THE ENVIRONMENT, POVERTY AND THE CHURCH IN SOUTH AFRICA Andrew Edward

355 Pages·2010·16.85 MB·English

CONSTRUCTING AN OIKOTHEOLOGY:
THE ENVIRONMENT, POVERTY AND THE CHURCH
IN SOUTH AFRICA
Andrew Edward Warmback
Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Religion and Theology,
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
2005
/
/
ABSTRACT
South Africa is a country ofgreatnatural resources yet suffers from high levels of
poverty. This study looks at the relationship between the environment and
poverty inSouth Africa and the role ofthe churchin this context. There is a
focus onthe Church ofthe Province ofSouthern Africa (CPSA) and on one of its
dioceses, the Diocese of Umzimvubu.
While the church inSouth Africa has been conscious of its responsibility in
eradicating poverty, it has not expressed a strong concernfor the environment,
less still has it been conscious that this concern is closely connected to the task of
eradicating poverty. The metaphor ofthe oikos (or household) ofGod is explored
as a metaphor that may be usefully employed to help describe the relationship
betweenthe environment and poverty. Itis proposed that anoikotheologIj be
constructed to enable the churchto engage withboththe ecological and the
economic aspects ofthe environment.
This study asserts that the preservation and enhancementof the environment
impacts positively on the alleviation of poverty. What is also needed, and often
neglected, is to ensure that the resources ofthe environment are accessible to all
and equitably distributed.
Theological resources that articulate anoikotheologtjfor theSouth Africancontext
are explored, and possible actions for the church promoted.
ACKNO~EDGEMENTS
Iacknowledge the help ofa number of people in the process of producing this
thesis:
• Prof Steve de Gruchy, my supervisor, for his guidance, encouragement,
patience and sense ofhumour.
• Alison, my wife, for her support throughout my studies and also during
the process of writing this thesis. Dominic, our son, for his interest and
enthusiasm for the issues contained in this thesis. Our families and
friends for their on goingsupport.
• Geoff Davies, former bishop ofthe Diocese of Urnzimvubu, and his wife,
Kate, for their willingco-operation in this research.
• Rubin Phillip, my diocesan bishop, who has shown an interest in my
studies.
• My previous employer, the Parish of Hillcrest (Diocese of Natal), and
my present employer, Diakonia Council of Churches, who have been
supportive in allowing me time to attend the required post graduate
seminars. Diakonia Council of Church allowed me to use part of
sabbatical leave to work on the thesis.
• The librarians at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, those in the inter
library loan section, the theology subject advisor; and the keeper of the
Historical Papers, William Cullen Library, University of the
Witwatersrand, who have been helpful in enabling me to access
material.
• Mrs Sheila Freese for providing space for me at her home to work on the
thesis, and Craig Freese, for arranging it.
• Karen Read for her helpful comments on a draft.
• The University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Diocese of Natal for financial
support towards this study.
11
DEDICATION
Alison Gail Warmback
111
DECLARATION
I declare that the whole thesis, unless specifically indicated to the contrary in the
text, is my own original work.
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Andrew E. Warmback Date
As supervisor, Iagree to the submission of this thesis.
