By Craig Bailie — Originally published by Democracy in Africa Is there a biblical case for democracy? Do churches prepare their congregations effectively to engage in everyday politics? And if not, should they? These questions are as important today as they have ever been. In Zimbabwe, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa […]
Author: Craig Bailie
Africa’s election year 2024: Twenty principles and truths for Christian political engagement
By Craig Bailie — Originally published in Christian Daily Africa is a deeply religious continent. So, how African individuals and communities understand and express their religions and protect their religious spaces and doctrines from misuse or abuse has implications for wider African society, including the spheres of politics and civil governance. These significantly affect human wellbeing across the […]
Africa’s ‘Christian’ statesmen and the Africa we want (Part 2 of 2) — Craig Bailie
See Part 1 of this article The performance of Africa’s political leadership With the influence that accompanies political office comes great responsibility. We read in Luke 12:48: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the […]
Africa’s ‘Christian’ statesmen and the Africa we want (Part 1 of 2) — Craig Bailie
See Part 2 of this article In Africa and other parts of the world, May 25 is designated Africa Day. According to the South African government: “Africa Day is intended to celebrate and acknowledge the successes of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU now the AU) from its creation on May […]
Join the conversation, Christians! (Part 3) — Craig Bailie
Craig Bailie questions whether the Church in South Africa is appropriately engaged in the necessary conversations surrounding issues of social justice. In the third of a 3-part series he shares insights from sessions at the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Theology Winter School. — See Part 1 and Part 2 The last […]
Join the conversation, Christians! (Part 2) — Craig Bailie
Craig Bailie questions whether the Church in South Africa is appropriately engaged in the necessary conversations surrounding issues of social justice. In the second of a 3-part series he reflects on lessons from a breakfast with a difference. — See Part 1 and Part 3 The second of the three events […]
Join the conversation, Christians! (Part 1) — Craig Bailie
Craig Bailie questions whether the Church in South Africa is appropriately engaged in the necessary conversations surrounding issues of social justice. In the first of a 3-part series he calls on Christians to become ‘sacred spaces’ of conversation. — See Part 2 and Part 3. Three recent, provocative and reinforcing events helped […]
Benevolence with a twist of racism: time to renew thinking — Craig Bailie
According to AGRI SA, “2015 was declared the driest year in South Africa, in over a century.” Farming is a long-term investment, therefore it is understandable how recovering from a drought, particularly one of significant proportions, is no quick fix. Farmers who experienced hardship in 2015 continue to struggle as […]