The role of the churches and church based NGO's

Rev. Octávio Fernando

We would like to thank the organisers of this event, the speakers and all the participants who I am sure want to find a solution to the Angolan problem.

There is no doubt that these kinds of initiatives make us more globalised. The fact is that we need each other. After all, we are human beings and created in the image of God.

The problem of the African continent in general and of Angola in particular dates from 1885, when, in Berlin, the colonial powers decided and dictated the destiny of the African states without those states having a say.

Other factors involved were:

The anomalous form of administration that was applied exclusively in the colonies. The theological dualism applied by some missions.

The divorce of the bible from its context in order to move the Church away from the political process, referring to the word of Christ, which I quote: "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's". Our understanding is that it is up to God to define what is Caesar's and his place in society, and not Caesar who decides what is God's, because God is above Caesar.

Nevertheless it was the Church that in the past ran up the flag of freedom and convinced the Portuguese colonial administration to abandon violence and start a dialogue. The patriotic conscience, the love of life, the thirst for truth and the sense of prophetic responsibility call again for the social engagement of the Church.

Participation of the Church in the Peace Process

In this context the Angolan Church has been issuing statements, writing pastoral letters and trying to help the Angolan government find fair non-violent solutions.

At the micro and macro level of the Church's participation in the peace and reconciliation process, many activities are taking place such as:

– Seminars and workshops about:

– Human rights

– Civic education

– Conflict resolution and prevention

– Training of leaders and many other activities that encourage the development of a harmonious society

– Ecumenical summits, services and demonstrations within the framework of Jubilee 2000.

– An ecumenical group was founded consisting of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), the Council of Christian Churches in Angola (CICA) and the Evangelical Alliance of Angola (AEA) in order to lobby and do advocacy work around issues that are weakening Angolan society. The Church wants to change the culture of war into a culture of peace.

The war has delayed attempts to exercise citizenship and the emergence of a strong and active civil society. The struggle for survival is so acute and so urgent that very little time is left for some of us to reason in a more patriotic way.

For the reasons mentioned above, we appeal to the international community to stop thinking that Angola is a lost case and to put it back on the international agenda.

The way to convince the Angolan government to conduct a transparent administration and respect human rights and life is not to maintain two armies, as some people believe. The international community must reflect seriously about this question and find other strategies rather than supporting the war. We also appeal to you to support the peace initiatives of Angolan civil society. I would like to finish by quoting from the bible, after all I am a minister of the church. The words are well known to you, because some of you brought them to Africa in the past. "Now the Lord said to Abraham, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation and I will bless those who bless you and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves" (Gn. 12:1-3).

This means that, throughout history, God has created the power to correct nations that oppress the people. But He also created nations to bless the people that suffer.

God will bless you if you bless the suffering people. But if you keep the blessings that God gave you to yourself, what you have today will be taken from you.

Thank you very much.

Rev. Octávio Fernando is Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance in Angola (AEA).