Digging beneath each thread

 Imagine if your life, beliefs and existence was reduced to headlines and comments. Imagine if something huge had happened to you, possibly the greatest action ever AND a world first and you were boxed by headlines and comments. 

This is , of course , something that happens on a daily bases to those who reach the headlines at all. But it is worth a little thought and a pause when we consider the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, the first women to take on this position, ever.  The year is 2025.  In the early 1900 , women in Britain fought for the rights of women to be able to  vote. Interesting is it not that the public actions of the Suffragette movement, created awareness significantly enough that this essential right was won. Women were allowed to be elected as members to parliament in 1928.  This Archbishop of Canterbury will be the first women to do this again , as Archbishop, in 2025. 

As I scanned the headlines and comments sections of the stories or statements given about Sarah Mullally, appointment, it struck me how each one framed her appointment . 

" Sarah Mullally becomes first women Archbishop of Canterbury amid ongoing Anglican disputes over same sex marriage"   

" Nigerian Anglican communion opposes leftward drift ....."

" First female Archbishop criticized for being pro-abortion..."

'Historic Archbishop appointment divides Anglicans"

" Conservatives church group condemns the choice...."

" Women named as first Archbishop..."

"First women archbishop .... can't preside over communion of hundreds of churches" 

" Appointment of New Archbishop continues the tragic slide into irrelevances" 

Scathing in general and very painful to digest. I find the framing and wording issued by many who object and reject her appointment deeply problematic. These views clearly do not reflect my own as a follower of Jesus and nor, do I believe , they reflect the heart and purpose of God and the church. 

" Patriarchal interpretations of the bible fail to start at the beginning. " Lisa Sharon Harper , The Very Good Gospel . Do I think this is purposeful? If I am honest, yes. 

Beth Alison Barr's book is a beautiful unpacking of this story. I am not going to write about this book here but except to say, read it. And not with the mind to critic it but to learn from it. 

 The most infuriating thing is that the excluding and demeaning of women to the notion of equality in roles h seeks to exclude half  humanity represented  in the church. Women are thought of as different and other in this  patriarchal view of the bible. Just look at the framing of the headlines and a brief scanning of the articles in question.  

But who exactly is   this new archbishop? 

Who exactly is Sarah Mullally? This for me is the question. What does she think, breath , desire and work for ? 

Lets hear from her should we? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVKmd4xulDc

The history of the Church Of England with regard to women is very interesting and is upacked helpfully in this quick video below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE5BdB7hJ08

I listened to a conservative reform view of this appointment which I am not sharing here.It was very revealing.  woman in this important church leadership position was extremely revealing. The minister came across as caring less about the new archbishop being a woman and  more about her views on gender # Queerness  and, of course, the old nemesis ,  abortion.  I think he was not entirely honest here because it is precisely because a woman has been appointed to this position that they fear what follows on. For, a conservative reform woman would never put her hand up for such a "role" she understands here place.  Interestingly , this is what 2 ministers in the SA context have said out loud. Here is the paraphrase of both. - We can't ordain women. It is a slippery slope and the next thing we will be allowing "gays" in.  I will pause here for a moment for the reader to digest this. 

The church claims NOT to be a political beast but when we scratch a little of the surface or when a women is selected for such a powerful position we forget all the "for such a time as this" stuff and see how truly political the church is. We also see the very essence of reform theology exposed. 

The notion that God has spoken and does speak and will speak into the future - in exactly the same way for all people over all the world at all times in the same way makes no sense at all. This is about theology which I have explored I previous post on Threads. But it is also about emphasis. Where do I, as a Christ follower who reads the bible in a very small and systematic way put my focus? 

For some reformers it is on Gods wrath and judgement with a shake of his love and for others it lands more heavily on the love of God. Even this subtle emphasis will influence how faith works out in life. 

Of course I am giving a small taste of a much  larger conversation but it is THE  conversation for the a part of the  church in 2025. Notice what is missing from this conversation? Issues of  justice and injustice; how the powerful rule; what  poverty looks like in 2025 including - homelessness, the aged , food security and sovereignty  and all this without stepping towards the important issues of   racial inequality, racism, restitution and land. What of climate change and climate migration? What about systems that are failing us or corrupting .   What about GBV. These important issues and they  are no where to be seen. These issues are absent from the churches agenda despite the obvious nature of these playing out in the world. The "simply" or simplified  gospel will work no matter the issue is the thinking. Simply tell people about Jesus and their need for him and changed lives will solve all issues.  Unless, of course,  it is gender and queerness or ,  abortion AND both of THESE issues begin and end with the ordination of ..... women. The slippery slope.  The ridiculousness all of this is glaringly evident even as a write these words down. 

