The Archives of the World Council of Churches'

Programme to Combat Racism

Advisor: Baldwin Sjollema, First director of the WCC Programme to Combat Racism

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Programme to Combat RacismThe creation of the Programme to Combat Racism (PCR) was a turning point in the World Council ofChurches' (WCC) longstanding opposition to racism. Since its inception, the PCR has been one of themost controversial of the WCC's initiatives. The initial five-year programme concentrated on white racismin South Africa. With the end of apartheid in South Africa, the PCR shifted its attention to the struggle ofindigenous peoples and the problem of land rights, as well as to the plight of racially and ethnicallyoppressed minorities around the world.

Its originThe creation of the Programme toCombat Racism was a turning point inthe WCCIs longstanding opposition toracism. Since its inception, the Councilhad taken a strong stance: " any form ofsegregation based on race, color orethnic origin is contrary to the gospeland is incompatible with the Christiandoctrine of man and with the nature ofthe church of Christ" (WCC EvanstonAssembly, 1954). But at its 1968Uppsala Assembly, the delegates, manyof whom for the first time representedthird world churches, expressedthemselves in more radical terms anddemanded that the Wee move fromwords to action and from givingcharitable aid to victims to strengtheninggroups of the racially oppressedthemselves. Similarly, they felt thatpriority should be given to eliminatinginstitutional racism rather thanconcentrating on improving individualrace relations.

Implications for South AfricaThis change in emphasis would have far-reaching consequences for the Wee'srelations with South Africa. Thesituation in that county had raised anumber of theological issues: themeaning of saying [hat Christ is on theside of the oppressed, the nature of thechurch in terms of its oneness anddiversity, its solidarity with theoppressed and its reconciling task,structural violence in the context ofchurch-state relationships.

The initial five-year proganuneconcentrated on white racism inSouthern Africa. Specific Actionincluded the setting up of a Special Fundwhich was largely based on the need tosymbolize a redistribution of power. Itwas a sign, necessary to expresssomething greater than itself; to setsomething in motion. Its main purposewas to strengthen the organizationalcapability of racially oppressed groupsthemselves.

FundingThis publication made possible with thesupport of the Kenneth Scott LatouretteInitiative for the Documentation ofWorld Christianity, Yale DivinityLibrary.

RACISMINTHEOLOGYT EOLOGYAGA1STRACISM

Ropart of a Consultation

PeR's next move was on disinvestmentsby the Wee and its member churches.Its conviction was that Christians mustnot abdicate ethical responsibility for theoutcome of economic policies. Theimpact of foreign economic support toracist and apartheid structures was seento involve moral decisions which shouldnot be left to technicians alone. Thedecision by Wee to sell forthwithexisting holdings and to make no furtherinvestments to corporations involved inSouthern Africa and later to depositnone of its funds in banks whichmaintained direct banking relationsparticularly in South Africa, sparkedheated debates in church synods andassemblies. WCC's example confrontedthe member churches with their ownpolicies and responsibilities in this field.

A programme for the whole WCCThe issue of racism equally involved allunits and sub-units of the Wee. Thus,the Faith and Order Commission co-sponsored a consultation on Racism andTheology and the Education sub-unit co-sponsored a meeting on Racism inschool textbooks. PCR also sponsored anumber of important consultationsbetween church and liberationmovement leaders, which helped to chartthe course of international churchsupport for the struggle againstapartheid.

Other forms of racismWith the end of apartheid in SouthAfrica, PCR shifted its attention to otherdominant forms of racial ideologies liketribalism and caste that are at the root ofmany conflicts in the world today. It wasat this point also that the struggle ofIndigenous Peoples and land rights aswell as the plight of racially andethnically oppressed minorities aroundthe world, like the Dalits in Indiabecame central. Furthermore, PCRdeveloped a programme on womenunder racism, designed to give visibilityto issues and concerns of women whostiffer from triple oppression: racism,sexism and classes. The new challengewas for the churches was to look atracism "in their own backyard".

PCR's method of work has alwayssought to get to the roots of institutionaland structural racism. To seekpartnerships for effective action remainsa fundamental part of its method.

Impact on churches and beyondPCR, from its beginning, has been oneof the most controversial among Weeinitiatives. While there was strongsupport from many member churches,there was also criticism, especially overits grants to liberation movements inSouthern Africa and boycott actions.

One of the most important aspects of theProgramme has been its ability tomobilize local church and secular groupsaround the world and to coordinate itsactivities with the world-wide anti-apartheid movement. As a result of itsactions Wee became more relevant tothe majority of Christians and even topeople of other faiths. Now the churchesare again drawn into alliances with civilsociety. The time may thus return tocloser cooperation between churches andsecular movements as during theapartheid era.

