The press release says visas have been denied by the South African government to a nine-member delegation of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCCC); headed by the council's president, Bishop Philip Cousin, the delegation had been invited by the South African Council of Churches to pay a pastoral visit to South Africa. The press release says the group had planned to leave for South Africa Jan. 5, and to spend Jan. 6-15 in the country, but delayed departure because the visas had not yet been either granted or denied; word came from South Africa Jan. 17 that the visas had been denied. The press release says Willis H. Logan, director of the NCCC Africa Office, said the...
The press release says visas have been denied by the South African government to a nine-member delegation of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCCC); headed by the council's president, Bishop Philip Cousin, the delegation had been invited by the South African Council of Churches to pay a pastoral visit to South Africa. The press release says the group had planned to leave for South Africa Jan. 5, and to spend Jan. 6-15 in the country, but delayed departure because the visas had not yet been either granted or denied; word came from South Africa Jan. 17 that the visas had been denied. The press release says Willis H. Logan, director of the NCCC Africa Office, said the council believes that a visit at this time "would be helpful in seeking greater understanding of the situation in South Africa and expressing concern for all of those in South Africa who are affected by the present crisis." The press release says besides Cousin, who is bishop of the 11th Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., the delegation was to have included: V. William Thomas Robinson, executive secretary, church development, United Methodist Church, New York City; Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr., director, Office on World Community, Lutheran World Ministries, New York City; the Rev. Warren J. Henseler, secretary for Africa and the Middle East, Reformed Church in America, New York City; the Rev. Barry L. Hopkins, pastor, Saint Memorial Baptist Church, Bryn Mawr, Pa., representing the Progressive National Baptist Convention. The press release says also, Nell Gibson, executive assistant to the bishop, Episcopal Church, Diocese of New York; the Rev. James Kirkwood, Africa secretary, United Church of Canada, Toronto; the Rev. Daniel Michael Gennarelli, a Roman Catholic who is secretary for justice and peace, Scarborough Foreign Mission Society, Toronto, and Maghan Keita, associate director of the NCCC Africa Office, New York City. The press release discusses the Associated Press, Minister of Home Affairs Stoffel Botha, terrorist organizations, the African National Congress (ANC), and apartheid.
