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Rev. Canon Alfred Sebahene St. Barnabas Bible Church Sunday, 27 th May 2012

Rev. Canon Alfred Sebahene St. Barnabas Bible Church Sunday, 27 th May 2012. Corruption Mocking at Justice: What is the Role of the Church in Public Life?. PRESENTATION PLAN 1. An Overview and Context 2. Corruption: On Dealing with a Social Sin That Kills From Within!

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Rev. Canon Alfred Sebahene St. Barnabas Bible Church Sunday, 27 th May 2012

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  1. Rev. Canon Alfred Sebahene St. Barnabas Bible ChurchSunday, 27th May 2012 Corruption Mocking at Justice: What is the Role of the Church in Public Life?

  2. PRESENTATION PLAN 1. An Overview and Context 2. Corruption: On Dealing with a Social Sin That Kills From Within! 3. Corruption And The Role Of The Church In Public Life 4. Anti-Corruption Campaigns In Tanzania: What Is The Anglican Church Doing? 5. St Barnabas Bible Church And Her Role In Public Life In South Africa 6. Questions And Answers

  3. Source: www.wissenladen.de/maps/map.phpTanzania 27/1/2012

  4. What is Corruption? Not easy to define corruption! However, an internationally accepted working definition reads: “the abuse of public office for private gain” or “the misuse of one’s office position for personal benefit” (World Bank, Transparent International, EU, International Development Agencies et)

  5. What is Corruption? Contd • “impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle” Merriam-Webster Dictionary • “a failure of moral regard for the public interest” Vito Tanzi • “a socially undesirable deviation (or decay) from some ideal, norm or standard” Banfield • “departure from accepted societal norms” Windsor

  6. Bible and Corruption • BiblicalExplanationof the Problem: Corruption is sin! It is about moral depravity (Gen 6:11; Ex 32:7; Hosea 9:9; Gal 6:8, etc.), which ends in utter moral ruin and hopelessness. • Important note: ‘Corruption’ is a very broad term with many dimensions. It is not easy to define a corrupt deal in a few words because there are a number of elements to the transaction.

  7. Causes of Corruption Greed and selfishness, abuse of power, lack of exemplary ethical leadership, social cultural norms – nepotism and favoritism, low public awareness, political interference, moral decay, lack of ethics, system deficiencies (systems, procedures, guidelines), lack of rule of law, poor condition of services, poor salaries,

  8. Curbing/Addressing Corruption name and shame, publish updated information, prevent, criminalize – rigorous prosecution, set codes of conduct, cooperate internationally, support developing countries, enforcement – law etc, raise public awareness, deep democratization, legislation and its implementation, gender, civil society/ religious? participation and oversight, religion, faith people…

  9. Is there a Biblical teaching on Corruption? • No question about the Bible’s opposition to bribery (corruption) as an affront to the character of God, the incorruptible one (Deut 10:17). • Hence a bribe is an “evil device” (Psalm 26:10; see also Micah 7:3). • Corruption/Bribe is a “gain of oppressions” (Isaiah 33:15), an “unjust gain” (Proverbs 15:27).

  10. Biblical Teaching on Corruption • Even a small bribe (a piece of bread, a handful of barley) has serious consequences (Prov. 28:21; Ezekiel 13:19). •  A bribe corrupts the mind (Eccles 7:7) and blinds the eyes of officials (Ex 23:8). • The Bible is particularly concerned about the perversion of the course of justice through bribery (Deut 16:18-19, 27:25; 1 Sam 8:1-3; 2 Chr. 19:7; Prov. 17:23; Isaiah 5:23; Amos 5:12).

  11. Biblical Teaching on Corruption • Ezekiel 22:12 includes bribery in a list of the symptoms of serious societal break-down, • Proverbs 29:4 says that when national leaders are implicated in bribery the outcome is national ruin.

  12. Use of Words on Corruption “the vice”, “a disease”, “a tragedy”, “cancer”, “chronic disease”, “the most shameful”, “sin”, “a sin that eats from within”, “a problem”, “a culture”, “a skin deep problem”

  13. Use of words on Corruption “fighting”, “eradicate”, “curtailing”, “war against”, “form and use anti-corruption squad”, “name and shame”, “wipe out”, and “crackdown”,

  14. EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION • “Its consequences are global; it’s hidden costs immense”! • Every second, Africa loses $5,000 to corruption (Tearfund) • It drives up food insecurity! • Translates into; a lack of access to basic services, a reduction in access to justice and the abuse of human dignity. • Undermines trust and social cohesion and perpetuates the poverty of those who are already poor.

  15. EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION • It deprives the majority of the enjoyment of the fruits of democracy. • Exacerbates poverty (President Festus Mogae of Botswana) • Distorts factor prices • It is a threat to security and peace! It is a cancer that was eating away at the heart of society!

  16. EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION • Affects the distribution of seeds or medicines, in street and market trading, at police checkpoints and in many other areas of activity. Former World Bank President James Wolfensohn • lost resources, lost foreign investment, distorted decision making, and failing public confidence”. Former UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan

  17. EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION • It has critically hobbled and skewed Africa's development," Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan • Facilitates human rights violations, market invasion, and unilateral militarization.

  18. CPI 2012 MAP

  19. Cpi 2012 countries 1

  20. Cpi 2012 countries 2

  21. Corruption: An issue of profound biblical, theological and ethical aspect Two special calls

  22. Justification for Church’s • involvement in anti-corruption • campaign. A Theological Analysis • Doctrine of God • Doctrine of Man • Doctrine of Salvation • Doctrine of God’s Kingdom

  23. WHAT IS THE ANGLICAN • CHURCH OF TANZANIA DOING? • What Framework? What Mandate? • Global Approach: Where are we competent? • Church’s Current Work and focus: • How should we do it? • Prophetic Role • Pastoral Care • Christian Advocacy and Citizenship

  24. Successes Challenges and Opportunities A Case of the Anglican Church of Tanzania

  25. The Role of St. Barnabas Bible Church • in Public Life in South Africa • Some points for consideration • South Africa is not Tanzania! • But our Gospel is the same! • You are the salt of the earth! • “…a church that doesn’t actually say to the • world, this is the new creation, this is an order • of justice, reconciliation, and a • counter- cultural movement. • That is not really a church” • (Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 2008)

  26. My Proposal for SBBC Hope in God Restoring Justice in the world free of corruption: The Church in the Context of The demise of corruption Summary 1. Approaching God in the context of Corruption 2. Encountering the Word of God 3. Responding to God’s Word 4. The body of Christ in the World 5. Sending out Questions and Answers

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