Chikane to leave council of churches - General Secretary Frank Chikane of the South African Council of Churches

Christian Century, July 27, 1994

Frank Chikane, general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, said in a speech July 5 that he will leave his position now that the victory over apartheid is a "mission accomplished." Chikane's speech was given at the council's annual national conference in Midrand, outside Johannesburg.

"We meet here today," he said, "after a momentous event in this country - a transition from the monstrous, evil and racist apartheid system to a nonracial, nonsexist and democratic system of governance ... That system which treated blacks like dirt and nonhumans is gone!"

As reported in a statement from the SACC, Chikane said he believed it was time for a new leader to guide the council through the next phase of its life. He didn't specify what he plans to do once he leaves. "I was called by God at a critical time in the history of this country," he said. "I have served ... to the best of my ability as the Lord led me. I believe that [I] have accomplished the mission God, through you, called me to undertake, and I believe that it is now time for me to move."

One of South Africa's most prominent black Protestant church leaders, Chikane was once dubbed "the communist priest" for his activism against apartheid and was arrested and tortured by authorities of the former government. He had recently been on unpaid leave from the council as one of the 11 members of the Independent Electoral Commission that oversaw the first multiracial elections ever held in South Africa. The elections were held in April and swept National African Congress leader Nelson Mandela into power.

Because of his role in the election monitoring, Chikane is prohibited for more than a year from holding political office. His resignation comes as numerous SACC officials are leaving to become members of the new government and as the council redefines its role in a new South Africa - from outspoken opponent of the apartheid system to a principal player in the reconstruction of society. On a practical level, that means the council needs fewer staff. As a result it has offered a severance package to its employees, and about half of its 120-member staff have accepted the offer.

In his speech Chikane spoke of the new role for the churches, saying there is a need for a "ministry of reconciliation and development" and a "ministry of reconciliation and healing." He expressed hope that a truth commission investigating past human rights abuses will "liberate us from the past so that we can move into the future without fear or doubt." He added that the new circumstances bring to the churches the opportunity of "establishing an order which will measure success in terms of change in the quality of life of the least of our people." While maintaining that the council member churches should approach the new government with a spirit of "critical solidarity," Chikane also said the churches must "remain a conscience of the nation."