‘Church must speak out’

FORT Hare University’s head of theology Dr Reuben Rashe has called on church leaders to speak out against injustice as the country was now on a “slippery slope”.

Rashe was delivering a keynote address at the graduation ceremony of Bransby Key Theological College students in Mthatha over the weekend.

“How do we make a contribution as the church to protect our earned democracy? Isn’t it time for us to revive the campaigns like standing for truth and say no to corruption and state capture?” he asked.

“We have been sitting in silence for a long time and been tolerant to the government to such an extent of compromising the gospel message of speaking against injustice. As the church we need to save the country from this deep hole,” said Rashe.

The college is run by the Anglican Church of Mthatha Diocese, but allows students from all denominations to study theology there.

Rashe said church leaders needed to ask themselves what the church could do to make the popular ANC slogan of radical economic transformation relevant to ordinary citizens.

He said theologians also needed to stand against corruption, the general decay of moral fibre as well as violence against women and children.

“If you become silent on these evils you will be ignoring the task of a theologian. We must be good stewards of God’s creation.

“We cannot separate church from society, and therefore we cannot separate theology from politics,” he added.

O R Tambo mayor Nomakhosazana Meth was among invited guests and called upon the church to take centre-stage in the fight for human rights and community development, as it did before liberation.

● See Opinion on page 7