Ethnic-religious conflict and 'people-to-people' dialogue in Sudan : a theological evaluation of Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical church's Mission on reconciliation : empirical case study

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study takes place within the context of Sudan, and aims to understand peace and reconciliation, and what it means to be reconciled to God as constructed daily within ethnic and religious identity frameworks of 'mission as ministry by the whole people of God'. The research was launched from the perspective of 'people-to-people' dialogue with grassroots community movements and investigations into the practices of faith-based organizations. The aim is to find ways of understanding communities, their contribution and application of programmes in the ministry of mediating and communicating peace and reconciliation in Sudan's diverse context. In multi-ethnic states civil war has affected and devastated political stability and national unity, which has contributed to the loss of lives and human suffering, destruction of the infrastructure of the country and erosion of its economic and socio-cultural resources. The struggle for identity, peace and justice remains a permanent challenge to all believers at various levels of ministry. The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church's (SPEC) mission and ministry of peace and reconciliation on the ethnic and religious conflict in Sudan. Additionally, the dissertation seeks to investigate, analyse and evaluate the role of leadership and responses of SPEC members to the ethnic and religious challenges of these conflicts. This is primarily an empirical qualitative study, of an institutional case study comprising of literary research and interviews, comprised of interviews and a case study. It was guided by an exploratory research question which was reworked in an open-ended question of semi-structured schedule and review of relevant literature for the individual and focus group interviews. The missiological value lies, amongst others in applying a social scientific methodology to understand and evaluate the ethnic-cultural and religious identity of the groups or communities in order to inform the church as it proclaims Christ and serves these communities. The study revealed that ethnicity and religiosity have a strong influence on the relations between communities in the states in Sudan, like in many other countries in Africa. This indicates the necessity of intervention by key church leaders and the role they play in accessing the spiritual life of people with the aim is to contribute in resolving the problems through human action, decision making and social interventions of securing stability and restoring social harmony. And actively engage in mediating of peace and reconciliation within church institutions and beyond geo-boundaries. The research clearly demonstrates how SPEC is actively involved in supporting, promoting and facilitating peace at various levels. Their participation in peace dialogue initiatives and efforts toward peaceful co-existence is facilitated by enhancing equality and human dialogue. The development programme and activities intended to assist in many social life aspects and improvement of human well-being, including proficient expert roles that lead to grassroots peace-making and building. The study concludes that understanding 'people-to-people' dialogue as a practice-based undertaking from the missiological, theological and sociological perspectives can enhance the form and content of the ministry SPEC in Sudan, and that such an exercise is critical in achieving reconciliation and lasting peace. Through inclusive 'people-to-people' dialogue ethnic and religious identities in Sudan can be remembered and contextualized. It is the dialogue that narrates and admits past experiences of injustice without creating new exclusive identities and promoting new injustices.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University