There is no mention of explicit Anglican involvement in any of the following news reports from Zimbabwe. Nevertheless the event described seems worth reporting.
Reuters Mugabe rejects church calls for a new constitution
Voice of America Zimbabwe Churchmen Present ‘National Vision’ To President Mugabe
The Herald Harare via _AllAfrica.com Zimbabwe: Churches Present Draft Document to President
Associated Press via the International Herald-Tribune Church leaders ask for forgiveness, call for reconciliation to heal Zimbabwe
Hat Tip Magic Statistics.
At the recent World Assembly for Religions Peace (title correct?) in Kyoto, some Catholics shared the story that their credibility and ability to heal in Argentina only improved after they confessed to their silence or actions that had either directly or indirectly tolerated the harsh treatment of Argentinians in their unjust war. God willing, this might be a turning point for Zimbabwe too.
The Zimababweans need more than our prayers, they need practical support in terms of food. But our prayers are important as they also need to not only stabilize nourishment but the infrastructure and provision of services.
How I wish the "great" Christian nations were modelling encouraging self-sufficient sustainable economic models that are socially just. This would play a much better ambassadorial role for Jesus than being the first to pull out sanctions and take actions to destabilise economies and handicap infrastructure in societies they fear. Especially when often that fear reflects more anger that they are not under their control than they are an actual threat. The irony is that in trying to intimidate submission they merely ensure resistance and resentment.
Better for those who don't know how to manage their fear to trust God and work on getting their own house in order. If we create just and sustainable models, and help others do the same, we become worthy models that others can aspire to copy. Plus we are modelling behaviours that are worthy of being copying.
At the moment, many of the models encourage the use of power to deprive and intimidate civilian populations. Populations without adequate access to food, water, medicines, shelter, infrastructure, personal safety and companionship are not stable societies.
The only people who win by destabilising societies are those who enjoy having the power to contol or destroy others lives, and those who love war and violence and want to ensure there are tension points to justify the ongoing existence of their standing armies (either overt or covert) and propoganda machines.
Posted by: Cheryl Clough on Monday, 30 October 2006 at 4:51pm GMTDoes the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe belong to the Zimbabwe Council of Churches?
Posted by: Cynthia Gilliatt on Monday, 30 October 2006 at 5:33pm GMTCan we know the names and addresses of churches to which we could send food for distribution to the hungry?
Posted by: victoria mort on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 at 8:23pm BST