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{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \s2\qc\sb240\sa60\keepn\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\outlinelevel1\adjustright \b\i\f1\lang2057\cgrid {\lang1033 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Natal-Transvaal)
\par }{Evangelish-Lutherische Kirche im S\'fcdlichen Afrika (Natal Transvaal)
\par Evangelise Lutherse Kerk in Suider Afrika (Natal Transvaal)
\par }\pard\plain \nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright \fs20\lang2057\cgrid {
\par }{\fs24 30 June 1997
\par }{\b\fs24 
\par SUBMISSION BY CHURCHES TO THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION}{\fs24 
\par 
\par To Whom It May Concern!
\par 
\par As we as a Chur
ch are not aware of any "gross human rights violation", we decided not to make a submission from the church in this matter.  We are, however, aware that some individuals may fall into this category.  We feel that we as church cannot make a submission on b
ehalf of someone else.
\par 
\par We are, however, also aware that we as members of the above church have failed to live according to our own basic theological principle, i.e. our understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the gift of His unconditional acc
eptance and grace.  By accepting and enjoying the privileges of the Apartheid era ourselves as members of the white society and failing to speak out sufficiently against the exploitation and suffering of the majority of the black community, we have just m
a
ny people, not only in their god-given dignity but also in their capability to cope with their daily lives, yes, by doing so, we have betrayed and denied God's unconditional love of all people irrespective of race, gender or creed.  In this way we as memb
ers of our church community have been part of the reprehensible past of our country and are corresponsible for the atrocities.
\par 
\par We are at the moment struggling in our church as to how to deal with our individual past as well as our past in the country as a whole.  After we had received the very first letter dated 10}{\fs24\super th}{\fs24 
 January 1996 from the chairman of the TRC, Archbishop Tutu, calling upon all churches to pray for the TRC, I approached all our congregations to seek possibilities on all levels to share with o
ne another the experiences about the past.  This could help to bring to the fore the truth and the deep hurt that we have mutually caused each other.  This then could also lead to the confession of one's guilt to that specific person.  Some of our pastors
 
have attended a course on "healing of memories", which is intended to help and enable our members to learn how to listen and to speak and share with others, especially with those we have hurt.  We hope that through this process many people by be freed thr
o
ugh the truth they have shared with one another.  All our members have also been called upon to involve themselves in programs and projects in their vicinity to rebuild and develop our country in all its facets for the sake of all citizens of our country.

\par 
\par We hope and pray that we will receive strength through our faith in Christ to be able to face this challenge.  May God bless South Africa and all its people.
\par 
\par Yours in Christ,
\par 
\par D.R. Liljee,
\par Bishop
\par }\pard \qc\nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright {\fs24 \page }{\b\fs24\ul TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION}{\fs24 
\par 
\par }\pard \nowidctlpar\widctlpar\adjustright {\fs24 As chairman of the }{\i\fs24 Truth and Reconciliation Commission}{\fs24 
 which was appointed by President Mandela, Bishop Tutu called upon the whole country, including us as church, to support the commission with intercession in their difficult task.
\par The public's opinion about this commission 
is widespread: some are of the opinion that it would sever the pain and wounds of the past, others feel that the nation would again be polarised into Black against White, another group believes that the truth must be brought to light in order that the per
sons concerned would know what actually happened.  And then there are those who have suffered loss of family members, who feel that the guilty parties should be punished and not be granted an amnesty.
\par 
\par Innumerable injustices were instigated and permitted ti
n order to support an ideology.  Once all these injustices are uncovered we might be shocked and shamed.  Some people will say: we did not know.  Others will argue by saying: if we had known these this we would have reacted in a different manner.  However
,
 did we really want to know what was going on?  Isn't it true, that many things were said- even from the pulpits - things which we did not want to hear, because we did not want them to be true.  We were mainly the privileged and could afford to look the o
ther way, we often chose not to hear.  However, they looked up to us, shouted for help, they complained, they accused us and we tried to justify ourselves and the system with counter accusations.
\par 
\par By revealing actual crimes and transgressions of human right
s, the Commission aims to establish reconciliation, forgiveness, compensation, peace and justice.  That which still stands between us as individuals or groups will have to be cleared.  The danger that these wedges will be driven even further between the d
ifferent groups is paramount and that is why it is of great importance that we accompany them in prayer. }{\b\fs24 
Let us pray to God that he may guide all members of the Commission with his wisdom.  Let us pray to God that by revealing the truth and catching up on the past, the inflicted wounds will at last be healed.}{\fs24 
\par 
\par The majority of members in our congregations will hardly be affected directly by the investigations of this Commission.  We are however being questioned on a different level whether and how wee have su
pported, consented or even kept silent about the criminality or human rights violations of the previous system.
\par 
\par Isn't it perhaps best to keep silent about the past and all the injuries in the hope that time will heal the wounds and cover that which has ha
ppened?  It could be that the unveiling of guilt will be more of a burden than a relief.  On the other hand it is also true that these injuries and injustices will never heal if they are not openly expressed.  This is not to point fingers, to accuse other
s
, nor to justify ourselves but to accept the challenge of laying bare and acknowledging the deep wounds that are a reality instead of trying to cover them life a wound with elastoplast.  If the wound does not heal from within plastering will be of no help
, the body remains poisoned and the wound will again burst open.
\par \page When these wounds and hurts are not uncovered, suspicion remains and no common or joint future can be built on such a basis.
\par 
\par Here we only need to be reminded of countries like Bosnia or Northern Ireland where old grievances were not attended to and over decades and even centuries new resentments and conflicts burst open.
\par 
\par }{\b\fs24 What can we do to rectify the past?}{\fs24   In some instances we
 will not be able to do anything at all.  In many cases we are unaware that we have hurt others.  Many may not be alive any more.  Perhaps we should just talk to each other much more, simply by asking how and where we have offended or hurt them.  This ins
i
ght, this realization will set us free, because only he who has realized where he went wrong, can acknowledge his guilt.  Only he who has confessed quilt can do penance, i.e. reverse his ways.  And those who have done penance can receive forgiveness.  To 
put it in a nutshell: Realization leads to confession, which brings about confession, which leads to forgiveness and forgiveness leads to a healing of the situation.
\par 
\par Are we strong enough to face such encounters?  God's infinite love, His unconditional acce
ptance, also of those who are guilty of these crimes, releases us and enables us as Christians to bare ourselves towards the other person.  Yes, it is God's infinite Good that enables us to confess and which sets us free.  The knowledge that the forgiving
 
God awaits us, gives us the strength to open up.  As Christians we are expected to be completely honest with one another.  This frankness will often cause pain, pain on both sides.  However, this is the only way to overcome the bitterness.  It is Christ's
 suffering on the cross which enables us to take this step towards repentance.
\par 
\par May we succeed in finding a way on a personal as well as political level of building a bridge over our abysmal past with its many wounds and injuries so that our country and all its people may find peace to build a new future.
\par 
\par We cannot abolish the Commission, even if we may wish to do so.  }{\b\fs24 We can, however pray to God that this venture will not bring harm to our nation and our country, but that it will assist in bringing about a healing process.}{\fs24 
\par 
\par With sincere brotherly greetings,
\par 
\par D.R. Lilje,
\par Bishop
\par }}