God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

“The Nex – Indawo Yethu”

Theological Consideration – second draft

Normally Catholic priests in South Africa are bound to parish life, leading under the authority of a Bishop the faithful of a prescribed territorial area in prayer, worship and caritative actions for those in need.

Running a foundation during the week and only attending to the spiritual needs on a weekend as a supply priest before retirement is already different and for some not fitting the picture of a priest. Building a campus in a gang and crime ridden area is then certainly not their first priestly task and would be seen as extra-ordinary, rather flamboyant in church terms.

And still, I believe there is merit to look with a theological and pastoral eye exactly on this campus comprising of buildings serving in the following areas: Health, Early Childhood Development, Social Services, Youth, Entrepreneurial Skills Development and Vocational Training. Not to forget community uplifting, understanding of democracy and the value of human life and human dignity.

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
Genesis 1:31

Having worked in the Delft area since more than a decade Delft mirrors all the shortcomings of the new South Africa, it showcases the lost hopes, the cut-short aspirations, the undervalue of life as such, latent racism and not a lot of those living there would on a daily base and in their daily life agree, that all is “very good”. Churches of different kinds are spread all over Delft and often for some hours they beam those attending gatherings into a different sphere trying to instil hope for the days to come.

Sermons can be a good tool to inspire but I feel that theology and bible are more than source for fiery sermons, theology – the word of God – must trickle down much more than just in words and charity, it must be felt and walked the talk by development and action on the ground. The word of God must be felt in the trenches of daily life experience for those left out here in South Africa after more than 30 years living in the promised land called the New South Africa.

Theology can also not only be confined in the framework of parishes, formation seminars, theological faculties and church structures – it must cover that “God looked over all he had made” – so there should be room for more than church structures allowing the word “catholic” – meaning covering the whole – universal to be put into action.

Theology must also be able to be applied to what we do and how we act – it should be able to make sense and to bring a greater meaning to our action – it is part of a circle of action – interpretation – encouragement and out of this more, different but definitely better or more appropriate action again before the circle starts anew. At the same time there is no need for religion to capture what is done. There will be different motivations, different ethos and different religious affiliation and convictions of those working together on a project like “The Nex”.  There will be different ways to describe God or the reason for creation, there will be different theologies – and if such a project fosters more dialogue amongst those different pictures without becoming a competition there is another ecumenical and inter-religious meaning in what we do. “The Nex” becomes a place where unspoken different religions encounter each other in a practical way for the better good of people. The blessings ceremony for The Nex – Indawo Yethu  gave witness to intention and prayers when a Catholic priest, a Rabbi, an Imam and a Sangoma not only spoke but brought the blessings onto the new venture.

In the Catholic Church we talk about the “option for the poor” – and again here we are: How easy is it, to establish oneself as an NGO in one of the safe areas instead of going there, where it hurts, where things will on a long run not only run smoothly but hurtles will be encountered, failures will happen and the hardship of life will be mirrored and shared within this project as people experience it themselves every day. Walking together and staying together even if it hurts at times is taking the words “all is very good” almost on a prophetic level: we are not in the promised land, but we have made ourselves ready to walk towards it; together and equipped with hope, love and faith, that we can reach our destiny.

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?.”
 1 Corinthians 6:19

Spiritually is often connected to meditation and prayer, sometimes fasting exercises which indicate that concentrating on the body is an important part of such exercises. Mindfulness towards body and spirit.
I strongly believe that to a holistic spiritual wellbeing health and attention to the body is non-negotiable. The Nex – Indawo Yethu acknowledges this with the offering of health services, linked to social services and the programme of the “First 1000 days” specifically looking at the wellbeing of a human being in the decisive foundation phase of life.

Health, Wellness – mental health and an environment to thrive is so important, especially for children and adolescents. Not forgetting those kids with special needs, whose wellbeing will be catered for specifically in the Early Childhood Development Centre of the Campus.

Safety is another aspect of bodily wellbeing. The Nex – Indawo Yethu is situated in an area which is marked currently by violence and gangsterism, as well as drug-related problems. It is certainly not a safe area, and it was interesting to see and hear, that in the first community participation meeting we had, the question of safety was raised several times: “Are our kids, our youngsters safe on your campus?” Obviously, this is a challenge and if you want the ugly side of business to admit, that security measures have to play a vital role in planning and executing this project. But ones again: the hope that The Nex – Indawo Yethu can be a turning point in moving into a more peaceful future translates a building into a prophetic sign that change is possible and change in this regard is on the way.

