August is known as the month of compassion but it’s an essential way of life and being for each day of our lives as we follow Jesus the Christ, who responded with loving compassion to all whom he met. This month also marks particular anniversaries – the first atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and South African National Women’s Day to commemorate the march in 1956 of 20,000 women, to protest the pass laws. The Southern African Anglican church’s decision in 1992 to ordain women as priests also took place in August.
Continue readingGender based violence: Women, patriarchy, and the church
National Women’s Day in South Africa on 9 August commemorates a powerful moment in our history. In 1956, 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, to protest against the carrying of pass books and legislation aimed at tightening the apartheid government’s control over the movement of black women in urban areas.
This month also marks the 28th anniversary of the Anglican Church’s decision to ordain women as priests. It’s a good moment to reflect on women and the church, whatever your denomination or faith community.
Continue readingA courageous conversation: Gender-based violence
Do BLACK LIVES MATTER or do ALL LIVES MATTER?
A discussion note for South African Christians via SACLI
By Rev Edwin Arrison, 10 July 2020
A basic statement of faith is that all people are created in the image of God. And all people have God’s breath within us (Gen 1 and 2).
But what happens if, over hundreds of years, this image is denied within black people and a universal cry rings out “We can’t breathe!” At that point, black people affirm—without seeking the validation of others—that indeed BLACK LIVES MATTER. The cry of the people simply echoes the cry of God. That is why it can truly be called a “movement” and not simply a “moment”. Continue reading
Moet ons sê: SWART LEWENS MAAK SAAK, of eerder: ALLE LEWENS MAAK SAAK?
‘n Christelike meditasie
Deur Eerw. Edwin Arrison namens SACLI
‘n Fundamentele Christelike stelling is dat alle mense na God se beeld geskape is en God se lewens-asem en gees in hom of haar het (Genesis 1 en 2).
Maar wat gebeur wanneer ‘n groot groep van die mensdom (swart mense) begin skreeu: “Ons kan nie asemhaal nie!”? Die stem van hierdie mense, wat ook God se lewens-asem het, eggo hiermee die stem van God, en soek gevolglik nie erkenning of toestemming vir die kreet nie. Continue reading
JUNE 16
Covid-Zooming with VYLTP alumni
To both mourn and celebrate VYLTP amidst the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, several alumni and leaders of VYLTP gathered on Zoom on 24 May 2020.
We mourned because we had to cancel the 2020 cohort of VYLTP. And we celebrated as we could see the faces and hear the voices of alumni from Swaziland, Kenya, Palestine, the USA, Canada and also South Africa. This was the first time that the young leaders from the first four cohorts met. We were determined “not to waste a good crisis”, as one of them (Louis) said.
Continue readingCovid-19: A pause or a reset button?
Right now we are all facing a global crisis that will get worse before it gets better. In South Africa we are managing it reasonably well. But a lack of good leadership elsewhere could lead to 100 000 or more deaths in those countries where we have alumni. We are deeply concerned about them and their families. We are praying for them at this time.
Because of this crisis, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the 5-week block programme for this year. We might be able to continue with some weekend programmes.
Welcome to our new website
Welcome to the brand-new, out-of-the-box VYLTP website. We know that it will serve the needs of young leaders in the Church and society. The website will not only keep everyone informed of the Volmoed Youth programme and its alumni, but also publish thoughtful articles on this blog to empower young leaders, help them grow in faith, hope and love, and lead to actions in that same spirit.
Continue reading