Poverty and Economic Justice in Southern Africa in the New Millennium. A Christian Approach.
Chishawasha Major Regional Seminary
30 July - 8 August 2001
Prompted by the suffering which is affecting so many people in Southern Africa Region, and moved by compassion and love particularly for
the poor and needy, the Bishops of IMBISA (Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa) decided to call for their tri-annual Plenary Assembly on the theme "Poverty and Economic Justice in
Southern Africa in the New Millennium. A Christian Approach".
A year ago, the Standing Committee decided that the whole Church in the IMBISA region should have the opportunity to PARTICIPATE both
in the preparation and in the implementation of the 6th IMBISA Plenary Assembly. It gave the IMBISA Secretariat the task to prepare guidelines and a questionnaire in order to promote and co-ordinate the participation of
the people.
AIM:
To involve the whole Family of God in Southern Africa in solving our problems of poverty and economic injustice in a spirit of freedom and corresponsibility in order to build a better world on the solid foundation of sound ethical and spiritual principles.
Objective 1: To promote a firm commitment to economic justice and solidarity of each member of God's People.
"The Church as the Family of God in Africa must bear witness to Christ by
promoting Justice and Peace on the Continent and throughout the world… The Church's witness must be accompanied by a firm commitment to justice and solidarity by each member of God's People" (Ecclesia in Africa
105) "In the measure that these activities help to reduce ignorance, improve public health and promote a greater participation of all in solving the problems of society in a spirit of freedom and co-responsibility,
the Church creates conditions for the progress of justice and peace" (EIA 112)
Objective 2:
To awake Christian communities to their EVANGELICAL responsibilities in the defense and promotion of human rights in general and economic rights in particular, avoiding the divorce between faith and life.
"…the Justice and Peace Commissions at various levels…will awaken Christian communities to their evangelical responsibilities in the defence of human rights" (EIA 106)
Objective 3: To draw
from the Gospel and the Social Teaching of the Church, the ethical and spiritual principles that will guide the life and the action of the Family of God in eradicating poverty and promoting economic justice.
"As God's Family on earth, the Church should be the living sign and efficacious instrument of universal solidarity for building a world-wide community of justice and peace. A better world will come about only if it
is built on the solid foundation of sound ethical and spiritual principles". (EIA 114)
The preparation is now completed and now the 6th IMBISA Plenary Assembly will be starting on the 30th of July 2001 at
the Chishawasha Major Seminary, Harare, Zimbabwe. The Pastoral Circle methodology will be used to deliberate on the theme because this methodology which is very useful to link Faith and Justice.
In Africa,
our usual and cultural point of departure in a discussion is always a story, a fable, or a proverb. We start off from our life experience. Our people, those who are considered materially poor, are very rich in human
values which are fundamental for a more human economy. We want to share with you a story that contains a lot of wisdom for us who want a better world for all.
Mary Ward Children's Home in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe,
was built as a response to the orphan crisis. It is operating at more than full capacity, with a total of 60 instead of 40 orphans, boys and girls of various ages from childhood to adolescence. In spite of this
overflow, the Sisters have now even extended the service to the community, particularly to child-headed (orphan-headed) households and children who have been forced to look for economic benefits from the streets.
One such child is Taurai Sibanda. He is about 10 years old but has never been to school. Taurai was brought to the Home by one of its workers. He received some sadza (staple food for people in Zimbabwe) from Sr.
Ortrudis. He had not eaten anything for days. He ate the sadza but left his plate half full. Sr. Shumbamhini was surprised and said to him, "I know you are very hungry. Why don't you eat all the food?" The boy
answered, "I want to take it to a friend who is also hungry. Please may I have a plastic bag to put it in".
IMBISA Plenary shall seek such values in the people of Southern Africa, so that relying
on these values the whole Church in this Region will fight poverty and its root causes, for the common good of all.
THE PASTORAL CIRCLE:
First Step: INSERTION
in order to learn about the situation of people living in poverty from themselves. WHAT is happening?
Second Step: SOCIAL ANALYSIS
in order to discover the root causes of this poverty. WHY is it happening?
Third step: BIBLICAL VISION AND THEOLOGICAL CRITERIA TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION
in order to discover the attitudes, values that should drive the Christians in their fight for the eradication of poverty and for economic justice.
Fourth Step: THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES FOR PASTORAL PLANNING
in order to get some ideas from the Family of God to plan the action for poverty eradication and economic justice.
