Thabo Mbeki, president of the Republic of South Africa visited the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions, meeting October 25 at Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
Canon John Peterson, secretary general of the Anglican Communion and moderator of the meeting, underlined the role of Christian churches in taking a stand against apartheid and spoke of their willingness to help in the new South Africa.
In his speech, Mbeki thanked the churches, saying, “If the churches had been absent from the process of liberation, there would have not been a successful reconciliation.” Looking toward a new Africa, he said that Africans are tired of military coups, corruption, poverty, and abuse of power. He said that Africans are also tired of being seen as objects of pity; they want to stand for a new Africa and the churches must play a key role.
Dr. John Graz, who represented the Seventh-day Adventist Church at the meeting, said the president “spoke with courage and sincerity about reconciliation, the future of Africa, and the important role of the churches in the new society.” Dr. Bert B. Beach, secretary of the Conference for the past 30 years and inter-church relations director for the Adventist Church, presented a gift to the president on behalf of the Conference. Dr. Velile Wakaba, president of the Adventist Church in South Africa, also attended the meetings as a guest.
Since 1957, the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions has brought together the top leadership of Christian churches for annual informal meetings.