The Church Struggle in South Africa

"The Church Struggle in South Africa is for anyone interested in how divided communities reconcile difference and create hope for the future. This book, which has told the story of the struggle in South Africa for the Church over the last 25 years, is now publishing for the third time, with an almost complete picture of this story. With two new chapters, a new Preface from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and renewed interest in reconciliation from our current generation of thinkers, The Church Struggle in South Africa is well placed to serve all communities as an example of what can be achieved from situations of despair, segregation and difference. This book tells the story of the Christian Church in South Africa from its colonial beginnings until 1976, the year in which Steve Biko was murdered by the security police and the Christian Institute was banned. It goes on to tell the story of the Church following 1976 up until 1994, the year of transition for South Africa to a new democracy. During these years of repression the story was relayed through the growing resistance led by the United Democratic Front and the South African Council of Churches. The role played by church leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu is examined, as is the transition to democracy under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. Here the churches, in Mandela's words, acted as "midwives" of the birth of the new South Africa. The final chapters discuss the current situation in South Africa and the response of the churches to the challenging issues facing them today and in the future such as HIV and AIDS, Economic Development, Crime and Violence, Truth and Reconciliation, and Nation Building."--BOOK JACKET.