UUA President William G. Sinkford stands with Archbishop Desmond Tutu following worship in Capetown.
President Sinkford with UUA JUUST Change consultant Paula Cole Jones and Eric Cherry, Director of the UUA International Relations Office, outside of St. George's Cathedral, Capetown.
Archbishop Tutu reviews the UUA's gift of Singing the Living Tradition as the Dean of St. George's Cathedral and Rev. Sinkford look on.
UUA President Meets Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa
November 12, 2008
On Friday, November 7, Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President William G. Sinkford was warmly received by Archbishop Desmond Tutu at St. George’s Cathedral for morning worship. There, with a small congregation of worshipers that consisted mostly of visitors to South Africa, the retired Archbishop of Cape Town brought a very human touch and deep spirit to the formal liturgy.
Tutu’s gospel text was the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16) and his prayer lifted up leaders and countries experiencing bloodshed and conflict. Those present—including UUA JUUST Change consultant Paula Cole Jones, Sinkford’s spouse, Maria, and Rev. Eric Cherry, Director of the UUA’s International Relations Office, prayed for the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran; for the people of Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda; and that the leaders of Zimbabwe would find a path toward peace. Conflicts in the Holy Land and between India and Pakistan were also raised in prayer, as was the important work of all religious and human rights leaders.
In an impromptu moment during the service, Tutu thanked the American people for showing wisdom in their election of Barack Obama as our next President, describing how the world rejoices at the new opportunities that his election provides.
Following the service, President Sinkford presented the Archbishop with a inscribed copy of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s hymn and worship resource, “Singing the Living Tradition,” as a token of the Association’s collective esteem and appreciation for the Archbishop’s long years of leadership and as a gift that would help the Archbishop learn more about Unitarian Universalism.
Reflecting on the service and meeting Archbishop Tutu, President Sinkford highlighted the essential role of religion, to inspire “human agency” in order for the “beloved community” to come about, saying, “Scripture describes how ‘those who have eyes to see and ears to hear’ will not fail to recognize the challenges before our world, and the responsibility we have to repair what has been broken.”
A version of this article was cross-posted to the blog, A UU Pilgrimage.
Last updated on Thursday, November 13, 2008.
