsa.org.za (Netman) Date: Fri Nov 21 10:26:42 2008 Subject: [Cpsa.news] Lecture Message-ID: <32BE96960A6641FA9FEA09BF38E2C609@jenkins> Diakonia Council of Churches invites you to hear Justice Albie Sachs address Diakonia on Wednesday 10 December from 9.00am until 12.30pm in the Denis Hurley Hall Diakonia Centre, Durban "It is a time to make peace, not a time for war!" With the ongoing and dynamic changes in our political landscape, we continue to see increasing political intolerance, talk of violence and threats of intimidation. What South Africa needs now is peace - this begins with us personally and communally as people of faith, but also as a country. Our province still bears the scars of violence - what will it take for us to start making peace so that generations to come will truly realise a land of milk and honey? What will it take for us to begin to choose peace as a way of life - as a way of organising ourselves, as the basis for our negotiations, and as a fundamental and a necessary aspect to our political discourses? Please feel free to advertise this event on your notice boards and in newsletters, with the RSVP details clearly shown - RSVP is essential to secure your place. Contact Daphne Goad, (031) 310-3530, and to find out more about the work of Diakonia Council of Churches or visit www.diakonia.org.za These popular briefings and seminars offer Durban's clergy and laity alike the opportunity to remain abreast of key issues of the day. Recordings are available on request for R20 per CD or R50 per DVD. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.sn.apc.org/pipermail/cpsa.news/attachments/20081121/3706be45/attachment.html