Religion: White Theology's Last Bastion

(3 of 3)

The synod did not discuss the violation of elemental civil rights in South Africa or the squalid living conditions of black workers in urban areas, and it shouted down a professor who had the temerity to ask a question about the numerous deaths of black political prisoners. All this makes a schism between the white N.G. Church and its three nonwhite factions appear inevitable. Said the Rev. Ernest Buti, moderator of the black daughter church: "We have offered the hand of friendship, but we were informed that the white church is not interested in us." Nonwhite churchmen are mulling a plan to create a multiracial church of their own and invite white liberals to join them. White church leaders say they can block that revolt, since they provide three-fourths of the daughter churches' $10.3 million yearly budget.

Yet the nonwhites may have no choice but to secede. For one thing, growing black nationalism in southern Africa is making it difficult, even dangerous, for black clergy to continue to be affiliated with pro-government whites. For another, the nonwhites are simply fed up. "Black Reformed Christians are tired of being associated with an apartheid church," says Allan Boesak, a prominent young Colored theologian. "In four or five years we will have a united church following the tradition of Reformed churches around the world, rejecting all forms of ethnic separation." Laments Ben Marais, a former University of Pretoria professor and a major force among white liberal reformers for more than 30 years: "I believe the church has taken a step backward that can possibly never be regained."