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Letter from the Director
 “The future of humanity will be decided
not by relations between nations, but by relations between men and women.”
D H Lawrence
Dear Friends
On 5 and 6 March 2009 IAM hosted a very successful consultation on: “The
Evil of Patriarchy in Church, Society and Politics”. In this issue of our
Newsletter we give you the five papers that were delivered. During the past
15 years we have constantly entered into dialogue with the Churches about
the dangers of Fundamentalism in Christianity and how it excludes gay and
lesbian Christians from the Kingdom of God. In this dialogue we always
acknowledged that patriarchy in Africa fuels this fundamentalism and that
in our struggle for inclusion in the Church, we must work with all those
who work for gender justice, as women (and especially lesbian women) suffer
the most under the violence directed towards them through this male
dominance.
What sparked the idea for this conference was when I noticed how the
attitude of a few acquaintances suddenly changed towards me after they
attended a Mighty Men Conference (MMC) in Newlands, Cape Town. They were
under the spell of Angus Buchan, the farmer preacher of “Faith like
potatoes” fame. Most of these “friends” were quite accepting of my being
gay, but suddenly something changed and I could sense their cold shoulders.
Dr Sarojini Nadar gives an excellent account of the dangers of the MMC in
her paper, included in this newsletter. One paragraph from her paper
highlights the concern that I felt in June:
“In addition to the relational power, that is evident in Buchan’s
statements regarding headship and submission, note also the discursive
power evident in both his and his wife’s claims that they speak on behalf
of God. For example, Angus Buchan says in his interview on Carte Blanche,
‘I don‘t shy away from controversy…... Homosexuality is against the word of
God. I‘m not doing this for money. I‘m doing this because God told me to’.
In the first instance he establishes hetero-normative principles for
marriage, and then asserts that restoring these norms is God’s initiative –
not his. It is clear how power is established here through an appeal
to religious language – after-all one can argue with Angus Buchan, but
who can argue with God?” Dr Nadar poses the question: “Should
we welcome Buchan’s steps to “restore masculinity” or should we be afraid
of him and his mighty men?” I, personally, am afraid of this
combination of patriarchy and fundamentalism and how this “Crusade” is
sweeping through the country. It affects relationships with my friends, my
family, the Church and ultimately destroys the integrity and quality of
life that we at IAM believe in. This “masculinism” (not masculinity)
oppresses women and all those of a different sexual orientation than
heterosexuals. (“Masculinism is an ideology that stresses the natural and
inherently superior position of males, while serving to justify the
oppression and subjugation of females.”) We hope you enjoy this Newsletter
and would welcome your comments.
APOLOGY: I have added my entire personal e-mail address
book to the newsletter distribution list. I have tried to delete
inappropriate addresses (e.g. business related and others). Some addresses
also appear twice or more in my list. If you have received this Newsletter
at more than one address or do not wish to receive any future newsletters,
my apologies. Please unsubscribe by clicking on the appropriate link at the
end of this newsletter.
Read more...
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 Melanie Judge
Holds a masters degree in development studies from the University of the
Western Cape, and a honours degree in psychology from the University of
Cape Town. She has worked extensively in lobbying and advocacy for the
rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in South Africa She
is co-editor of the recently released book “To Have and To Hold: The Making
of Same-sex Marriage in South Africa” (Jacana, 2008).
Extract of her paper: “The Garden of Good
and Evil - Lesbians and (in)visible sexualities in the patriarchy”.
She reflects valuable insight regarding patriarchy from a fresh
angle. In one of her statements she says: “patriarchy responds in
very particular ways against those ideas and persons who challenges its
hegemony. What is the fate of the multiplicity of sexualities and gender
identities that don’t conform to patriarchal norms? Well, as Jacob
Zuma supporters would have it, in their public response to a woman who
dared challenge his power, simply ‘burn the bitch!’ ….. A recent HSRC report
reminds us of the extent to which homo-prejudice is entrenched within the
social attitudes of South Africans. In this study, 80% of respondents
expressed the view that sex between two men or two women is ‘always
wrong'. It is against this attitudinal backdrop that sexualities and
genders that contradict the patriarchy are silenced, undermined, and at
times attacked. Homophobic and misogynist violence simultaneously reinforce
gender and sexual norms. Such violence serves as a social control mechanism
that disciplines gender non conformity.”
Read
more about her honest objective contribution.
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 Dr Sarojini
Nadar -
Is a senior lecturer and director of the Gender and Religion Department
at the School of Religion and Theology at the UKZN.
Extract of her paper: “Who’s afraid of the Mighty Men’s
Conference?”
Her paper focuses on the difference between masculinism and masculinity
and she explores whether Buchan promotes masculinity or masculinism. She
says: “What we need to help us overcome violence against wo/men is a
deconstruction of masculinity, not a reconstruction of masculinism.”