Baldwin SjollernaFirst director of the WCC Programme to CombatRacism

Series Reel number

Secretariat on Race and Ethnic RelationsIncluding:

Reports by Lee, Roskam and Russel 1954-1959Kitagawa's reports on AfricaThe Christian Institute of South Africa 1966-1978

reel 19- reel 7/432

Notting Hill Consultation 1969Including:

General information on racism and WCC actions

reel 9/11 - reel 111813

Meetings of PCR Commission and Executive Committee reel 11/816 - reel 17 /687

Special FundChurch statements after VVCC decisions at Arnoldshain 1970 and reactions from India, Japan,Australia, Africa , USA and othersLiberation movements : SWAPO (Namibia) and . propaganda against SWAPO, ZANU / ZAPU(Zimbabwe), Zimbabwe "Third Force" (ZIPA), Frelimo (Mozambique), PAIGC (Guinea Bissau),MPLA (Angola), GRAE / FNLA (Angola) and othersGrants given to: Coalition of Concerned Black Americans, New York, United Farm WorkersOrganizing Committee, USA, : American Indian Movement, USA, National Indian YouthCouncil, USA, Indian Law Resource Center, USA, 1978, The Puerto Rican SolidarityCommittee, USA, Sixth Pan African Congress, Tanzania, Comite contre le Colonialisme etl'Apartheid (CCCA), Comite des Travailleurs Algeriens en France and others.

reel 17/688 - reel 78/526

Bank loans, disinvestment and boycottBank loans form different countries to South AfricaGeneral documentation on investments in Southern AfricaTrade Unions' Action in Southern AfricaCultural and academic boycott economic sanctions against South Africa

reel 78/527 - reel 96/950

Evaluation of the first five years and renewal of the mandate of the PCR reel 96/591 - reel 98/396

Land / LandrightsLand / Landrights of Indians in Latin America,Land / Landrights in India, Australia and New ZealandContinental Forum on Racism in the Americas and CaribbeanPCR Team visits reports to Africa, Asia South Asia and South America

reel 98/397 - reel 108/932

Programme ProjectsDalit Solidarity Peoples (OSP)Women Under Racism DecadeCorrespondence, reports, background documents and press cuttings about minorities in AsiaIndia. USA and Africa

reel 108/933 - reel 123/542

Programmatic Categories reel 123/543 - reel 144/814

South AfricaChristian Institute of Southern AfricaPublications by SABRA and South African Institute of Race RelationsWCC Resolutions and Statements on Southern AfricaSouthern Africa Conference on Liberation, Justice and Reconciliation"Transkei. What Independence?" and other publicationsAnti-Apartheid Movements. General DocumentationSanctions against Apartheid in South AfricaSACC and Eloff Commission InquiryEcumenical Monitoring Programme on South Africa (EMPSA)African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress of AzaniaConvention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and reactionsRelations with SACC, Nederduitse Gerefonmeerde Klerk in Africa (NGK), Reformed churchesand Church of the Province of Southern AfricaFiles on individuals, themes (government propaganda, Refugees), countries (Zimbabwe,Botswana, etc.) and organizations (in North America. Europe)European organizations actions against bank loansKAIROS documents and articles

reel 144/ 842 - reel 172/725

World Day of PrayerWorld Day of Prayer for South Africa and Namibia, (press Cuttings, statements and papers)

reel 172/726 - reel 178/706

Eminent Church Persons GroupEminent Church Persons' Group on South Africa (Statements; Reports; Preparatory papers,correspondence)

reel 178/707 - reel 179/495

Country and organisations files and correspondenceCountries: e.g.: Australia, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia (Japan, China, East Asia), USA,West Indies, PacificOrganizations: e.g. Organization of Africa Unity, United Nations. UNESCO, Council of Europe,Roman Catholic Church

reel 179/496 - reel 232/124

PCR Publications reel 232/125- reel 239 / 300

FinanceGrants given to the Special Fund to Combat Racism

reel 239/301 - reel 240 /232

MasterfilesMasterfiles on VVCC - PCR Statements on racism, WCC member churches statements onracism

reel 244/9 - reel 247/297

History of the PCRPersonal Reflections arid activities reports

reel 2471298 - reel 247/1089

General informationNumber of reels

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WORLD STUDENT CHRISTIAN FEDERATION ARCHIVES, YALE 1895-1925IDC Publishers also offers the World Student Christian Federation Archives 1895-1925a selection from the archives at Yale Divinity School Library. This collection represents theCorrespondence and History sections of the Archive including letters from John R. Mott,William Temple and W.A. Visser 't Hooft.

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WORLD STUDENT CHRISTIAN FEDERATION ARCHIVES, GENEVA 1919-1956This collection complements the previously filmed World Student Christian FederationArchives 1895-1925, a selection from the WSCF archives at Yale Divinity School Library.An effort was made to select materials from the Geneva archives that would complement

and extend the documentation in the earlier archives. The reports and letters included inthis collection provide insight into the contexts and issues that informed the developmentof the Church in North and South America, continental Europe, Great Britain, Ireland,Asia, Australia, South Africa, and other areas. The structure and activities of the WSCFprovide a unique opportunity for focused study of student religious life throughout the world.

208 reelsIncluding FAD guide at www. idc nl

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247 reels

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Varies depending on the size of the original

Online FAD (Encoded Archival Description) at www.icic.n1

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The finding aids that are created inaccordance with this standard aretagged in LAD (Encoded ArchivalDescription), a format that has beenrapidly, widely and inteniationallyembraced, particularly by universityarchives and special collectionsdepartments within academiclibraries.

The EAD finding aid for WorldStudent Christian FederationArchives is available at www.idc.nl.For the EAD guide, click,MARC/EAD in the upper bar of thehome page.

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