Anglican Communion News Service

“No voice is too big, too small, or too mediocre” to be heard, said the Archbishop of Capetown, the Most Revd Thabo Makgoba, who is responsible for bringing the concept of the Indaba discussion groups to the Lambeth Conference.

Archbishop Makgoba said yesterday that the format of indaba (a Zulu word for community discussion of a matter of concern) groups, the small discussion groups through which those present at the conference will work through some of the issues troubling the Anglican Communion, will allow everyone present at the conference to feel that they have been heard.

“The definition of the problem is most profound and as clear when everybody has put in their bit,” he said. “Even if one is repeating what the other said, emphasises this is how the problem is perceived… but then we move from the superficial seeing of the crisis, into the deeper meaning of it. We realise that we can’t just use a new wineskin to patch the old, but that we need to see a new wine fermenting.”

The bishops will meet almost daily in these groups throughout the conference to discuss a range of issues from evangelism to social justice, the environment, interfaith issues and human sexuality. While the word “indaba” has Zulu origins and is used under that name in many parts of Africa, the concept itself is widely spread, Archbishop Makgoba said, used by the Benedictine order and the Quakers.

 It is a significant move away from the traditional synodical-style debate of many Anglican gatherings.

“What I’ve liked in the decision of the Design Group to use this format,” Archbishop Makgoba said, “is that we’ve moved from the large assembly to the face to face encounter of deeper dialogue, where we are equal partners speaking with respect but sincerity. The challenge is how we [communicate] that spirit to the outside world.”

Part of communicating the results of the group discussions is the appointment of “listeners” within each group, who will take the thoughts and opinions of the group to a Listening Group. This process, during which the bishops will be able to make comment in open sessions with the Listening Group, will lead to the production of a common text, a Reflections Document.

The groups are as much about listening as speaking, although Archbishop Thabo said the skill and confidence to do both is desirable. The mix of languages and contexts provides somewhat of a challenge to this, but it can be a gift as well, he said.

“Once an idea is formulated in my mind, sometimes I wasn’t to say it as quickly as possible before I forget it,” he said. “The challenge with the bible studies and the indaba groups is that I have learned the grace to be patient. “Less is more,” as they say! I have learned that my chance is about to come, and I pray, ‘let me not be verbose, let me say it with fewer words’.”

It was a challenge and a joy to reconsider things through the linguistic differences of others, he said.

“In our group we have people speaking French, Korean, Arabic, English… you should have seen us, talking through the interpreters. You could see the presence of the Holy Spirit working with us, showing us that God has not finished with us.”

“I live in hope”

Archbishop Makgoba recalled the time in South Africa, where Indaba originated, when the nation was possibly headed for one of the bloodiest wars in the world.

“But because we lived and hoped, and recognised that all of us are important in image of God, we began to talk. I remember our debates, where we were sure the pen was mightier than the sword.” Talking, bringing differences to the table, leaving preconceptions behind and avoiding the temptation to label others, was very important, he said.

“We may have our differences, but God is still in charge, and through this he is stirring all of us… The fact that the Church continues to wrestle with what the scriptures say about Jesus Christ is a great source of hope.”

Staff writer