“The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself as the God of Israel I will not forsake them.”
Isaiah 41:17

God is not partial – but throughout the bible one can read about God being especially close to those who are in need. And this means also, that God can never be far away from poverty and need, from hunger and despair, from all the cries of help.
God does not operate from a safe distance, but in the messy, dangerous, difficult, and joyous areas of our lives. And he does this through human hands and feet. He does this not speaking wise and holy words but in deeds; he also does not rely on charity but wants those working in his name to walk with the people and to empower people. Charity can create dependencies and is rather an emergency tool. Being the living word of God as a Christian means to embrace those in need and in despair entirely – making acquaintance instead of dependents and walking together parts of life’s journey. Health and education are the basic tools to have the advantage of a good starting point in life.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:40

Social justice was always a central theme for the bible and the Catholic Church. It was not always obvious and often overshadowed by other teachings. In the last decades the church discovered social teaching more and more and, in our days, this teaching is indeed a hidden gem which should be brought much more forward and implemented in daily life. While charity is certainly a trademark of the Catholic Church, development in the context of real participation could still be optimized.

The Nex – Indawo Yethu tries to adhere to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching which could be divided in seven pillars and based of the dignity of the human person:

Common good and community

Principle of subsidiarity

Economic justice

Stewardship of God’s creation

Global solidarity and development

Rights and responsibilities

Preferential option for the poor

Dignity of the Human Person

At the core of Catholic moral and social teaching stands the recognition, that every person is made in the image of God. Therefor every person has to be treated with a respect, which is not based on human accomplishments or attributes.
For HOPE Cape Town it was always a creed to treat everybody with respect acknowledging the dignity of everybody. In facilitating direct encounters between those living at the margins of society and those who are in charge as politicians we help to acknowledge this dignity for all concerned.

Common good and community

The common good consists of the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more easily. While there are benefits of private ownership, there is never a justification for exclusive use when others lack necessities. We all have the duty to contribute to the common good.
The Nex – Indawo Yethu represents a development with the participation of those living in Delft. Its services and opportunities contribute to the common good of this township and hopefully beyond.

Economic justice

Economy must serve the people, and people are always before profit. All workers have the right to productive work, fair salaries, and safe working environment. HOPE Cape Town creates several new jobs for The Nex – Indawo Yethu and makes sure that salaries are decent and sustaining.
The vocational training and entrepreneurial skills courses are also contributing to better jobs, better perspective and so also to economic justice.

Stewardship of God’s creation

We are called to take care of creation and to be co-creators. The Nex – Indawo Yethu building is constructed and designed conscious of the environment. A garden will teach especially children to look after nature. Recycling is another contribution to the stewardship.

Global solidarity and development

We are all interconnected, interdependent and rely on each other in society to have a safe and secure life for all. That entails to look after each other and to ensure meaningful development. HOPE Cape Town connects via The Nex – Indawo Yethu with a substantial number of partners from the Western Cape but also internationally. It contributes with it to global solidarity and is in itself a development tool.

Rights and responsibilities

Rights and responsibilities are interlinked. For every right there is also a responsibility. Human rights are needed to ensure human dignity, the right to a decent living means the responsibly to pay fair salaries. We are responsible for each other – and the work and services offered at The Nex – Indawo Yethu ensure that the balance between rights and responsibilities are adhered to.

Preferential option for the poor

The preferential option for the poor spells out that especially those who are at the margin of society, those who are overlooked often by society and those who are most vulnerable deserve special attention. The move of HOPE Cape Town to Delft is an expression of the organisation to walk with those who are still disadvantaged in many ways.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.
Psalm 17:6

Indawo Yethu – the place where people come together from all social backgrounds, from all different walks of life to find a safe space to interact, to learn and to listen to each other.
If there is something church should be doing especially in South Africa; it is to create spaces where people listening to each other – where there is time, space, and safety to tell the stories of life, of pain, of tears, of injustice, of powerlessness. Not only listening but hearing what the other has to say and to acknowledge and respect the path, somebody walked till now, could contribute so much to the healing of South Africa’s society.

A place which is alive and still has places for silent reflection
A place where people come together and see each other in the true sense of the word
A place where lives are touched and love is experienced without explicit missionary intention
A place where everybody is welcome and being listened to
A place which is a helping tool to bring more respect, more peace, more understanding
A place where people participate and grow instead of depending on hand-outs
A place which is truly catholic because it does not exclude anyone.

Filed under: Africa, Catholic Church, Reflection, Religion and Ethics, Africa, catholic church, catholic social teaching, Church Matters, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Indawo Yethu, The Nex, TheNex, theology