Introduction
The records that make up this collection are the proceedings of the conference 'Confession and Reconciliation'.
'A challenge to the churches in South Africa' convened by the Research Institute for Theology and Religion of the University of South Africa (Unisa) from 23 to 24 March 1998. The records come in three formats:
The paper-based manuscript of the conference proceedings for publication
The publication of the conference proceedings entitled 'Confession and reconciliation. A challenge to the churches in South Africa'. The publication is edited by C W du Toit
Two discs of the unedited conference proceedings
Professor CW du Toit, the Director of the Research Institute for Theology and Religion of Unisa, offers seminars within two overarching themes: 'The Forum for Religious Dialogue' and 'Science and Religion'.
In 1997 he elected to conduct a seminar on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as it was the single most socio-ethical challenge of the day. To this end a working committee comprising critical theologians such as the late Dr Beyers Naude, Professor Nico Smith, Dr Nico Botha, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke and others was established.
The working group decided to draft an Open Letter of Confession, which expressed the co-responsibility of religious leaders for Apartheid.
This Letter was sent to twelve thousand ministers of religion. Six hundred and ten of them endorsed the Open Letter with their signatures.
The Open Letter, complete with the signatures, was submitted to the TRC on 15 November 1997. It is now in the custody of the National Archives and Records Services of South Africa, the custodian of all records produced as a result of the TRC process.
The Open Letter had stated that a conference would result from the response of the religious leaders.
The ensuing conference dealt with the TRC itself as presented by Archbishop Tutu, the rationale for and responses to the Open Letter, the necessity of Confession, restitution options and suggestions for a way forward for religious groups.
This conference may well have been the catalyst for members of the various faith communities to respond positively to an invitation by the TRC to make submissions on the role and status of faith communities under and during Apartheid.
The more than forty responses of the faith communities are dealt with in this Directory in the Research Institute for Christianity in South Africa (RICSA) Collection.
