On Saturday at lunch we gathered for lunch with Peter and Elizabeth Storey. When I say “we” I should mention that moments before we met Peter and Elizabeth – we met (by pre-arrangement) John and Laura Hice. John is a United Methodist minister from Michigan here on his Clergy Renewal Grant too! Jean Smith from Lilly Endowment had connected us. We had spoken a few times before we both left and today we met on the steps of the Gateway to Robben Island. What a delight he and Laura are – we had a chance to get to know them a bit better and had a great time. All of us took our seats in a Malay restaurant close by and ordered as Peter and Elizabeth recommended.
This meeting with Peter, arranged by John, was a great gift. When I had told Father Wim the day before that we would be meeting with Peter today he said, “Ah…one of the heroes!” Indeed Peter is one of the heroes of South Africa. A Methodist pastor and later a Bishop here, he was a strong and passionate voice for justice in South Africa during the 70’s and 80’s. He is still one today. He castigates poor leadership, black or white, in the new South Africa and the church, even while he understands that this is, perhaps and hope-fully, a step in the right direction. Yet he clearly is concerned that things will fall apart before that new direction is arrived at. This new South Africa needs his voice and his love for this country.
Peter talked to John and I for quite awhile about the new South Africa and about the church’s call and commitment to the poor. He talked about how ministry at places like Broadway can be clear because of our presence in and among the poor. It was a privilege to have a couple of hour lunch together. After lunch we wandered around a bit together and then headed back to St. Paul’s for a brief respite before we headed out to dinner with John and Laura. It was a delightful day full of lively discussion and thoughtful insights. It is good to be here.
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