An investigation of the effect of racism in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa : an ethical-theological case study of the Amathole Presbytery

Abstract

This study was an investigation of the effect of racism in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa: An ethical-theological case study of the Amathole Presbytery. The study was an effort to determine whether racism plays a role in delaying the process of encouraging and embracing unity, equality, and diversity of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA. The study intended to achieve the following research questions and research objectives: Research Questions: (i) What are the perceptions of Christians on the togetherness of the church within the Uniting Presbyterian Church; (ii) To what extent do congregations within Uniting Presbyterian Church reflect unity in diversity? (iii) To verify whether there are any available programmes or policies that promotes unity, and diversity within the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa? Research objectives: are (a) to determine the perceptions of Christians with regards to unity, (b) to encourage Christians to reflect diversity in their congregations, (c) to establish programmes that will assist the church to reflect unity in diversity. In dealing with the subject an understanding of mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) research methodology was demonstrated, and applied. Research tools for data collection such as; non-probability sampling (convenience sampling) were also applied and discussed further. Every study has its own limitations, the researcher sampled forty (40) participants at St. George’s Presbyterian Church in East London, who self-selected themselves to represent the wider church population, and regrettably only seventeen (17) participants returned the research questions. The seventeen included a population of white people, coloured and blacks. Thematic analysis was used with its flexibility in the way of identifying subjects or themes within mixed-method. The aim of this research was to ascertain the response of the UPCSA to racism, and to clarify whether or not the UPCSA is taking a holistic approach to eradicating racism. This research provides the following findings: (a) racism is not the problem of the past, and that was proven by some participants who indicated that racism affected them directly. (b) Also, though the vision of the UPCSA is to be reconciled community Christians exercising prophetic witness to Christ, the UPCSA continues to work, and witness in a situation where other members doubt its unity and peace. (c) This study shows that many people, especially whites, including some blacks, and coloured are resistant in speaking out about racism. According to the researcher, there could be many generated assumptions around such unwillingness to talk about racism: One, many people view racism as a sensitive topic to talk about. Two, there is a fear of being exposed or detected as racist, and also the fear of the unknown. Practical speaking, some people refused to participate in this study, on the grounds that they are afraid of being accused of racism. The study also shows that even though the majority of black people suspect racism as something hindering the process of embracing unity, and peace, however, there are available programmes designed to promote equality of all people in the UPCSA. (c) The study also shows that racial segregation purposefully does affect the visible unity of the church as it was agreed by the majority response. (e) This study also reveals that the church in South Africa is still divided along racial lines because of apartheid. In the conclusion, the researcher confirmed through the research findings that racism indeed is not the problem of the past, and is not only the problem of the UPCSA. People live with racism in their societies, schools, counter shops etc. We are almost born with racism just as we are born in sin, and alternative measures were suggested as part of research recommendations.