Church Current Affairs Digest: Addressing Challenges and Solutions for a Better Future

1. CURRENT AFFAIRSCOMMISSION 5 9THJULY 2010 PARYS

2. Hot off the press • Attack of BMC in ND • Dr. Dandala’s re-instatement • Homosexuality • Environmental Issues/Indaba • Divorce- get progress from Rev Nyobole • HIV/AIDS-Awareness • Undivided Church-covered in the Research of Conflict within the church • Substance Abuse/Human Trafficking • Litigations • Gender Transformation • Reflection 2010 &Beyond • Corruption • Abuse of Power • Solidarity with Political Power/State church relations • Xenophobia • Decline of African languages • Parenting in our times • Circumcision/Ulwaluko

3. Attack of BMC • BMC-Developing Umrhabulo pamphlets • Use of Dimension as a communication platform • Each District issue statement-dimension • Follow Protocol • BMC is taken serious these days CHALLENGES • BMC not inclusive • Little knowledge about BMC • Political threat to other people • How people perceive BMC

4. Solutions • BMC must take the feedback in a positive manner • BMC must engage positively with the feedback it receives • Awareness campaign/Workshops(educate about BMC)

5. Litigation • Rise in the number of matters for litigation • Church not used in the culture of challenging CHALLENGES • Cultures in the corporate world influencing how church operates SOLUTIONS • Budget must accommodate litigation matters • Moving back to the culture of promoting Faith

6. HIV & AIDS AWARENESS • Violation of human rights being cohersed as opposed to Voluntary Testing and Counseling CHALLENGES • Lack of awareness • Perception • Discriminative bank Laws and Legislations SOLUTION • Lack of awareness and workshops • Perception • Discriminative bank Laws and Legislations

7. Environmental Issues/ Indalo • Take note of the morning presentation • Emissions-Reduction of C02 • Power stations –fossil fuels • Generate energy CHALLENGES • Rich countries and haves dictates • Faith Based Organizations –do not have deep understanding on Environmental issues • People are not conversant of Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) • Solutions • Faith Based Organizations must integrate their plan and programs with Integrated Development Plans • Engaged in programs-Greening, Collect a can ,Recycling etc. • Awareness Campaigns-Education • Involve in National, Provincial, District and Local Issues • Appoint a dedicated desk within the Church • Partake in Arbor week-annually-Sept-plant a tree per household

8. Substance abuse • CHALLENGES • Parents tend to substitute love with money • Christians stock alcohol at home • Parents work long hours • No longer coming as raw drugs e.g. glass lining & injection

9. Solutions • We need to debate these in all church structures • Put control measures in place for young people-norms and values • Parents should play their role effectively

10. Human trafficking • Is a reality in our society • Does not distinguish ( male, female, age) SOLUTION • Parents should take care of their children i.e. sleepovers • We need to empower youth, Sunday school • Preach to engage on this topic

11. Xenophobia • Is a challenge in our society • It perpetrates crime • Competition for the same jobs SOLUTION • There is a need to address skills shortages i.e. through Msobumvu and SMME. • TOT should design a program the address Xenophobia

12. Homosexuals • The church has a challenge in making a stand on homosexuality SOLUTION • Allow conversation to continue

13. Ulwaluko • Young boy are dying • Compromising our cultural ways • Peer pressure SOLUTION • Parents should educate their children about their culture • Awareness of the new Legislation not enough

14. Corruption • Corruption is rife in our country and church CHALLENGES • Lack of accountability • The church is quiet • SOLUTION • Use our mediums of communication , like the New Dimension to speak out • We need to engage the SACC and ensure that it speaks out against corruption • We must work together with NGO ( ESSET)

15. Abuse of power • Our leaders are using their positions to push a certain agenda • This abuse of power is threatening our democracy • Challenge • Lack of accountability • Inferiority complex • Greater dependency on leaders to give direction • Solution • The people must give mandates to leaders • Put in place a framework that would be used as a yardstick to measure progress

16. State& Church Relations • We recognise that there is a need to have critical solidarity with government and political parties • Challenge • How do we do this without compromising us as a church • No influence in shaping the political agenda • Way forward • SACC must be visible and vocal • Use our members within the political sphere • Theologians need to product written material on this topic • As Christians we need to get involved in community politics

17. Reflection on 2010 World Cup • We note with concern that our members took loans to open businesses, that may not be sustainable after the WC • Challenges • How will we influence the fund left by FIFA ? • Way forward • The BMC at all levels must reflect on the WC

18. Decline of indigenous languages • The medium of communication out our public and private institutions is disadvantages our indigenous languages • SOLUTIONS • Parents must use their mother tongue at home • Engage private schools with Methodist influence to teach vernacular language • Engage government on the implementation of the language policy

19. END!END!END!END INDABA AZIPHELI IXHOBA LIXESHA