Quakers continue to be actively involved in the South African Council of Churches both provincially, through the Western Cape Provincial Council of Churches, and nationally, through representation on the National Executive of the South African Council of Churches [SACC].

The SACC works in critical solidarity with the government. Following a meeting between the church leaders of member churches of SACC and the State President in Pretoria, several joint committees between the various departments in the President's Office and churches have been established.

Churches are seen to be able to assist in delivery in a number of ways e.g. HIV/AIDS programmes, projects to assist in poverty eradication etc. The Quaker Peace Centre is well positioned to assist.

At the last Annual General Meeting it was decided to open membership of the Board of the Quaker Peace Centre to ecumenical partners and interfaith representation. We have recruited one minister from another church, whose contribution to the Board has already proved very useful and we look forward to continuing to find new partners.

Because of the need to consolidate and become more professional in all work at the Peace Centre as articulated at the strategic planning workshop last year, it has been decided to have Board development workshops. These will define more clearly the role of Board members and point to skills still required and a strategy for finding people with these skills.

The Board continues to be very impressed with the dedication to all staff at the Peace Centre and the quality of their work. Board members are kept up to date with activities in the various programmes through monthly written reports and presentations at Board meetings by staff of the various programmes.

With an annual budget of almost R5 000 000 for the Peace Centre, it is necessary for the Board to ensure that financial oversight be improved and strengthened. We have recruited new members to the Finance Committee and this Committee meets monthly a week prior to the Board meetings.

Monthly financial reports presented to the Committee by the Finance Department has enabled greater vigilance on the part of the Department and improved stewardship of funds by the Board.

Scotty Morton, March 2000

Mediation and Skills Training

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