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The end of democracy? Theological perspectives: UFS Theological Day

22 February 2024 | Story EDZANI NEPHALELA | Photo LETHABO MACHABAPHALA

Theological Day 2024 — From left to right: Prof Lodewyk Sutton (Acting Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion), Prof John Klassen (Dean Designate), Prof Heinrich Bedford-Strohnm (Moderator at the World Council of Churches) and Prof Henco van der Westhuizen (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Theology and Religion) participated in the Theological Day event held at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

South African democracy, born from the crucible of struggle, stands as a beacon of hope on the African continent. Rising from the shadows of apartheid, it has evolved into a vibrant, pluralistic society with inclusive governance and constitutional protections. However, as the nation approaches its forthcoming elections and enters its fourth decade of democracy, persistent challenges such as inequality, corruption, and unemployment continue to test the resilience of the citizens.

On 12 February 2024, the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of the Free State hosted an event themed “The end of democracy? theological perspectives” on the Bloemfontein Campus, commemorating Theological Day with intellectual discussions and celebrations.

Associate Professor Prof Henco van der Westhuizen, from the Department of Historical and Constructive Theology, introduced the keynote speaker, Prof Heinrich Bedford-Strohnm, leader of the World Council of Churches, who shared insightful thoughts during the event.

Prof Heinrich Bedford-Strohnm articulated, "Dignity might be mere words, but it carries profound meaning. We must question whether the principles inscribed in the South African Constitution are genuinely upheld. Democracy, according to the Bible, is about treating everyone equally, showing respect, and fostering understanding. It transcends mere power; it entails using power to safeguard the weak and more vulnerable, mirroring the ideals of the South African Constitution."

Addressing the impact of digitalisation on society, he noted that while it unites the world, it also poses challenges for democracy. Despite its potential to enhance participation, transparency, and accountability, the digital landscape, saturated with social media platforms, inadvertently fuels the commercial realm. Countless hours are spent disseminating unverified information, and fake news, and fostering hatred to benefit algorithms and the commercial sphere.

While the South African Constitution grants the right to freedom of expression, Prof Heinrich Bedford-Strohnm advised churches to carefully navigate their involvement in political issues. “It's crucial to be mindful of the context, manner, and openness of communication for effective public discourse. While supporting political views is acceptable, active participation should be avoided.”

News Archive

Community engagement must be a core function of universities

2009-05-21

Members of the NatCEMF Steering Committee are, from the left: Mr Jerome Slamat, Senior Director: Community Interaction, Stellenbosch University, Ms Beatrix Bouwman, Manager: Community Engagement, North-West University, Rev Kiepie Jaftha, Chief Director: Community Service, UFS and chairperson of the committee, Prof. Allan Femi Lana, Director: Institute for Rural Development and Community Engagement, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Prof. Seth Pollack, Fulbright Scholar, University of Western Cape (guest speaker at the meeting), Prof. Denver Hendricks, Director: Community Engagement, University of Pretoria, and Prof. Priscilla Daniels, Chairperson: Human Ecology and Research and CHESP Research Coordinator, University of the Western Cape.
Photo: Lacea Loader

It is important that all tertiary institutions in South Africa should work together and commit themselves to advance the cause of community engagement in the country.

This was one of the main outcomes of the second meeting held by the National Community Engagement Manager’s Forum (NatCEMF) at the South Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein recently. The meeting was attended by 34 representatives of 16 higher education institutions in the country.

“I am astounded at the interest in this matter. The representatives are committed to make community engagement a core function of their institutions and we all agreed that we should get more involved in expanding this across all institutions. A need for a formal structure for us all to work together and have a more collective voice was also identified,” said Rev Kiepie Jaftha, Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS and Chairperson of the NatCEMF Steering Committee.

“There is a growing need to expand and develop our engagement with communities – to share our experiences and best practices and to learn from each other. There are universities that are doing excellent work in this field and, by having a formal structure, we can do a lot more towards advancing community engagement,” said Rev Jaftha.

The meeting identified matters such as the coordination of higher education institutions’ involvement in community engagement, the facilitation of research about community engagement, promoting service learning as transformation, the establishment of a community engagement resource centre and the organisation of a national community engagement conference as some of its aims. A national steering committee was also elected.

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