Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) together with religious leaders serving in South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini are gathered in eMseni Retreat and Conference Centre for the triennial Joint Witness Conference.

The four-day conference themed ‘Synodality’ is an opportunity for Bishops and representatives from the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life (LCCL) to discuss pastoral issues in the SACBC region.

On Tuesday, September 17 participants focused on the purpose of the joint witness conference and the SACBC pastoral plan. Using the Synod’s conversation in the Spirit methodology, Bishops and religious leaders engaged on discussions about the changing face of the church, how to be a synodal church in mission amid unsustainable projects, dwindling resources, new missionaries, and vocations.

Established in the early nineties, the joint witness conference also provides an opportunity for Bishops and religious leaders to dialogue. During the afternoon session on Tuesday, September 17, participants addressed some of the challenges faced by religious leaders in the SACBC region.  Among the topics of discussion were clericalism and the abuse of power based on case studies from the LCCL annual general meeting held at Lumko Retreat and Conference Centre in March 2024.

Tuesday’s session concluded with a keynote address on communication in a synodal church by the Apostolic Nuncio to Southern African Archbishop Henryk M. Jagodzinski.

YouTube video: Archbishop Henryk M. Jagodzinski keynote address