|TOP|The National Executive Committee of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) has considered a number of important and contentious issues facing the Church at its first meeting held earlier in the month.

The SACC members commended the Independent Electoral Commission, political parties, the police and South African voters following the relatively smooth and peaceful municipal elections held March 1. It urged, however, the development of voter education in the future particularly to overcome apathy and instil among young people a sense of civic responsibility.

The NEC also called on winning candidates in the elections to fulfil their promises, saying, “As councillors and ward representatives you have entered into a contract with the people you represent, and you have a moral obligation to do your best to fulfil the promises you made during the campaign”.

The Executive also affirmed the consensus that emerged from the Ecumenical Seminar on Same-Sex Marriages convened last month which agreed that the Bible must remain as the Church’s primary guide to decisions affecting same-sex marriages.

|AD|The Seminar also agreed that, “The current definition of marriage does not encourage same-sex couples to establish faithful, lasting relationships or to celebrate their sexuality within the grace of God.”

The NEC responded to a request put forward by the seminar participants urging the SACC to promote the further study and dialogue among churches on the issue of same-sex marriage by approving plans to prepare and circulate a reader on the issue and convene a follow-up discussion later in the year.

Members of the NEC also expressed their dismay at the high numbers of refugees displaced from their homes as a result of conflicts and human rights abuses throughout Africa and southern Africa in particular.

In response to reports of the mistreatment of Zimbabweans and other refugees and asylum-seekers living in South Africa, the NEC committed itself to initiating a series of interchurch dialogues with refugees to explore ways of improving the living conditions and protecting the human rights of uprooted people living in South Africa.