The mid 1970’s signalled important changes in the Southern African region. Angola and Mozambique, which waged guerrilla wars against their Portuguese colonial governments were eventually, granted political independence in 1975. But this was after many people had died with many more displaced. After the granting of independence to these two countries, internal civil wars for political ascendancy by rival nationalist factions, UNITA and RENAMO respectively, continued, leading to much suffering and the dispersion of people to neighbouring countries as refugees. At this time, African nationalists in Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, and South Africa, intensified their struggles for independence and the removal of apartheid, respectively.
This situation drew the attention of the Catholic Church leadership in the region. They realised that individual countries could not handle these social crises alone. Regional cooperation was necessary. Since these crises arose from socio-political realities, the bishops had to revisit the social teachings of the Church and apply the same to the current situation. An important tool in this exercise was the development of Social Communications. The Southern African Regional Secretariat for Communications, SARCOM, had already been set up in 1973 and when IMBISA was formed, it was incorporated as one of its departments.
By hindsight, it could be said that, the plight of refugees, the need for a serious integration of the social teachings of the Church into the mainstream of the Church’s ministry, and the importance of social communications in this regard constitute the earlier concerns in the establishment of IMBISA.
It is against this background that when the Universal Bishop’s Synod was held in 1974 in Rome, the Bishops of Southern Africa decided to meet, albeit informally to discuss matters of common concern in their region. There was an urge “to bring one another up to date with regard to developments in one another’s countries” (Origins and Development of IMBISA).
The first IMBISA General Assembly in 1975
The first general assembly of IMBISA took place at Saint John Vianney Seminary, in Pretoria from 22nd to the 27th of April 1975. The main purpose of this meeting was to establish what came to be known as ‘situational reports.’ These were up to date reports on developments in member countries. These reports were the basis of that exchange of information which was crucial for planning and action.
After a clarification that the meeting was representative of the eight countries present: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), South Africa, South West Africa (now Namibia) and Swaziland [now Eswatini], the reports were given. The emphasis was on the countries rather than on the then five episcopal conferences of which they were members. The reports first of all gave the most up to date situation with much documentation, facts and figures. The situation, attitudes and policy of the Church under these circumstances was explained with particular reference to the prevailing church-state relations.
Against this background, the delegates then sought to establish common policies and action plans for their own individual countries. Indirect help came from neighbouring African countries and SECAM was envisaged. Cooperation within Southern Africa was discussed with the view of actually delimiting a Southern African ecclesiastical region.
Delegates to the first general assembly
- Angola: Bishop E. Nogueira of Sa da Bandeira and Bishop Zacharias Camuenho, Auxiliary of Luanda.
- Botswana: Bishop Urban Murphy CP 0f Gaborone and Mgr. Boniface Setlalekgosi from Gaborone.
- Lesotho: Archbishop A.L. Morapeli OMI of Maseru.
- Mozambique: Archbishop A.J.M. Dos Santos OFM of Maputo and Fr. A. Barbosa OFM from Maputo.
- South Africa: Archbishop J.P. Fitzgerald of Bloemfontein, Archbishop D.E. Hurley OMI of Durban and Bishop P. Buthelezi, Auxiliary of Johannesburg.
- Rhodesia: Archbishop F. Markall SJ of Salisbury and Fr. R.H. Randolph SJ.
- South West Africa: Bishop E. Schlotterbeck of Keetmanshoop, Bishop R. Koppman OMI of Windhoek, Fr. E. Kangotui and Mr. C.S. Hartung.
- Secretary: Fr. D. Scholten OP of SACBC.
Six areas of concern tabled at first general assembly
At this first General Assembly, six areas of concern were tabled. These were:
- The need for common planning by the bishops in regard to regional pastoral priorities.
- The fall off in the numbers of clergy and religious and the need to recruit local personnel and give them training that is relevant to the local situation.
- The need for deeper and more relevant Christian education of the laity with regard to their social responsibilities.
- The need for the promotion of a stronger sense of Christian community aimed at a more intense living of Christian life according to the Gospel and a greater involvement of Christian laity in all aspects of social life and the emergence of a strong Christian leadership.
- The need for ‘localisation,’ that is, adaptation of forms of worship, methods of evangelisation to the local culture and circumstances. This also included the promotion of local ministry and leadership in the Church.
- An evaluation of the influence of Marxism on liberation movements. It was decided that a report back to member Bishops’ Conferences be made.
Continuation Committee
To keep these initiatives alive, a Continuation Committee was formed to plan for a similar meeting the following year. This committee comprised the founder members Archbishop Fitzgerald of Bloemfontein and Archbishop Dos Santos of Maputo. Archbishop Morapeli and Fr. Scholten were committee members. Archbishop Fitzgerald and Fr. Scholten were chairman and secretary, respectively. The committee took direct responsibility for the new organisation.
The Continuation Committee met in December 1976 at the home of Archbishop Fitzgerald, who had in the meantime been transferred from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg. Those present were: Archbishop Dos Santos accompanied by Fr. Barbosa, and Bishop Paul Koarai, replacing Archbishop Morapeli who was not well, and Fr. Scholten.
It was at this meeting that decisions were made as to the composition of the general assembly. Cardinal McCann was to be invited. Lay persons were not to be invited without prejudice to any decisions a general assembly might take in the future. Bearing in mind that Zambia and Malawi had long been members of AMECEA it was stressed that these two countries were to be invited to send observers with a view to membership of IMBISA, perhaps on account of their geographical proximity. This meeting laid down recommendations for the second general assembly that was to take place the next year.
Sources
Marizane, Antonio Santos. 2001. A history of the Inter-regional Meeting of Bishop of Southern Africa: from 1974-2001. IMBISA, Harare, pp. 13-17.
On synodal journey for 50 years
In celebration of the golden jubilee of IMBISA, formed in 1975, we publish snippets of history once a week.