23 September 2022
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Story Valentino Ndaba
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Photo Rawpixel
Churches need to support people of African descent as they continually negotiate the difficulties imposed on them by global realities.
“The history of the church, profiting from the enslavement of Africans, colonialism, and racial segregation, is documented. These legacies of the past, which also found justification in church doctrine, are the root cause of racism and other intolerances that are afflicting people of African descent today.”
Dr Catherine Namakula, Senior Lecturer in Public Law at the University of the Free State (UFS), made these remarks as part of her address at the recent
11th Assembly of the
World Council of Churches (WCC). She spoke in her capacity as Chairperson of the United Nations (UN) Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.
Decolonising for diversity
According to Dr Namakula, the UN and WCC work closely together on combating racism and racial discrimination against minorities, as well as on the human rights concerns of people of African descent.
“The church was established to be, and it is indeed a transformative agent, but in many respects it has battled to sever itself from the strong dynamics of the society in which it operates,” she said.
Confronting this past would require churches to neutralise the colour of models of spiritual beings and integrate teachings against racism and racial discrimination in Sunday Schools for children. Dr Namakula also believes that affirming the distinctiveness and sacredness of black lives; decolonising worship to allow for diversity to thrive; and addressing racism and racial discrimination in families through premarital counselling would be a step in the right direction.
Fighting the good fight
She said that in order for transformation to take place churches needs to stop dehumanising black people, as they are accountable for and to all, irrespective of racial identity.
In closing her address Dr Namakula urged churches to strengthen their stand against racism and racial discrimination. “Stand with people of African descent in their quest for reparations and effective and meaningful representation in all sectors of society,” she said. “The voice of the church needs to be uncompromised on matters of Haitian migrants, African migrant workers in the Middle East, persons of African descent fleeing the war in Ukraine, police brutality, racial profiling, and xenophobia among other cutting-edge issues.”
She emphasised that an end to creed-based discrimination is the beginning of true equality. “Equality ought to be present from prayers, which in many respects are predetermined, to the image of a white Jesus and white angels in contrast to a black devil and black demons contributing to the further perpetuation of demonisation and criminalisation of black people. From disproportionate black poverty and white affluence, which are a strong undercurrent in church politics, all the way to the images of starving African children that are still being utilised in appeals for funding and church projects.”
Dr Catherine Namakula, Senior Lecturer in Public Law at theUniversity of the Free State. (Photo: Supplied)