(She explains her alternative use of the new word wo/men)
"Man's masculinity in the world today, in this 21st century,
is being eroded and broken down. And young men - some young men - don't
know what a man is supposed to be! "
So says Angus Buchan, founder of the Mighty Men’s Conference, an annual
Christian event for men, that started off with an attendance of just about
4,000 men, with these numbers increasing to 60,000 men in 2008, and a
whopping 200,000 men expected to descend on his Greytown farm just outside
of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2009.
According to Sarojini: “Masculinism is an ideology that stresses the
natural and inherently superior position of males, while serving to justify
the oppression and subjugation of females. This ideology of males being
naturally more powerful, competent, successful and fundamentally different
from females is one that can be located in various historical periods.”
Buchan on Carte Blanche: ‘I don‘t shy away from controversy…You can‘t
sleep with your girlfriend before marriage and abortion is legalised
murder. Homosexuality is against the word of God. I‘m not doing this for
money. I‘m doing this because God told me to."
Read
more about this her analysis of the Might Men’s Conference
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 Prof
Christina Landman -
Is professor in Theology in the Research Institute for Theology and
Religion at the University of South Africa. She holds two are
doctorates, (in Church History and in Practical Theology) In 1990 she was
the first South African born woman to become a professor of theology.
At present, she is also conducting oral history projects amongst farm
workers, mine workers and sex workers in different regions in South Africa.
She is also an ordained pastor in the Uniting Reformed Church of Southern
Africa (Dullstroom URCSA).
Extract of her
paper: “Religious discourses supporting patriarchy”
Prof Christina Landman compiled her paper in three parts. First
she reflects on religious discourses that support
patriarchy and determine our understanding of our spiritual and intimate
bodies. Then possible deconstructed discourses and lastly
thepastoral implications of deconstructed discourses. She reflects on
the power of discourses especially within religion and the effects it
has. What is the role of the church to play in these discourses? She
ends with ten suggestions for the Church that includes:
1. It is the
task of the church to be a bridge builder (explore the dialogical spaces)
between its male and female/homosexual and heterosexual members, and to act
on the challenge of sexism and homophobia in a wise and life-giving way.
2.
2. It is the task of the
church to embrace – and not only to tolerate – ALL its members, and to
liberate them from structures and prejudices that keep them from growing towards
God’s love and grace. The church is to confirm all people
(female/homosexual) as full members of the church through faith in Jesus
Christ.
3. The church
must take the incarnation of Jesus seriously and affirm the bodies of women
and gays in its liturgies, preaching and language.
4.
The church must embrace the sexual bodies of
its believers, and respects stable and affectionate relationships in which
women and gays are safe.
Read more about this innovating article.
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 Prof Tinyiko
Maluleke -
Holds a PhD in Theology (specialising in Missiology). He has published
more than 50 peer reviewed articles, more than 15 chapters in books and
more than a dozen popular articles. His current day job is: Executive
Director, Research at UNISA. He is also the current president of the South
African Council of Churches (SACC).
Extract of his paper: “An African Theology Perspective on
Patriarchy”
He starts his paper with the following introduction: “Patriarchy is
evil. However to call patriarchy evil is neither enough nor helpful. The
notion of evil is mainly a moral category rather than a concrete and
scientific one. Patriarchy is not merely evil; it is ultimately repressive
and oppressive. It is not merely something to be frowned upon, but
something to be combated and overcome”.
He quotes French philosopher, Etienne de la Boetie, who wrote in
1552: “… I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple
him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold
him, like a great colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his
own weight and break up in pieces.”
He then discusses the ways in which the Church can stop
“supporting patriarchy – theologically and ecclesiastically. We will need
to deal with the delusionary logic of patriarchy buried in our sacred texts
– cultural and ecclesiastical texts. We shall have to deal with the subtle
hold of sexist idioms, metaphors and insults. Yes there are opportunities
for us to deal with the role of art, music and popular culture both in
buttressing and in undermining male supremacist practices and beliefs.
There is room for us to study patriarchy is subtle command system which has
sexualized violence. We will have to explore our complicity and our
own entanglement in this problem – as perpetrators, beneficiaries and
victims at the same time.” He concludes his paper with the following
paragraph: “There are signs of progress if the volume of publications
and the increased courage with which many speak is anything to go by. But I
insist that the patriarchal system is not merely a structural and a
mechanical system, it is ideological, theological and spiritual”.
Read more about his
exploration of patriarchy in African Theology
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 Prof Nozizwe
Madlala-Routledge -
Is Deputy Speaker of Parliament; Served as a Deputy
Minister of Health from 2004 to August 2007, Deputy Minister of Defence
from 1999 to April 2004, Member of Parliament and activist for Women’s
Rights and Peace.
Extract
of her paper: “Reconciliation between Men and Women”
She starts by defining the issue: “Patriarchy is a hierarchical system
of social organization whereby men hold positions of power over
women. Patriarchal ideology is particularly powerful because through
conditioning men usually secure the apparent consent of the very women they
oppress. They do this through institutions such as the academy, the
church, the military and the family. Each of which justifies and
reinforces women’s subordination to men with the result that most women
internalize a sense of inferiority to men. If conditioning fails to
achieve the desired result, men resort to coercion, intimidation and
ultimately violence.”
