Author: Lorna Charles Bux
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Diakonia concerned over eThekwini Affairs
Diakonia Council of Churches is deeply concerned by the current state of affairs at the eThekwini Municipality, which will adversely affect service delivery in the greater Durban areas. Last week’s resignation, then withdrawal of Cllr Zandile Gumede’s resignation as eThekwini Mayor together with the postponement of the swearing in ceremony of Mayor-elect Mr Mxolisi Kaunda has…
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Diakonia hosts urgent Xenophobia meeting, interfaith prayer
Diakonia Council of Churches hosted an urgent interfaith meeting to address the recent xenophobic threat against the INK (Inanda, KwaMashu and surrounding areas) community north of Durban. Church leaders and concerned members of KZN’s interfaith community held the meeting last week to follow up on a threatening letter which was addressed to the Somalian and…
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Standing firm at Lent
Today is one of the most important holy days in the Christian liturgical calendar. It is the day which opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 40 days before Easter Sunday and is observed by many Christians, especially from mainline traditional churches, throughout the world. “Ash Wednesday comes from the…
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16 Days of Activism Campaign: Unite to end Abuse and Violence
Gender-based violence is unfortunately one of the social ills, which plagues our country, particularly KZN much too frequently. The alarming rate at which abuse of women and children occur in our society is of great concern to Diakonia Council of Churches, as an organisation that focuses on gender justice as part of our work for…
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DIAKONIA LECTURE AND AWARD PRESENTATION
Coral Vinsen a worthy recipient of the 2017 Diakonia Award Diakonia Centre: Friday, 1 September 5pm for 5.30pm Diakonia Council of Churches hosted the twelfth Diakonia Lecture, which included the presentation of the eleventh Diakonia Human Rights Award to veteran human rights activist Coral Vinsen, on Friday, 1 September at the Diakonia Centre. The evening…
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Diakonia unites politicians and people of faith at Good Friday Service
Diakonia Council of Churches once again celebrated the victory of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion on Calvary at their ecumenical Good Friday Service on Friday, 14 April. The annual service is an important day in the South African Christian calendar as well as a highlight event in the Durban Easter holiday cultural line up. This year, despite…
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Good Friday Service 2017 theme: Whom shall I send?
Diakonia Council of Churches, which recently celebrated 40 years of working towards a just society, presents its annual ecumenical Good Friday service at dawn on Friday 14 April starting at the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC) before processing – in silence – through the streets of the city, to the Durban City Hall. The well-established tradition…
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DIAKONIA STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO US TRAVEL BAN
Diakonia Council of Churches is appalled by the travel ban imposed by US President Donald Trump on citizens from seven majority Muslim countries. The reasons for the travel ban are short-sighted and ill-informed by facts. The Human Rights Watch have issued a table (attached) in which the numbers of Americans killed by other humans is…
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“PRINCE OF LIGHT: RENEW LOVE AND PEACE”
ECUMENICAL ADVENT CELEBRATION 6 DECEMBER 2016 READINGS: Isaiah 601-7 ; and John 11-14 The theme for this year: “Prince of Light: Renew Love and Peace” is a continuation of the message of the 40th anniversary year of Diakonia: keeping the social justice flame alive. For during Advent we are reminded that the light has…
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KEEPING THE SOCIAL JUSTICE FLAME ALIVE!
DIAKONIA’S 40th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION GALA DINNER Over the years, Diakonia Council of Churches (hereinafter referred to as Diakonia) has enjoyed a rich history within Durban, South Africa and internationally. Its rich history has enabled the organisation to survive throughout the past years, regardless of the challenging funding climate. In light of the 40 years of…
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DIAKONIA AWARD FOR MADONSELA
Public Protector Adv Thulisile Nomkhosi ‘Thuli’ Madonsela has been conferred with the Diakonia Human Rights Award for ‘extraordinary courage, patriotism and steadfast opposition to injustice, corruption and maladministration.’ Adv Madonsela was honoured during the annual Diakonia Lecture, which she also delivered, on 8 September. In the citation, the Diakonia Council noted her unwavering commitment to…
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‘CHURCH VITAL FOR PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS’ – MASHININI
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) cannot manage peaceful free and fair elections on its own without the involvement of religious leaders and other civil society organisations. IEC Chairperson, Glen Mashinini, said this while addressing worshippers, among them religious leaders and representatives of political parties, during a prayer service for peaceful, free and fair elections, organised…
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WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?
Reflecting on the August local government elections during the Annual Meeting, Diakonia Chairperson, Revd Ian Booth, urged the church to be born again with a new identity where none are excluded from being brothers and sisters. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Revd Booth noted that the most despised “other” was the hero because…
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QUEST FOR PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
With 13 000 candidates against the slightly less than 2 000 council seats up for grabs in the province for the August local government elections, competition is ‘huge and serious’. This was said by the KwaZulu-Natal Chief Electoral Officer, Mawethu Mosery while addressing a pre-election roundtable organised by Diakonia Council of Churches, on 21 June.…