 It would seem that there are 2 completely different churches and two completely different purposes or understanding of the church. One that is eating itself from within over cultural issues like to queer people have a place in Gods kingdom on earth, as queer people and should women be given equality, true equality under it's roof .  It is easy to see how the reform church people loved and followed  the figure of Charlie Kirk. He represented their narrow selective culture "war" issues. The things that have been chosen as the church's foundational gospel issues, for now AND on which they can easily "discern" and mold  who is a "real' christian and who is not. 

I still my anger and cynicism of church as an institution with the reminder that God loves people. That he does.  Christian people may not show to people but that does not change the truth that God does love people. The outcast and marginalised . Those who are powerless. I do believe that Sarah Mullally is placed " for such a time as this"  

Gender threads

It is with deep sorrow and yet not surprise that I read the following message from this denomination in SA

South Africa, after a friend sent it my way. Why am I sharing this or even feel the need to comment on such a statement? This is indeed the question. I think it is in part because for years and years , I too sat "under" this diabolical and oppressive way of viewing life with Jesus and feel so angry and sad for all the thousands and thousands of people who somehow think that this way of seeing  gifted women leaders is the way God wanted people to live out life on this earth. The church, in this framing , is not a place for women to fully flourish and be who God has made them to be. What we find is that these gifted women find homes in leadership outside the church where they can fully flourish and live authentically. How sad is this. How sad too is it that men , in these spaces, continue to surrender to the patriarchal way which IS the world and which they claim to be so radical in. There is nothing radical about elevating men over women and calling in freedom in Christ. There is nothing liberating to find here. It is as the world is. This framing of "roles' of men and women as something that is equal never made any sense to me because it just was not true. Rather it is a place where men flourish and " rule" and women just don't. 

There is a very strange idea in these spaces, that somehow gifted, free and liberated women would look at this version of the church and see Jesus and more than that, want to join. Why would they? 

Dame Sarah Mullally will no doubt need and covet prayer and yet not the kind that these Christians offer. I am thrilled that a women has been appointed as  of Archbishop Canterbury. She can do no more harm than the last few men, who knowing about the abuse of boys that was happening in Southern Africa and then Cape Town , SA, did nothing. I wonder if this denom had anything public on this website to say about that story ? I know that she is more than able to honour Jesus, uphold his word and proclaim the gospel for none of that is dependant on gender. Duh? "

 We continue to pray for the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion that Christ would be honoured, His Word upheld, and His gospel proclaimed to every nation." 

Deep and sorrowful indeed. 

"With deep sorrow and concern, we have noted the appointment of the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, as the Archbishop of Canterbury on 3 October 2025.

While this development does not directly affect the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH-SA), we recognise its importance within the wider
Anglican Communion. REACH SA holds a different theological conviction regarding the role of women in the presbyterate, shaped by our understanding of Scripture and long-standing Evangelical heritage. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the weight of this appointment and its symbolic significance for many within the Communion.

We are mindful that the Archbishop of Canterbury serves as a spiritual leader and shepherd of what is often called the “Mother Church.” Therefore, it is natural that
such developments evoke reflection and concern among those who hold to our faiths historic, biblical convictions.

The Anglican Communion continues to wrestle with questions surrounding faith, order, abuse, and human sexuality, and we pray that ongoing dialogue across provinces will be marked by grace, truth, and a renewed commitment to the authority of God’s Word.

We continue to pray for the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion that Christ would be honoured, His Word upheld, and His gospel proclaimed to every nation."

https://reachsa.org.za/recent-updates/

Threads and dates

Yesterday was the 7th October 2025. 

It is my mothers 84th birthday. 

It is the birthday of The Arch.

It is 2 years since the carnage began on Gaza by Israel. 

We joined a beautiful group of people on the beach. 

Families with children and babies. 

