Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

Anglican bishops under the leadership of Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane have said that they continue to be deeply concerned about the treatment of women in our society. So much so that, in solidarity with all women in Southern Africa, they intend organising a series of special events on August 9 this year.

This decision was taken during a five-day, bi-annual meeting of the Synod of Bishops in Bloemfontein last week.

The Anglican Church hopes to use National Women's Day, as well as the Sixteen Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Childen - held in November/December - to honour women, to pray and to proclaim the church's support for the place of women in all societies of Southern Africa. The bishops will invite leaders of all faith groups, of business, government and civil society to join them in these events. The bishops urge these leaders to promote the good of women and children in all that they do.

While celebrating the 10th anniversary of the South African Constitution, the bishops expressed concern that the fine ideal of Batho pele ("People first") was so often being left unfulfilled by those in public office.

They quoted the prophet Ezekial [34:20]: "Woe betide shepherds who care only for themselves! Should not the shepherd care for the flock?" and have repeated their call for all public figures to respect the rights asserted in the Constitution and to pursue the common good of all the people.

They also call for consistency between the private lives and the public conduct of all leaders in church and society. The bishops said that the values in the Constitution still need to be entrenched in the thinking of people and the daily lives of communities.

Article from : The Church of the Province of Southern Africa