Place:  University of South Africa, Pretoria

Date:  June 28-29, 2011

Facilitators:

Dr. Rothney Tshaka, University of South Africa

Dr. R. Drew Smith, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Dr. William Ackah, Birkbeck College, University of London

This two-day roundtable will convene scholars for formal presentations and dialogue focusing on political activism and/or political influence by church leaders within contemporary South Africa, the U.K., and the U.S., with a particular interest in prospects for progressive activism.   Although there are many political, sociological, and church-institutional factors that have contributed to the contemporary profile of church activists, the roundtable intends to explore these matters in relation to commitments to "post-racial" approaches emerging within these three historically racialized western nations.  

Researchers from the academic and activist communities are invited to present scholarly papers that explore contemporary faith-based activism within any of the three countries (or comparatively) on such themes as: (1) racial discourses, racial policies, and church based-activism; (2) relationships between churches and government; (3) changes in the politics and social roles of church leaders; (4) changes in leadership and institutional dynamics (including financial and human resources)within churches and faith communities; (5) gender and church-based activism; (6) generational factors and church-based activism; and (7) the status of theological and doctrinal capacities for mobilizing progressive activism. 

Conference papers will be considered for publication.   Interested persons should submit a 250 word presentation abstract by December 15, 2010 to Dr. Rothney Tshaka at tshakrs@unisa.ac.za.    Persons selected for presentations will be notified by January 30, 2011.  Participants will be responsible for their expenses and arrangements, although Information about discounted accommodations will be provided by the roundtable facilitators.  An additional five-day seminar package providing exposures to important historical venues and sites of struggle in the Johannesburg-Pretoria metropolitan areas may be possible for interested overseas participants.   Inquiries about the cost and itinerary of the five-day additional package can be emailed to Dr. R. Drew Smith at drew.smith@garrett.edu.  

It has been more than ten months since the 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti and leveled much of the capital of Port-au-Prince and more than one and half million people are still homeless. They are living in makeshift camps of tarps and bed sheets, and exposed not only to the searing sun and pounding rain, but now extremely vulnerable to the rapidly spreading cholera epidemic.

Despite billions of dollars raised during the urgent relief phase earlier this year, only 15% of the promised transitional shelters have been built as of today. The target number of less than 125,000 "t-shelters" has been criticized by many as a pathetic and underwhelming response to the desperate needs of homeless earthquake survivors.

The United States pledged to help Haiti, but when will we deliver? Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised $1.15 billion in reconstruction money, but a recent investigation by the Associated Press found that not one cent of these funds has arrived in Haiti "due to a combination of bureaucracy, disorganization and a lack of urgency in Washington." Now about 10% of the promised funds are en route to Haiti, but it is not enough. These funds were supposed to build homes and assist in resolving long-term issues like rubble removal and sustainable water and sanitation solutions.

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