Address to the Conference of Deans by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane 20171106 Annual Deans Conference speech Stellenbos
SERMON AT THE OPENING EUCHARIST OF THE ANNUAL
DEANS' CONFERENCE OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF
SOUTHERN AFRICA, BY ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS
NJONGONKULU NDUNGANE, STELLENBOSCH, MONDAY, 6
NOVEMBER 2017
Keep the light aflame
It is a privilege to be among you all this afternoon and, in particular, deans and
senior priests from all parts of the Province. I praise God and give thanks with
you for the life and ministry of our deans and senior priests, both those who at
present occupy the position of custodian of our cathedrals, and those who have
gone before. Let me say before continuing that when I refer to deans in the
remainder of this address, I am also referring to all senior priests as well.
Our deans occupy a pre-eminent role in the life of our church. Our history is
brimful, and colourful, when it comes to looking at the role deans have played in
the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. One could spend much time reminiscing
about their deeds, good and bad, serious and funny. But I wish to strike a
serious note. In thinking about the subject it is worthwhile recalling the far-
reaching action of at least two deans of St Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg
during the years of apartheid, namely the Very Reverends Gonville ffrench-
Beytagh and Desmond Tutu.
And then of course there is the late Ted King, from the Cathedral of St
George's in cape Town, whose ministry resulted in it becoming known as The
Peoples' Cathedral. dean King created the Cathedral as a sacred space for those
fleeing the tyranny of apartheid; a quiet retreat for prayer and vigils; the
beginning and/or end of protests against apartheid's brutality, and a home to an
increasingly mixed and united congregation in the face of statutory racial
separation. Through all of this, however, it was first and foremost the House of
God.
Their ministry will not be readily forgotten in the history of our country when it
comes to analysing the seminal role that the church played in eradicating
apartheid.
ffrench-Beytagh will be remembered as one of the most vocal opponents of
apartheid, condemning it as blasphemous against God and man. He campaigned