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• The Bishop writes ...
• The view from pulpit and pew
• Tag lines
• The 'Arch' graduates from NMMU
• To the Diocesan Family
The Bishop writes ...
My dear People of God,
Violence in schools
Violence in
schools is not a new phenomenon. Neither is violence rare nor unknown
in the history of humankind since Cain and Abel. By nature humans are
violent as a result of the inborn sin. The Bible exposes sin and its
effects in individuals, families, communities and nations at war and in
disputes. This features mostly in the Old Testament, with justifiable
wars, yet nothing is free from violence.
Media is doing its best
to expose violence. Before this modern technology most of us have seen
more violence with our very own eyes at schools. Apart from incidents
of schoolboys engaging in “stick-fighting”, with the school committee
and the chief dealing with the legal side, and sometimes calling in the
police, I saw a girl being stabbed under the left breast. It was by
divine providence that the wound seemingly was not fatal. The culprit
who happened to be a boy was taken to custody for a longer while. At
another school I attended two boys were “knife- fighting”, with another
stabbed in the stomach to the exposure of his intestines. The school
van had to urgently rush him to hospital and could not even wait for
the ambulance. The offender was jailed for a month. These and many more
stories I can narrate were unknown by the wider community of Ngcobo,
let alone South Africa. This seems to have been the case with many
communities of our land.
Sin demoralizes. The value of human
life has drastically gone down. People are more self-centred than
outgoing. Human life matters less for as long as the particular
manipulator can gain a few rands more even if it costs the life of the
children he knows. This has been the case with the tragic accident of
Triomf School. We mourn these deliberate deaths that leave parents and
relatives so devastated. What is needed here is not just a reactionary
action, but a long lasting solution which demands commitment and
truthfulness on the side of the traffic police and the taxi industry.
People should come out of ‘fear-corners’ and report any suspicions they
have about drunken drivers without hesitation. Vehicles that transport
school children require a quarterly check for road-worthiness.
Some
measures are to be put in place at schools in order to deal with this
kind of behaviour. Headmasters and their staff, together with the
school governing bodies, need to be more empowered by the legislation
to deal with violence in a preventative way. I support whole heartedly
the searching of pupils as they enter the school premises for any sharp
tool which is likely to cause bodily harm when used. Such instruments
should be banned from school. Parents need to sign regulations which
are in force before the admission of a child to school. Further to
this, at least twice a week there must be an assembly where learners
will not only be taught life skills, but be challenged to surrender
their lives to God, preferable by a local pastor/priest. Change of life
or character does not take place until a deliberate offering of life
takes place from an individual. Good character based on the principles
of UBUNTU needs to be fervently cultivated without ceasing, until we
see drastic change taking place in the lives of the learners.
I
wish to challenge the churches in this diocese, metro and South Africa
as a whole to employ a pastoral policy of “adopt-a-school”. Each church
and worshipping community should care about what is going on in the
school next door. The Lord Jesus encourages us believers “to go” out,
and not to be inward looking. We Christians must gird ourselves into
action for change, and change for better life in this land. While
maintenance ministry is needed, all care must be taken that it does not
obscure the original mandate of the Lord “to go” and make a change.
Programmes like Moral Regeneration Movement are to be supported. The
greatest challenge is for those engaged to make the effort in sorting
out their moral life as well. Actions speak louder than words. People
will not hear us unless our actions are in line with the required moral
standards.
Finally, DO NOT FORGET TO PRAY. Prayer brings change when action is also applied.
Yours very sincerely in the service of Christ,
Bishop Bethlehem Nopece
Pic: Beautiful Spring flowers for Faith Geere in thanks for arranging of the clergy secretaries lunch.
The view from pulpit and pew
- iindaba received a surprise when being told that Clive Newman,
ordained to the diaconate in the cathedral last Advent, and who was
seconded to the Diocese of Grahamstown so that he could finish his
degree at the College of Transfiguration, was ordained to the
priesthood by the Bishop of Grahamstown on 1 September. On being asked
about the ordination, one of our archdeacons said he had not heard
about it at all. We wish Clive a blessed and productive ministry.
iindaba has not been told if Clive now ‘belongs’ to this diocese or
Grahamstown!
- Felicity Kickhöfel from St John the Baptist in
Walmer reported to iindaba that Dennis de Stadler, at one time diocesan
administrator under †Bruce Evans, has returned to full-time ministry
after spending eight years in the secular world in King William’s Town
and Pietermaritzburg. He is now minister at Nottingham Road
Presbyterian Church in KwaZule Natal. Dennis and Fee’s elder daughter
Liesel is married to an Egyptian Christian in Cairo, whilst their son
James and younger daughter, Mary, who is in Matric, are in
Pietermaritzburg.
