The Church in South African Culture

Within the history of South Africa and today, the church has played an integral role in developing not just the spiritual well-being of South Africans, but also contributed in the education of men, women, and children on social challenges by instilling and promoting positive social and cultural values.  While being here in South Africa, we have had the opportunity to attend four different churches, all of which have exemplified these different roles.  During the apartheid struggle, the Regina Mundi Church of Soweto acted as a gathering place for students and liberals.  Sometimes referred to as the “People’s Parliament” by black South Africans, meetings were held at the church to discuss the current political state of the country as well as challenge congregations not to be complacent and accept a repressive system.  In a time when a meeting of two or more black South Africans was considered a plot to overthrow government and therefore, unlawful, the church itself was a catalyst for the Soweto riots of 1976.  The direct involvement the church played in the struggle naturally made it a safe haven for activists, school children and parents, while it also drew attention of police as the bullet holes still left in the walls and ceiling serve as scars to remind us of the past.The church today still serves as a political outlet to the people of South Africa.  In most cases in the United States, there is a fine line between church and state.  In South Africa however, there is no restriction to political leaders serving in the pulpit.  Mosiuoa Lekota, leader of the COPE liberation organization, is a clear example of this as he currently leads the congregation of the Regina Mundi Church.  Further, Archbishop Desmond Tutu challenged the injustice of the apartheid system from the pulpit during South Africa’s political struggle and still continues to call for accountability of moral decision making by the country’s leaders.South African society depends on the church to be open in evaluating solutions to the challenges that face the country today.  These challenges range from crime and poverty, to diseases such as Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.  The Methodist church of the Langa Township has made a great effort, as many, to encourage its congregation to take action in the country’s fight against the disease.  The walls of the church were not decorated in stained-glass scenes of biblical characters rather; handmade posters and banners promoting HIV/AIDS awareness lined the walls.  These posters read things like “save our women and children,” and “prayer and justice.”  Further, the red HIV/AIDS ribbon, comparable to the more recognized pink breast cancer ribbon, was a common theme throughout the church.  Such openness of the disease would not be accepted in many churches in the United States.  In these churches, HIV/AIDS is more or less looked down upon and therefore, not a topic of discussion.In all the churches visited, the African Philosophy, Ubuntu (I am who I am because of those around me), had been clearly displayed.  Unlike churches in the United States, the children here are free to roam throughout the service.  It seems as though the mentality is simply to let kids be kids.  While mothers of the children may be pews away, it was interesting to observe each person in the congregation keep a watchful eye on the children around them as if they were their own.  It showed a true sense of community amongst the people, something that is not easily recognized in the mega-sermons held in many churches in the United States.In America’s society, the church’s sole purpose is to offer a place for families to worship.  Here in South Africa, the church is much more.  It is part of daily life; overlapping social and political aspects as well as spiritual.  The church has previously and will continue to play an important role in promoting positive social values as well as instilling the idea of Ubuntu as moral consciousness.  The church in South Africa continues to enhance social capital by helping to build a stable community.