On 8 November 2024, the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair, in partnership with the Luthuli Museum, hosted the Sixth Chief Albert Luthuli Founders Lecture under the theme “Where is the church? Revisiting the role of the church in modern society.” The keynote address was delivered by renowned theologian, politician and anti-apartheid activist, Reverend Professor Allan Boesak, whose lifelong commitment to justice and liberation theology set the stage for a compelling discussion on the church’s role in addressing today’s social and moral challenges.

Distinguished guests with Unisa Management

Programme director Dr Genevieve James, Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Outreach, set the tone for the evening by urging attendees to bring a spirit of vitality and reflection, reminding all that “we are not commemorating a life of a dead church.” Welcoming guests on behalf of Unisa and the Luthuli Museum, James prompted reflection on these timeless questions: What is the role of the church? Where is the church? Who is the church?”

Noting that these questions have challenged generations, she framed them within the context of today’s fundamental shift in the global order. Drawing from an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote on the strength of holding opposing ideas, James encouraged open-mindedness, emphasising that “the truth is in the matter, not so much in the bricks.” 

Professor Zodwa Motsa-Madikane, Vice-Principal of Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement, and Student Support at Unisa, delivered the official welcome on behalf of Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula. Motsa-Madikane celebrated Chief Luthuli’s legacy and Unisa’s role in social justice. She welcomed the keynote speaker, Reverend Professor Boesak, noting that his invitation was based on his lifelong dedication to black liberation theology. “He exemplifies a leader advocating for justice and faith,” she said. “May our spirit be edified as we drink from the fountain of knowledge that is Reverend Professor  Allan Boesak.”

Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal of Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation, and Commercialisation at Unisa, celebrated Chief Albert Luthuli’s legacy as a unifying force, emphasising that his leadership went beyond politics but as an ethical call for justice. She highlighted Unisa’s commitment through the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair to address today’s pressing issues, such as feminism and gender-based violence, and promoting equity and justice across Africa.

From left: Dr Genevieve James, Deputy Director: Community Engagement and Outreach, Prof Motsa Madikane, Vice-Principal: Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support, Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation and Sandile Luthuli, the grandson of Chief Albert Luthuli

Meyiwa urged attendees to honour Luthuli’s legacy with action, quoting Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of justice, injustice and lack of justice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” She said she believes that the quote resonates with the Chief Albert Luthuli Chair’s mission. Underscoring the active stance needed to promote justice, she referenced the evening’s theme, “Where is the church?” 

Wielding the power of poetry

Lesego Plank, a researcher at the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair, delivered a poetry rendition during the event, emphasising that poetry at the chair is not merely for entertainment but serves as a vital research methodology deeply rooted in their academic work. In her thought-provoking poem, “Where is the church?”, Plank described the church as having become the oppressor, plagued by capitalism, corruption, and money laundering. She reflected on the church’s transformation, asking: “What happened to the church of 1976, where children, youth, men, women, and comrades were eager to fight for freedom? What happened to the church where there was no orphan because every child was a child of God?”

Plank contrasted the selfless spirit of the past with today’s materialistic church, where the focus is on the shoes you wear and the seat you occupy in the front. Her powerful words called for a return to the church’s roots as a haven of justice and compassion.

Call to live the legacy

Following Plank’s poetry rendition, Sandile Luthuli, representing the Luthuli family and grandson of Chief Albert Luthuli, took to the podium and honoured the great man’s legacy and the significance of the values he championed. Reflecting on Luthuli’s ethical leadership and commitment to justice, he spoke about the need to continue building a society rooted in equality and inclusion. He emphasised how Luthuli’s teachings remain relevant today, particularly in addressing challenges such as inequality, moral leadership, and the pursuit of peace. Urging attendees to embody Luthuli’s principles, he said: “Let us not merely commemorate his legacy, but live it, ensuring that his vision of justice and unity thrives in our communities and beyond”.

His speech was a powerful call to action, reminding everyone that Luthuli’s legacy is not only a memory, but a responsibility.

Setting the tone

Professor Puleng Segalo, incumbent of the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair, introduced the keynote speaker, whose lecture for the evening was titled “There is a witness to be borne: Albert Luthuli, the question and the prophetic presence”.

From left: Incumbent of the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair, Prof Puleng Segalo, Rev Prof Allan Boesak and Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor Prof Puleng LenkaBula

In her address, Segalo highlighted the significance of this annual event as a platform to reflect on Luthuli’s enduring legacy and its relevance to contemporary issues. She underscored the importance of fostering critical conversations rooted in Luthuli’s values of justice and equality, setting the tone for the evening’s discussions.

Indifference challenged

Boesak delivered a powerful critique under the theme “Where is the church?”. Describing the theme as “a question, an accusation, a protest, a lament, and a cry for hope”, he challenged the church’s silence and indifference in the face of injustice, urging it to reclaim its prophetic voice.

Boesak drew inspiration from Albert Luthuli, the Nobel laureate and faith-driven activist, who lamented the church’s retreat during apartheid. He noted that Luthuli had once warned of “the wreck of Christian witness”, urging, “Let us lose church sites and keep Christian integrity.”

The address highlighted Luthuli’s unwavering stance that true Christian faith demands defiance of laws and systems that degrade humanity. Boesak stated that the emergence of the prophetic church in the 1970s and 1980s was, in many ways, a response to Luthuli’s desire to restore a prophetic voice within the nation's life.

He added: “Albert Luthuli was, and remains, one of the most admired leaders of the African National Congress. He was unafraid to proclaim his faith in Jesus of Nazareth and let it shape his principles and political participation in the struggle for freedom.

The keynote speaker, Rev Prof Allan Boesak, took to the podium to deliver the Sixth Chief Albert Luthuli Founders Lecture

Hard but necessary questions

Boesak raised several critical questions for everyone to reflect on: How long will we stand by while the people suffer under the very system meant to liberate them? Has the church sold its soul for political convenience, or can it rise again to challenge the powers of today? Will we ever confront the real costs of apartheid and work toward true justice, or will we continue to paper over the cracks? Will the church live up to its prophetic duty, or remain complicit in a system of injustice?

The dialogue that followed Boesak’s address affirmed his crucial role in shaping this conversation. This Sixth Chief Albert Luthuli Founders Lecture, in this context, was not just a lecture, it was a call to continue the struggle for justice, to confront our past honestly, and to pave the way for a truly free and just South Africa. The questions raised on the day are the foundation upon which our future can be built if we choose to act.

*By Seyabonga Thipe, Intern Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement, with input from Wordtune