A Discussion with Sharon February, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, on the Role of Religion in the Community
With: Sharon February Berkley Center Profile
May 22, 2009
Background: As part of the Peacebuilding Practitioners Interview Series, Ilan Cooper interviewed Sharon February, who is the program administrator for the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) and a member of the Anglican Church of South Africa. In this interview, February speaks about the role of the church in mitigating conflict in South Africa.
Can you talk about your involvement with religion in South Africa?
I have belonged to the Anglican Church for 35 years. Obviously [Desmond] Tutu is the leader of this church. This church was actively involved in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the fight against apartheid. I was very young during apartheid and thus was not active. However, even I remember that the message about the injustice of apartheid came from the church. Also my sister, who is older than me, was a youth leader. She had access to church facilities, and I remember her talking of the church being anti-apartheid. They would allow for African National Congress/Umkhonto weSizwe meetings under the stage of the church and would conduct ceremonies above the stage to hide them. There was a very strong message from Tutu. He was my hero. He spoke out and educated the people. I was so young, but I still remember apartheid always being there. I remember riots and the police. It interrupted my childhood. Tutu was an educator. The church was a stable place in this time. It was involved in everything and had a stabilizing effect. People went there for comfort. It showed society that something was okay.
What was the church's role in the transition?
The church needs to play a major part in the transition. South Africa is very faith-based. It is not just Christian, but Muslim and Jewish, and everyone is very religious. Faith in South Africa is very strong. FBOs had and should have a major role in the transition. They have a role of guidance and can shape what reconciliation should look like.
What is their current role?
FBOs must continue to have a major role. It is their responsibility. They must participate in all issues. There are too many problems with South Africa to say which one is most important. They must deal with poverty and HIV and all these social issues. They must also fill the gaps. As far as communities are concerned they must be the bridge. The way people meet and bond. They must create a space for the communities to become reconnected. They must connect all the communities.
What of the concern that many of those religious actors have become less vocal since the transition?
It is not just religious actors. Civil society as a whole has become less vocal since the transition. Especially since the TRC. People are happy that democracy has been achieved. They have stopped working because there was such relief that democracy had happened. However, the transition is not complete. It never can be. It is always happening. Civil society has taken a back seat after democracy, and this is a bad thing. People have sat on their laurels and thus things have deteriorated.
I have belonged to the Anglican Church for 35 years. Obviously [Desmond] Tutu is the leader of this church. This church was actively involved in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the fight against apartheid. I was very young during apartheid and thus was not active. However, even I remember that the message about the injustice of apartheid came from the church. Also my sister, who is older than me, was a youth leader. She had access to church facilities, and I remember her talking of the church being anti-apartheid. They would allow for African National Congress/Umkhonto weSizwe meetings under the stage of the church and would conduct ceremonies above the stage to hide them. There was a very strong message from Tutu. He was my hero. He spoke out and educated the people. I was so young, but I still remember apartheid always being there. I remember riots and the police. It interrupted my childhood. Tutu was an educator. The church was a stable place in this time. It was involved in everything and had a stabilizing effect. People went there for comfort. It showed society that something was okay.
What was the church's role in the transition?
The church needs to play a major part in the transition. South Africa is very faith-based. It is not just Christian, but Muslim and Jewish, and everyone is very religious. Faith in South Africa is very strong. FBOs had and should have a major role in the transition. They have a role of guidance and can shape what reconciliation should look like.
What is their current role?
FBOs must continue to have a major role. It is their responsibility. They must participate in all issues. There are too many problems with South Africa to say which one is most important. They must deal with poverty and HIV and all these social issues. They must also fill the gaps. As far as communities are concerned they must be the bridge. The way people meet and bond. They must create a space for the communities to become reconnected. They must connect all the communities.
What of the concern that many of those religious actors have become less vocal since the transition?
It is not just religious actors. Civil society as a whole has become less vocal since the transition. Especially since the TRC. People are happy that democracy has been achieved. They have stopped working because there was such relief that democracy had happened. However, the transition is not complete. It never can be. It is always happening. Civil society has taken a back seat after democracy, and this is a bad thing. People have sat on their laurels and thus things have deteriorated.
Opens in a new window