Muslims and Christ followers and atheists and everyone in between. 

Old and young alike. 

Flags and song joined us. 

Sprang from us. 

We joined to mark this day . 

We shared our pain and rage.

We clung to one another as we wept and screamed and then hugged. 

The two Muslim aunties and I held each other close and long. 

Not a word was spoken.

None were necessary.  

October the 7th may fade one day but we will never, ever forget what Israel has done to the Palestinian people. Never. 

Local threads connected to the land

Jafta's flower farm is a flower farm in the valley of the expensive and beautiful Constantia valley. The Jafta family grow flowers for the public to purchase. Carnations are the flower of old and the farm continues to produce these and other flowers too. 

The Meeting Room did a deep dive into the history of forced removals in the Constantia Valley. During Apartheid, nearly 4million people were forcibly removed of their land in South Africa. Part of this terrible story of our past is the forced removals that happened in Cape Town. 

District 6 is the lense through which we can look at Forced removals but in honesty, people lost homes from Simonstown all the way through to Sea Point. The Jafta family were one of these families. 

 When the group areas act became law, People were sporadically and arbitrarily given notice of eviction. The place they were sent to , with names like 'Lavender Hill' - not a stalk of Lavender in sight or Ocean View with the same problem, were miles away from family, work and schools. Communities were dismantled and people who knew and loved one another were sent to different places, without knowing where their family members were. 

History, memory, community and flourishing spaces were destroyed. Literally. The Apartheid regime bulldozed the houses of people to the ground. Raising the memory of places was their speciality. Very much like Gaza and the West Bank 2025.  

This week we went on a little walk with Charles Jafta who shared something of this painful history with us. Charles's childhood memories connected him to the trees, the river , the very land itself. He shared about how the first figs are too sour for jam and make excellent konfeit. he knew who planted the banana tree outside the old cottage along the stream.  He spoke of the pain of his families displacement and deep loss but always they remained connected to the land. 

This was a morning shared with unlikely people as it was made up of one of my art classes who love flowers. Charles talked of the different flowers grown on the river bed, because that is precisely what it is. He shared the story of the farmer next door who has tried growing escargot and mushrooms to no avail. I had to laugh.  

Land restitution remains an ongoing issue in South Africa post Apartheid. For Charles and his family, he feels that this ship has sailed right on past without any hope.  Jafta Flower Farm is part of the bigger story of flower sellers in Cape Town. 

Please check out the story of flower sellers in Cape Town which can be found below. . 

https://youtu.be/ho9uOhVeREQ?si=yjtF4DEAUUaZU7Ei

When threads stretch across the ocean

South African evangelicals are influenced by and linked to evangelical movements around the world but especially in The UK, Australia and the USA. 

These movements are linked. Books from these shores are sold in Christian book shops. Sermons are listened to. Bible studies are enjoyed. For years, I belonged to a bible study where we "did" Beth Moore studies all the way from USA. Her work books and DVD available in our local Christian book shops. 

Movements like "focus on the Family" are followed and books written by American white people are devoured on marriage and hw to be a christian Parent. 

In 2020 - that year - This powerful and exposing book came out.  

When Kirsten du Mez Book, "Jesus and John Wayne", of course I read it. I could not put it down. It is a painful and exposing read. 

 In writing these posts about undoing my faith theological thinking, I remembered that I also needed to see, for myself, the dangerous place  and influence this movement had on my home country, South Africa. 

There is a lot to say on this but, primarily I would encourage anyone interested to read this book above and then watch this documentary linked below. How Evangelicals influence the US foreign policy in the Middle East. 

I was given these yesterday and have devoured them. They are truly frightening. 

https://youtu.be/IhT7oyDlBIk?si=KRbDqkfMSg1W_aZY

https://youtu.be/_iQhbcOgfqw?si=bwNKUYPZ5g_Ae0ju 

Now Evangelical Christians in SA would say, well we dont believe THIS, Caren. Well, don't you? You defend Israel with your silence and speak prayers for Charlie Kirk who is a character involved in this evangelical project. You argue a case for him and for Trump as Christian  and even f you suspect he is slightly distasteful , you continue to hold that "he is God's man" .You support and argue for the all the ideas and voting points that the right stand for and you stand against all the same points. You argue, publicly for the right to bare arms despite not even living in the USA. Your fruit is linked to this movements understanding of the bible. Though you may be loosely tethered, the SA evangelicals church is tethered none the less. This is a hard truth to face. It is even more difficult for the church in SA to unhook itself from all this horror. 

