United States-South Africa Initiative | all activities

In May 2003, The Faith & Politics Institute provided program conceptualization, planning, and coordination for the Congressional visit to South Africa, led by Reps. Houghton and Lewis. The visit allowed Members of Congress and other in the delegation to explore links, leadership and challenges, and provided prospects for serious ongoing exchanges.

Leading with the Spirit of History …

The stories from both the United States and South Africa contain powerful moments of transformation when people of courage, conscience and compassion stood up, stepped forward and reached out to challenge injustice and bridge divisions.

The faith and strength necessary to lead at such moments often emerges from and is sustained by what Congressman John Lewis has called “the Spirit of History.” The role of nonviolent resistance in the U.S. civil rights movement and the spirit of reconciliation that has emerged from the democratic transition in South Africa, both bear witness to the words of the psalmist: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” The Faith & Politics Institute works to follow the course of that river and to encourage public leaders to open themselves to its streams of conscience, courage, and compassion.

In partnership with South African individuals and organizations, The United States-South Africa Faith and Politics Initiative plans to move forward with the following goals:

Discerning the Spirit of History

• Deepen knowledge among citizens and public leaders of moments in the history of each country when a spirit of conscience, courage, and compassion transcended division and created new possibilities for authentic democracy.

Seeking the Path to Reconciliation

• Foster awareness of the necessity to face the pain of the past and instill honest historical memory into the public consciousness as a mark of leadership required to heal intensely divisive wounds.

Deepening Democratic Engagement

• Promote mutual engagement between U.S. and South African leaders and citizens in dialogue and appropriate collaboration toward the realization of just societies and mature democracies.

Drawing Wisdom from Religious Traditions

• Call forth wisdom from diverse religious traditions to evoke the values of courage, conscience, and compassion essential to the future.

The Faith & Politics Institute has allowed members of Congress and others an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of people who created the nonviolent movement for the civil rights in America and of those who led the struggle and transition to democracy and shaped the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. If the stories of conscience and courage are not kept alive, the spirit of these periods will be lost from memory.

 

Legacies of historic racial and economic wounds continue to confront the goal of a just and democratic society by breeding despair and violence. Transforming such legacies requires spirit, wisdom, and profound political will.