Browsing by Author "Anderson, Donald Ross"

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    Attacking St James Church: assumptions on “church and society” in church of England in South Africa responses
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Anderson, Donald Ross
    I am aware that the title of this thesis will not only stop the passing reader in their tracks, but that the verb “attacking” is shocking and will be disturbing for some readers. Thus, I begin by clarifying my choice of the verb. In this study the verb “attacking” is being used on four levels: Firstly, it refers to the violent attack on the congregants of St James Church gathered for worship on the evening of 25 July 1993. Secondly, I use the word as a transitive verb to criticise (attack) myself (since 1977 I have been a member of the CESA and served in various CESA local churches and on the faculty of George Whitefield Theological College) – exposing the many weaknesses in my evangelical understanding of a theology of church and society, my theological dualism, my complicity in apartheid, and therefore my ministry both before and during my time at St James Church (first as assistant rector and then as rector). Only then, thirdly, is this study a critique (attack) of the CESA’s theology of church and society during apartheid1 to the present. It is meant as a positive appraisal with the purpose of being constructive and with the hope of making a helpful contribution to the CESA’s theology and praxis2 of church and society and indeed to the wider church in South Africa. Finally, because of my speaking out prophetically and calling the CESA to repentance I have been personally “attacked” by colleagues within the CESA. These attacks are documented elsewhere and need not be repeated here.