Some are attempting this. It is tough and brave. It is happening but, sadly, not enough.

We are watching, in real time, the United States Of America become a theocracy. Freedoms are being eroded from the precious right to speak up against those who are in power which is the true reason we have this freedom and the right to read what one would like to read.  The right to live in freedom under the law is a precious and fought for right and under a theocracy these rights are simply taken away. Like in any theocracy no matter the religion that informs it, people will like in fear. Honestly, they should. 

For those who aplaude the Charlie Kirks of this world, for steering young people towards this way of understanding how Jesus shows up in this world. Shame on you. Jesus said, when he was dying, " forgive them ... for they do not know what they are doing." Indeed. we are here again. 

We wove new threads

https://open.spotify.com/show/191SG1iIRUpFKy3PFzlRdZ?si=bbca512261dd43e9

After 2020, my friend Hayley and I began a podcast. We called it The Meeting Room after the group of women who were meeting each month to discuss racism in the SA context. The aim of the podcast was to have conversations that count especially in the post Apartheid SA context. 

 Sadly, we have struggled to maintain these podcasts of late but there are some really good interviews for you to dive into. 

 

The Arch

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was born in 1931 in Klerksdorp , South Africa and he died on the 26th December 2021. We went to visit his body as it lay in the simple pine box in St Georges Cathedral which held so many of the stories of his life. 

https://desmondtutuhealthfoundation.org.za/

If you visit Cape Town , South Africa, I whole heartedly encourage you to visit the Desmond Tutu Foundation exhibition of the life of Tutu and the intersection of his life with the struggle against Apartheid. 

I have visited this space many times. One of these was as our outing with The Meeting Room. This space is beautifully put together and walks the visitor through the life of this remarkable man. 

His love for his wife Leah is evident and tangible and it must have been extremely taxing on their relationship as it was  on many of the struggle veterans who persevered through terrible times. Many marriages did not make it.  

As ....one more draconian law followed another , this part of the church spoke out boldly....

This last visit I went with my friend who is studying theology. It was a deep thrill visiting with her because we could talk about the thread of theology that has been shared throughout the exhibition and how this clearly influenced The Arch's life and pathway. 

This exhibition highlights the role that the Anglican church played during and after the struggle in South Africa and that Desmond Tutu never gave up speaking truth to power. His book on Joy that is written with the Dali lama is one of the most beautiful books I have read. 

I recall that when I first became a follower of Jesus, the very often and general speak was that The Archbishop was not a "real " christian.  As if we get to decide who is and is not and what is real and what is not. I remember thinking, "These people do not know who this beautiful man  is." And, I was right. From this exhibition and books written about this The Arch , which is what those who loved him called him,  could not more clearly exhibit a life of someone who walked in deep relationship with God. 

 When The Arch died, the country mourned his passing and we deeply miss his prophetic voice.  We joined the long queue of mourners who wanted to pay their respects and deep gratitude for this man whose life was well lived. Sadly, the same  narrative was raised about this amazing  man whose very life shone like that of one who knows God deeply. This speak did not surprise me but saddened me greatly.  It showed how little people had shifted in understanding the struggle and more than that the role of the church. For too many, politics and Christ do not mix. What they fail to grasp is that the gospel is deeply political. 

If only..... If only these very same people who shout so loudly with such certainty  would come down from their pedestal and sit at the feet of this man to listen and learn, then perhaps they would see something other than the simple narrow gospel they cling to. The Arch had a tangible and deep love for God and his faith in Jesus and his love of people remained steadfast throughout his life.  This man who chaired the TRC and held those terrible stories in his heart. This man who wept for the pain of his fellow mankind and who saw that white people needed healing too. Come and taste what God has done through the life of this humble servant. That would be my invitation . 

St Georges Cathedral is one of the sacred spaces I love to visit. Every Wednesday  fellow activists hold a vigil outside in solidarity with Palestine. The trees and the building behind us remind me of the road walked by many who love Jesus and who act out of that love for their fellow mankind. 

I am grateful for these fellow sojourners.