- iindaba extends its condolences to the
Diocesan Registrar, Roger Schärges, on the recent death of his mother.
Her funeral was conducted by Ralph McGuigan at St Cuthbert’s. We also
pray for a speedy recovery for Roger who underwent surgery the week
after his mother’s funeral. At the time of going to print, Roger was
recuperating at home.
- Gill Bowman, assistant at St Margaret’s
in Summerstrand and University Chaplain, took on another role in August
as the mother of the bride. Gill and her husband Roy sat in the pews as
their daughter, Arwin, the eldest of three daughters, married Ian
Oberholzer. The happy couple have moved into a house in Newton Park.
The Bowman’s youngest daughter Karen, who teaches English in Japan,
flew out for the wedding, whilst their middle daughter, Lucille, a
doctor in Durban, completed the Bowman family at the wedding. iindaba
wishes Arwin and Ian a happy marriage.
- Ralph and Margaret
McGuigan are on the move. Don’t fret – they haven’t left St Cuthbert’s,
where Ralph is the rector. They have moved into their new home at 10
Saint Tropez, Verdun Road, Lorraine. 6070. Their telephone number is
041 379 3870. iindaba wishes them every blessing in their new home.
- Those who have been praying for and following the news about Jacques
Nell will be happy to know his parents have bought him a car. This is
wonderful news, knowing that the specialist is happy for him to be
behind the wheel again. Happiest of all is Jacques himself!
- The Archdeacon of Cradock, Dudley Greenshields, has asked for the
diocesan family to pray earnestly for rain for the Karoo. The winter
rains just didn’t materialise. Please include them in the Sunday
prayers of the parishes.
- Ronnie and Alwylene Allwright have
just returned from Sabbatical. Ronnie, the rector of the Parish of the
Good Shepherd (Humansdorp area), said he and Alwylene spent much of
their time in Rhode Island where their daughter Charlene and her
husband Paul live. One of the highlights for the Allwrights was seeing
their brand new grandson, William, for the first time.
Tag lines
We are interested in others when they are interested in us.
The 'Arch' graduates from NMMU
Geoff Booth
In recognition of his many
contributions to society, Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu received
the degree of Doctor Educationis, Honoris Causa, from Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan University on Friday 31 August 2007.
The degree was conferred by NMMU’s Chancellor, Chief
Justice Pius Langa. In his acceptance speech, Abp Desmond said he was
dedicating the award to all the fallen heroes of the anti-apartheid
struggle in the eastern Cape, including the Cradock four, the Pebco
three, Steve Biko and Robert Sobukwe. He said if they could return to
South Africa today, there would be much that would please them: the
demise of apartheid laws, the free Press, the delivery of clean water
and electricity to many and more representative sports teams.
But, he said, there would also be much that would distress them
deeply. This included the escalation of violent crimes such as
murder and rape, corruption in high places, the ongoing poverty of
millions and the Government’s preoccupation with quack remedies
for Aids, which had cost many lives. However, he ended on a
positive note, saying that South Africa is a wonderful country, if we
can just come to grips with the problems which face us. His
speech was not devoid of the legendary Tutu humour, either.
The guests were entertained with some excellent renditions from the
NMMU Choir, and then enjoyed tea and snacks provided by NMMU afterwards.
The Diocese of Port Elizabeth was represented by a number of its
clergy, including Leon Foster, Roy Snyman tssf, Mcebisi Xundu, Eddie
Daniels and Mike McCoy. Also in attendance was Bp Thabo Makgoba
of Grahamstown, and various other civic dignitaries, amongst them the
Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay.
All Anglicans will join in congratulating the ‘Arch’ on
this honour. NMMU is also to be congratulated for their vision in
welcoming a Christian leader of this stature into their community.
Archbishop Desmond gave this comment to iindaba, “It was a great
honour particularly that the University is so auspiciously named! But
particularly because the Eastern Cape has such a special place in black
resistance that is why I dedicated it to the heroes and heroines of
freedom.”
To the Diocesan Family
To the Diocesan Family
The different thoughtful ways of expressing sympathy to us during our
time of sadness were all welcome, valuable and appreciated. They
brought us strength, comfort and peace.
 Thank you for caring
Thank you for sharing
We are indeed a family of God
We are One
Again we say thank you
May God bless all of you
From Pikelela/Nopece Family
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