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ProfS. M. de Gruchy\·'.-/: Date
IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I
iii
DEDICATION
iv
DECLARAnON
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACRONYMS X
MAP OF DIOCESE OF UMZIMVUBU Xl
CHAPTER1: INTRODUCTION
1
1.1 Introduction
2
1.2 Purpose of the study
3
1.3 The Title
3
1.3.1 Constructingan oikotheology
4
1.3.2 The Environment and poverty
4
1.3.3 The Church in South Africa
5
1.4 Chapter divisions
5
1.4.1 The Environment and poverty
5
1.4.2 The Church's response
1.4.3 The Church of the Province ofSouthern Africa (CPSA) 5
5
1.4.4 The Diocese of Umzimvubu
6
1.4.5 Theological resources
6
1.4.6 Strategies for the church
6
1.4.7 Appendices
7
1.5 Precedents
7
1.6 Research methodology
8
1.7 Limitations of this research
9
1.7.1 Anglican focus
9
1.7.2 Time frame
9
1.8 Recurrent themes
10
1.8.1 Justice: Race and gender
10
1.8.2 Land
10
1.9 Conclusion
CHAPTER 2: HOME FOR ALL: THE ENVIRONMENT AND POVERTY
11
2.1 Introduction
12
2.2 The Environment
15
2.3 Poverty
17
2.4 Poverty eradication
v
2.5 The Environment and poverty within the South African context 20
2.6 Poverty in South Africa 20
2.7 Historical overview 24
2.7.1 Colonial period 25
2.7.2 Union ofSouth Africa and apartheid 26
2.7.3 Towards the "newSouth Africa" 30
2.7.4 Facing the challenges 33
2.7.5 Avoiding the challenges 36
2.8 Reasons for a lack ofconcern for the environment 39
2.9 The Way forward 40
2.10 Conclusion 42
CHAPTER 3: DISCOVERING THE HOME: THE RESPONSE OFTHE
CHURCH
3.1 Introduction 43
3.2 The Inactivity of the church 44
3.3 Justice Peace and the Integrity ofCreation (JPIC) 49
3.4 Positive engagement with environment issues 51
3.4.1 South African Council ofChurches (SACC) 51
3.4.2 Church statements 56
3.4.3 Conferences 61
3.4.4 Organisations 63
3.4.4.1 Ecumenical environment organisations 64
3.4.4.2 Interfaith environment organisations 67
3.5 World Summitfor Sustainable Development (WSSD) 71
3.6 Conclusion 73
CHAPTER 4: SEARCHING FOR HOME: THE CHURCH OF
THE PROVINCE OFSOUTHERN AFRICA (CPSA)
4.1 Introduction 75
4.2 Worldwide Anglican Communion 76
4.3 Anglican perspectives on the environment 77
4.3.1 Understanding of mission 78
4.3.2 Archbishops ofCanterbury 79
4.3.3 Lambeth conferences 81
4.3.4 Global Anglican Congress on the Stewardship ofCreation 82
4.3.5 Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) 84
VI
4.3.6 Establishment of the Environment Network 85
88
4.3.6.1 Canberra meeting
4.3.7 Conclusion: Still searchingfor an oikotheologlj 88
4.4 Church of the Province ofSouthern Africa (CPSA) 89
90
4.5 Provincial synods
90
4.5.1 1973 Johannesburg
91
4.5.2 1985 Pietermaritzburg
92
4.5.3 1992Swaziland
93
4.5.4 1995 Kimberley
96
4.5.5 1999 Durban
97
4.5.6 2002 Bloemfontein
100
4.5.7 2005 Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal
100
4.6 Land in the CPSA
101
4.7 CPSA Environment Network
103
4.8 Conclusion
CHAPTER5: AT HOME IN AFRICA: THE DIOCESE OF UMZIMVUBU
105
5.1 Introduction
106
5.2 Overview of the life of the diocese
110
5.3 Development in the diocese
110
5.3.1 Particular people
113
5.3.2 Developmentcommittee
5.3.3 Aspects of development in the diocese 114
117
5.4 Education and training
118
5.4.1 Theological training
121
5.4.2 Training centre
124
5.5 Land in the diocese
128
5.6 Sustainable agriculture
5.7 Umzimvubu Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Education
130
Programme (USAEEP)
132
5.7.1 Support for the programme
136
5.7.2 Description of some projects
138
5.7.3 Evaluation of the programme
140
5.8 Particular occasions and issues
141
5.8.1 World Environment Day
142
5.8.2 Cathedral
144
5.9 Particular threats
145
5.9.1 Forestry
151
5.9.2 N2 Wild Coast toll road
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