VALUES AND GUIDELINES FOR FORUMS FOR JOINT PUBLIC WITNESS

15 Januarie 2008 0 Comments

A forum for joint public witness is a voluntary partnership formed by representatives of congregations of the Nederduitse Gerformeerde Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) and the Uniting Reformed Church (URCSA), for the sake of cooperation in joint outreach. This implies that joint ownership and the shared responsibility is accepted by these congregations to bring the good news to the whole local community through word and deed.

In order to achieve this, a process is necessary in order to develop a shared vision of the kingdom of God in the local community and passion for sharing the gospel with everyone who needs it. This process presupposes a commitment by the participants to open, honest communication and a willingness for reconciliation. It should also be characterised by a growing realisation that God entrusted us (together) with the good news.

It is all about cooperation and partnership. The term “partnership” was also used in the past, but the term does not adequately describe the urgent need for a new style of cooperation. Therefore the terms joint ownership or shared responsibility is preferred to convey this new way of cooperation. It precludes the notion that one congregation is merely supporting the other in its outreach or that one congregation views the sphere of outreach as its own exclusive terrain. This shared responsibility and joint ownership should grow in spite of factors and influences that could hamper or even prevent it from succeeding. Therefore a prayerful stance of bold faith is necessary in order to succeed.

Every believer is a wounded believer who has his/her own story of disappointment and pain, and we usually find it very difficult to share these wounds with one another. We have to realise though, that especially in our racially divided situation it is of the utmost importance to learn to share our wounds and experiences with one another. Some of these experiences lead to the formation of racial stereotypes and attitudes which hamper and even block our communication with each other. Hence, for the sake of making good progress in our joint forum, we have to strive to the development of a christian healing atmosphere and identity of the forum.

That is the reason why open, honest communication and reconciliation are regarded as core values of a joint forum for public witness. To establish and enhance these values requires commitment and hard work. In a practical way this can be achieved through the processes which are usually associated with workshops for reconciliation. Two important elements that are essential in successful workshops of this nature are introspection and a new way of looking at others. Firstly, it requires honest introspection on how I present myself. My stereotypes and attitudes, and even my hidden wounds tend to make my communication superficial. Secondly, it requires a new way of looking at others, especially at my partners on the other side of the racial divide. It concerns more than cultural differences, although these differences also play an important part. It is also about some other barriers and divisions which are difficult and painful to admit. Happily it also concerns the wonderful discovery that God, amidst our weaknesses, is fully engaged in his redemptive work in my black or white fellow believer. God is also rejoicing in him or her. These insights and discoveries are only possible in a joint learning experience where we (re)discover the importance, the centrality and the full implications of the reconciliation with God and one another that Jesus Christ brought about. This experience can be enhanced and deepened through appropriate facilitation.

The enhancement and deepening of our mutual understanding and intercultural communication may lead to better cooperation, which in turn may lead to joint ownership and the acceptance of our shared responsibility in the formulation of outreach goals and the identification of appropriate strategies to meet the needs of our community. If and when we succeed in this process, the wonderful experience is shared that “we” and “they” just becomes “WE”.

It is essential that the forum for joint public witness which is to be established draft a memorandum of understanding which should be signed by the participating congregations. The act of signing the memorandum and exchanging the signed memoranda establishes the forum and paves the way for cooperation in a structured way according to the guidelines agreed upon.

The forum must apply for tax exemption at the relevant office of SARS and also register with the Department of Social Development as a Non Profit Organisasion (NPO) under law 71 of 1997. The draft constitution may be adapted in order to fit the specific requirementes of the local situation, and should then be presented to the participating congregations for approval.

The forum for joint public witness should communicate it’s outreach projects in order to build the support base of the forum. Part of the process of communication to the supporting congregations is regular evaluation, feedback and report, as well as the identification of new challenges.

In order to work effectively, the forum may consider appointing task groups to do some research, and even consider appointing a full-time or part-time functionary to take the initiative with outreach projects. In the case of the employment of a full-time functionary, registration as employer with SARS, UIF and the commisioner of compensation is essential. In all cases a proper service contract is essential. An alternative modus operandi for the forum would be to contract a specific congregation to act as employer on its behalf, for the sake of utilising existing structures. In whatever way the forum decides to structure its work, it is of the utmost importance that the right people be selected as employees, co-workers and associates. The values of good communication and reconciliation should be the decisive and determining factor.

Liaison with the Synodical Forum for Joint Public Witness is recommended for the sake of coordination, the exchange of information and experience as well as the sharing of management- and facilitation expertise. In this way a network of forums for joint public witness can benefit society at large by spreading the concepts of good communication and reconciliation, erecting signs of the coming kingdom of God and at the same time being in themselves living proof of the reign of God in our midst.