Apartheid

Racism and Power: Seeing the Invisible Structures

Talks, Video
Racism has both an individual and a structural element and as such is intricately linked to systems of power and privilege. This talk probes us to examine the intricate link between power and prejudice within both society and the church. And then, building on the work and example of Christ in Philippians 2, invites us to consider what a biblical theology of power and privilege could look like as we…
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Diversity and Church Planting

Talks, Video
Stephen Murray and Doug Logan explore what it means to face diversity, race and unity in church planting. What do we need in order to establish churches which express the diverse people of God found in Scripture? What will cross-shaped love cost us in pursuing diversity? How do we do pursue both individual discipleship and make significant structural decisions if we wish to deal with racism and pursue diversity in…
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Julle Mense

White Privilege and the Christian (with Linda Martindale)

Podcasts
In this episode David and John discuss the concept of White Privilege with special guest, Linda Martindale from the Warehouse. What is white privilege? Where do you see it at work in society and in the church? What about those white people who really had to struggle? Does white privilege exclude the reality of hard work? Has white privilege affected the church? Should white people feel guilty? How does the…
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Decolonising Discipleship: Is it Enough to “Just Teach the Bible”?

Talks
There is a popular line of thought in some Christian circles that goes something like this: "We don't get involved in 'politics' or issues of racial controversy, we just teach the Bible". But is the idea of an a-contextual faith possible or even desirable? In this talk, given at TGIF, Cape Town, John Scheepers questions whether the concept of an a-contextual faith is itself even possible or more significantly desirable.…
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Julle Mense

Spatial Injustice and Inclusive Housing (with Caroline Powell)

Podcasts
In the light of the controversy surrounding the failure of the City of Cape Town to provide inclusive housing and the subsequent resignation of Councillor Brett Heron, David and John sit down with Caroline Powell from the Warehouse to talk about issue of spatial injustice, inclusive housing, the legacy of apartheid and the role of the church. Audio produced by Exilic Music www.exilic.co.za
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Julle Mense

The Ellen Pakkies Story

Podcasts
In this episode David and John review and discuss the South African movie Ellen: The Ellen Pakkies Story, the story of a mother who murdered her tik (crystal meth) addicted son in 2007. This movie, with strong Christian themes, tells the harrowing, true story of a family, a community and a woman whom society has failed. David and John discuss the community of Lavender Hill, in which the movie is…
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How Did our good evangelical theology allow apartheid

How did our “Good Evangelical Theology” Allow Apartheid?

Blog
The theology of Apartheid may have been perfected by the Dutch Reformed Church but it was born among the English-speaking evangelical missionaries who sought to promote the evangelization of the indigenous people whilst leaving white supremacy untouched. The resolution passed by the 1857 Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, and proposed by evangelicals, agreed that whilst it was both Scriptural and desirable to integrate indigenous believers into the existing church…
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Julle Mense

Reflecting on Ashwin Willemse’s Walk Out

Podcasts
In this episode David Cloete and John Scheepers discuss the events surrounding rugby analyst and former Springbok wing, Ashwin Willemse's, walk out from the Supersport studio during a live broadcast accusing fellow analysts Naas Botha and Nick Mallet of patronizing and undermining him. David and John touch on topics such as "the race card", patronizing of black people, white supremacy, insidious racism, the quota system, the church, racism receipts, meritocracy…
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Restitution and Repentance

Land and Restitution Forum: Restitution and Repentance

Talks
The aim of this Land and Restitution forum was to discuss these important issues biblically and contextually. To reflect on our history, our fears and ideologies and our current socio-economic and political context through the lens of cross-centred, contextual theology. To apply gospel thinking and practice to this crucial issue which is currently further exposing the divided state of the church along racial and economic lines. In this talk John…
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