The Church, the State and the issue of national reconciliation in Namibia

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Periodical article

Title:	The Church, the State and the issue of national reconciliation in Namibia
Author:	Groop, Kim Stefan
Year:	2012
Periodical:	Journal of Namibian Studies (ISSN 1863-5954)
Issue:	11
Pages:	63-83
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Namibia
Subjects:	Church and State conflict resolution national liberation struggles
Abstract:	The Church in Namibia, from its birth until today, has often been criticized for its ties to the governing powers. While much of the critique has been justified, the realities were often far more complex than portrayed by the critics. This article scrutinizes the relationship between the Church and the State before and after independence and in particular the significant but sensitive issue of national reconciliation in Namibia. It has been suggested that the Church could have played a more prominent role as a promoter of unity and reconciliation, but that it has been hampered by its own tradition of fighting for justice alongside the liberation movement, in particular SWAPO, rather than independently. The Namibian Church and State have generally opted for stability, fostering prosperity and local relations rather than working towards an improved climate for discussion on a national level, i.e. they have opted for the comfort of silence rather than the inconvenience of a reconciliation process. But it is also suggested that there have been genuine attempts, within Church and society, at presenting alternatives to silence. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]