"There is a powerful religious precedent
for the work of gender reconciliation. For example, the call of every
Christian is to fulfill two highest commandments: The first is to
love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. The second is to love
your neighbor as yourself. There is no more powerful arena, in which
to apply and fulfill the twin commandments of Christ, than the arena of
gender relations between women and men. Let us join together in
courage and compassion, and begin this work of gender reconciliation in our
country. …Transformation of gender relations is not the
responsibility of women alone and women’s roles should not be reduced to
this.”
Read
more about the vital role women still have
to play.
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THE ANGLICAN’S STRUGGLE AND JOURNEY ON SAME-SEX PARTNERSHIPS
In IAM’s newsletter of September 2008 we had an article with the heading
“What is Lambeth?” and feedback on what happened at
Lambeth regarding the issue of homosexuality and the split the Anglicans
are facing.
The Anglican Communion continues to be divided (along with other
churches) over the issue of same-sex partnerships of faithful commitment.
However, while official policies still remain unchanged, there is a growing
challenge as to how the church should respond in a pastoral way to such
couples in our parish families.
What is currently happening in South Africa?
Canon John Suggit, a highly regarded theologian in the Anglican Church
of Southern Africa (ACSA), hosts a theological discussion group which meets
once a month. This is attended by about 15 to 20 clergy, bishops and
laity. David Russell (retired bishop of Grahamstown, and one time
Chair of ACSA’s Theological Commission) presently a Consultant with IAM,
has over the last two months been leading discussion on the above issues.
This has centred of the so-called GAFCON Statement. This was issued by a
significant group of some 300 bishops (together with clergy and laity) who
met at the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem, June 2008, just
before the Lambeth Conference of Bishops (the Ten yearly official gathering
of all the bishops of the Anglican Communion). The Gafcon Group issued a
Statement which was highly critical of failure of the Anglican leadership
to discipline Provinces like the United States who have in turn failed to
check the continuing blessing of same-sex partnerships in several dioceses
and parishes. The crisis had come to a head with the consecration of Gene
Robinson – a priest in a same-sex partnership.
David Russell, in leading the discussions in the ‘Suggit Group’, shared his
critical analysis of the Gafcon Statement (attached). The discussion was
very fruitful, non-combative and open.
It seems that following the experience of the Bishops at
the Lambeth Conference in July 2008, the majority on all sides are
committed to “holding on to each other”, in spite of the continuing serious
and as yet unresolved differences.
The ‘Suggit Group’ is keen to meet with local leaders of the Gafcon
grouping, and engage in further respectful dialogue. We believe that God is
calling us to this.
David Russell
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ITHEMBA LAM MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
 Tambo
village is a small community between Manenberg and Gugulethu and is
challenged with unemployment, alcohol abuse, HIV and Aids.
There are no schools, clinics, recreational facilities and the community
has only one church and one non governmental organization that service a
community of 200 people where 70% lives below the bread line.
Ithemba Lam, a project of Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM) decided
it was vital to help the community and started a nutrition program.
The Department of Social Services is helping with the supply of food
every month.
Every day at noon, members of the community queue at the gates of
Ithemba Lam for the meal which for most of the people will be their last
for the day.
More than 180 people are fed daily and some come as far as Gugulethu and
Nyanga.
Some of the people eating at the centre also receive counselling,
encouragement referrals and advice. It is not only about feeding but also
but also giving emotional, spiritual and psychological support.
 
Read more...
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GROOTBRAK BREAKTHROUGH, OPEN HEARTS WILLING TO LISTEN
On 12 March, a group of 25 people and a minister of the URC met at an
art school in Grootbrakrivier, Southern Cape. This was the first
meeting of its kind and the theme was “Gay-wees en die Kerk” (Being gay and
the Church). This initiative was undertaken in partnership with the
blog VuurKairos launched by Johan Strydom and Laurie Gaum earlier this
year.
 Dr Frits Gaum
was interviewed on his recent novel called “Lente van ‘66” and specifically
the gay theme in it. On parenthood of a gay child and on how his
faith and reading of the Bible have grown through his coming to terms with
his son’s sexuality.
Johan Strydom shared on his life, how he dealt with those
challenging times and the reasons why he initiated the “VuurKairos”
webblog.
An interest group has undertaken to develop things further in this
region and explore possibilities for support and action. This is a possible
model to be launched in other areas with negotiations taking place for a
meeting 20 April in Welgemoed Dutch
Reformed Church. The theme will be “In solidariteit met my gay
medemens” (In solidarity with my gay fellow being). A meeting in Port
Elizabeth is also foreseen during the second semester.
Read more...
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Editors Note
´
 We trust that you had a divine
experience of God’s grace and love during this past Lent. One thing
that I became aware of again was the scripture in Romans that said
that nothing can separate us from the love of God. May you find peace
and renewed strength in knowing this Truth.
Kind regards
Retha Benade
Editor
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