In the Gospel of Matthew, we find a profound moment where Jesus, seeing the crowds, was “moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Would this not also be His reaction if He walked the streets of Khayelitsha or Nyanga today? In a country weighed down by inequality, crime and despair, the Western Cape Ecumenical Network (WCEN) gathered for their yearly general meeting to reflect on the church’s role amidst the pressing issues facing South Africa.

The answer? The church must speak out and build relationships, just as Christ called us to do.

Who is the WCEN?

The Western Cape Ecumenical Network is a collective of diverse Christian denominations, including Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic and other Christian faith communities, coming together with a shared mission: to live out the gospel through unity, justice and peace by promoting dialogue and action. “We want to promote trust through relationship building. We are a unified prophetic voice. And we respect our diversity and see it as an asset.”

The church cannot be silent

The key message that emerged from this gathering was clear: the church can no longer be silent or afraid to speak up in the face of South Africa’s challenges. The silence of the church in moments of crisis risks becoming complicity. As one speaker eloquently put it, “If the church doesn’t speak up, who will?” In times of injustice, hunger and social breakdown, the church must raise its voice, not only in prayer but in action.

We must ask ourselves, are we living out the courage Christ demonstrated? Would He not urge us to speak on behalf of the harassed and helpless in our communities – the children without food, the families without homes, the elderly without care? As the body of Christ, we are called to be His hands and feet, reaching out in love and justice.

Relationships will lead the path to transformation

Another profound insight from the gathering was the importance of relationships in achieving lasting change. The church, at its core, is about building deep, authentic relationships with one another. Transformation comes not through distant charity, but through the willingness to walk alongside the oppressed, to share in their struggles and to fight for justice together.

Is our faith grounded in relationship-building? Do we extend grace and compassion to the helpless, or does it make us feel uncomfortable?

Christ’s ministry was deeply relational – He spent time with the outcasts, the sinners, the poor and the broken-hearted. In the same way, the church must build bridges of understanding, especially in a nation fractured by inequality and division. True change comes when we love our neighbors as ourselves, not from a distance, but through real, shared lives.

Yet, we can be hopeful

Despite the enormity of the challenges South Africa faces – economic inequality, rampant crime and political instability – the tone of the WCEN gathering was one of hope. The work of the church, after all, is to offer hope in dark times. But hope is not passive. It requires action, faith and courage.

As Christians, we are called to see beyond the brokenness to the possibilities for renewal and transformation. Jesus did not shy away from the suffering around Him – He entered into it with compassion and a message of hope. If He walked our streets today, would He not call us to do the same? To not only weep for the state of our communities but to work for their restoration.

In closing, consider this: What is the church you belong to doing to address the harassed and helpless in your own community? How are we, as individuals, living out our calling to be agents of change in a broken world? The future of South Africa depends not just on leaders or governments but on each of us. Will we answer the call?

The Western Cape Ecumenical Network reminds us that, though the road ahead is tough, we are not without hope. Together, through courageous action and faithful relationships, we can be the change this country so desperately needs.