“Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Restoration” Mittelstadt & Sutton, Eds. (2010)

1. Pentecostals and the Gospel of Peace: Spirit of Reconciliation in Luke-Acts (Dr. Martin Mittelstadt) Pentecostals, Postmodernism, and The Shack (Dr. Bob Berg) I’m Sorry, My Brother: A Reconciliation Journey (Dr. Lois Olena The Psychology of Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Restoration: Integrating Traditional and Pentecostal Theological Perspectives with Psychology (Dr. Geoffrey Sutton) Epilogue: Dr. Everett Worthington Jr. “Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Restoration” Mittelstadt & Sutton, Eds. (2010) Pickwick Publications

2. Friday 2:00 – 4:00 pm Room: 102 (2 CE) Renewed Relationships: Reflections on Forgiveness & Reconciliation from a Multidisciplinary & Multinational Pentecostal Perspective

3. Johan Mostert (D.Phil. University of Pretoria)Professor of Community Psychology, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary • JMOSTERT@AGSeminary.edu Mervin van der Spuy (D.Th. University of South Africa) Professor of Counseling Psychology (Retired)Private Practice: Paraklesis Counsellingmervin@paraklesiscounselling.com Chapter Eight Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa

4. South Africa Since 1948 1948 National Party • Hendrik Verwoerd • “separate development” • Bantustans • Pass books • Job reservation for whites • Separate amenities

6. South Africa Since 1948 1960 • Independence from Great Britain • Peaceful resistance to apartheid turns violent after the “Sharpeville Massacre” (death of 69 protesters

7. South Africa Since 1948 1964 • Mandela charged with sabotage in Rivonia Trial and sentenced to life imprisonment • Sent to Robben Island

8. South Africa Since 1948 1970’s • Escalating violence • International boycotts • Student protests against enforced Afrikaans

9. South Africa Since 1948 1970’s to 1980’s • “Hot pursuit” operations • Destabilization • Nuclear capacity

10. Apartheid generated gross violations of human rights and the transgression of humanitarian principles South Africa’s deeply divided society was characterized by violent conflict, strife, untold suffering, injustices, and a legacy of hatred, fear, guilt, and revenge (p147) The legacy of Apartheid

11. “Crimes Against Humanity” Joseph Koni Omar el-Bashir Option 1: Nuremburg Trials International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague

12. “Crimes Against Humanity” Option 2: “Blanket Amnesty” Bishop Desmond Tutu (1999) referred to this as the “national amnesia option” (p. 30)

13. “Crimes Against Humanity” Option 3: The “Truth Commission” • “Dirty War” in Argentina (30,000 disappearances) • Chile’s Augusto Pinochet • Philippines on President Gloria Arroyo • South Korea (human rights abuses since Japanese rule through authoritarian regimes) • Sri Lanka • East Timor

14. 1990 (February 11) • President F.W. de Klerk releases Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison • All former terrorist organizations are unbanned • Negotiations begin for a new constitution: CODESA

15. South African TRC set up to deal with human rights violations of apartheid during the years 1960-1994 • It played a major role in helping the political transition take place in an atmosphere of understanding instead of vengeance, reparation instead of retaliation, and reconciliation instead of victimization • The TRC claimed that the process of giving testimony (speaking truth), served a therapeutic function and that the truth-telling process contributed to the victim’s ability to forgive their perpetrators The South African TRC

16. P148 The TRC as Sociopolitical Model P153 The TRC as Christian Model p157 The TRC and Psychological Healing P 161 The TRC and the Spiritual Connection The South African TRC

17. “We pray that all those people who have been injured in body or spirit may receive healing … for those who may be found to have committed these crimes that they may come to repentance and confess their guilt and that they too might become recipients of Your divine mercy and forgiveness … We ask that the Holy Spirit may pour out its gifts of justice, mercy, and compassion … and that the end may bring reconciliation” Archbishop Desmond Tutu (p161)

18. Concluding Thoughts • There are clearly theological grounds for advocating forgiveness and reconciliation in the sociopolitical realm • Political transition in South Africa took place in a relatively free and stable environment without harsh revenge • The far-sightedness of de Klerk and the lack of vindictiveness, hatred and revenge from Mandela cannot be over emphasized

19. Concluding Thoughts • Two important background factors: the fall of communism in 1989 and the high level of commitment to Christian principles by the majority of South Africans • The moral compass that Desmond Tutu provided with his theology of forgiveness was significant • Pentecostals were latecomers to the process and Evangelicals were often part of the problem of irreconciliation

20. Concluding Thoughts • Replication of our experience in other global contexts is not a guarantee of success • Retributive justice in other global contexts is not always a less moral alternative

21. “Truth” does not automatically lead to “reconciliation” • “Forgiveness” is biblically compulsory but “reconciliation” should have preconditions Concluding Thoughts

22. Reconciliation requires more than “Truth” August 3, 2006 Former Minister of Police Adriaan Vlok meets with Frank Chikane

23. “Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Restoration” Mittelstadt & Sutton, Eds. (2010) Pickwick Publications