changing opinions in South Africa . it can hardly be questioned that the most significant recent development in the Church of the Province of South Africa has been its participation in the conference and consultation arranged by the world council of Churches in Johannesburg between December 7 and December 14 . this conference has been deliberately called a consultation because it was that as much as a conference in the generally accepted use of that term . there is no need to report at this stage what must be the common knowledge of Church people the world over - that vast differences of interpretation of the racial ramifications of the gospel divide the Dutch reformed Churches from practically all the other recognised Churches , and certainly the Anglicans . earlier in 1960 the Archbishop of Cape Town openly challenged the Dutch reformed Church regarding the possibility of Anglicans and the Dutch reformed Church remaining co-members of the world council of Churches , so strongly did his grace feel about their interpretation of apartheid . however , negotiations proceeded , and early in the past year 1960 Dr Bilheimer , associate secretary general of the world council of Churches flew from Geneva to prepare the way for a conference to be held towards the end of 1960 in South Africa . the preparations having been made , the conference nearly met its death with the deportation of Bishop Reeves . in fact , speaking at a great united service in Durban during his official visitation to the diocese of Natal on the very day on which news of the deportation was announced , the Archbishop stated that it would be impossible for the conference to be held within the Union of South Africa unless Bishop Reeves were able to be present . no permission to return was granted by the government to Bishop Reeves but by a gracious making of concessions it still became possible for the conference to meet upon South African soil : had this not been possible , it is questionable whether the main objective of the conference could have been reached - namely the burning question of relations between the world council of Churches member Churches within South Africa . twentieth-century miracles still happen : the conference duly met in Johannesburg : 80 members of the eight member churches in South Africa plus about 10 officials of the world council of Churches met in solemn and intensive conclave for a whole week , sessions lasting daily from early morning until late at night . the Church of the Province delegation included his grace the Archbishop of Cape Town , the Bishop of Natal , the Archdeacon of Cape Town , Professor Brookes , Dr Alan Paton , Professor Z K Matthews , Miss Mary Wilson . sharp differences . sharp differences of opinion are said to have marked the three branches of the Dutch reformed Church which consists of two large bodies , the Nederduitse gereformeerde kerke of the Cape and of the Transvaal , both more moderately liberal than the third and very much smaller branch representing the intransigent viewpoint of Prime Minister Verwoerd and other ministers of state , the Nederduitsch hervormde kerke of Africa . an eighty per cent agreement was necessary before any resolution of the conference could be passed . the following are some of the outstanding consultation decisions - 1 . the right to own land and to participate in the government of the country is part of the dignity of adult man . 2 . there are no scriptural grounds for the prohibition of mixed marriages . 3 . there can be no objection in principle to the direct representation of coloureds in parliament . 4 . the migrant labour system has disintegrating effects on African life . 5 . the wages of the vast majority of non-whites are far too low . 6 . the same measures of justice claimed for other racial groups should apply to Asians . 7 . there is not sufficient consultation and communication between the various racial groups . the real inner significance of each of these decisions can probably only be fully appreciated by those who are closely acquainted with the inner life of South Africa . further points were that all unjust discrimination was rejected : there was a call for the revision of job reservation and for greater security of tenure for non-whites in housing . non-whites should be allowed freedom of worship in urban areas . all racial groups have an equal right to contribute to and share in the life of the country . the following joint statement was issued by the two large branches of the Dutch reformed Church , namely the Gereformeerde Kerke of the Cape and of the Transvaal - a policy of differentiation can be defended from the Christian viewpoint that it provides the only realistic solution to the problems of race relations and is , therefore , in the best interests of the various population groups . we do not consider the resolutions adopted by the consultation as in principle incompatible with the above statement . the small , extremist branch of the Dutch reformed Church , the Nederduitsch hervormde kerke of Africa issued this separate statement - we wish to state quite clearly that it is our conviction that separate development is the only just solution of our racial problem . we , therefore , reject integration in any form , as a solution of the problem . the agreement that has been reached contains such far-reaching declarations that we can not subscribe to it . we can not , therefore , identify ourselves with it . we , further , wish to place on record our gratefulness to the government for all the positive steps it has taken to solve the problems and to promote the welfare of the different groups . movement of thought . for those readers outside South Africa who are sensitive to the widely variant approaches to her complicated problems , it will be appreciated that the statement issued by the two large branches of the Dutch reformed Church marks a considerable move ahead of the intransigent position of the extremist branch . while there is a great distance still to be travelled before complete agreement as to the policy of race relationships as viewed by Christians can be reached , those who know the deep traditions holding the minds of men in South Africa will realise that movement of thought is taking place at encouraging speed , though , of course , this is by no means fast enough . the following general statement issued by the conference throws light on the situation : - the present situation in South Africa is a result of a long historical development and all groups bear responsibility for it . the South African scene is radically affected by the decline of the power of the west , and by the desire for self-determination among the people of the African continent . the spiritual unity among all men who are in Christ must find visible expression in acts of common worship and witness and in fellowship and consultation on matters of common concern . the revival of heathen tribal customs is the result of a deep sense of frustration and a loss of faith in western civilisation . it is widely recognised that the wages received by the vast majority of non-white people oblige them to exist well below the generally accepted minimum . concerted action is required . job reservation must give way to more equitable systems , and there must be the opportunity to live in conformity with human dignity . much achieved . this recent conference then , has achieved much , although it leaves much still to be solved . Rome was not built in a day : nor can strongholds of tradition reinforced with stubborn religious conviction , often biassed and prejudiced , be broken down in a moment . only those who know from inside experience can fully appreciate how much , how very much , the fact that the conference has been held , the fact that the delegates came together for a week , the fact that untold pitfalls have been avoided and difficulties ironed out , already means in South Africa . those who participated in the discussions say that they were deeply conscious that much prayer was made of the whole Church for this conference which , history may well prove , marked a new phase of respect and co-operation between those who name the name of Christ in this land . tragic reading though it makes , it was almost a miracle that the conference took place , and one for which all Christians must be grateful . it is only fair to add that the resolutions adopted by the conference do not become operative within the Nederduitsch Gereformeerde Kerke of the Cape and of the Transvaal until their respective synods accept , amend or reject them . but it can be reasonably hoped that responsible leaders of those two powerful branches of the Dutch reformed Church will bring increasing pressure to bear on the government for apartheid to be given a strong moral basis . delayed action . every churchman who wishes to be informed as to the up to the moment spirit of things within the Dutch reformed Church in South Africa should make himself a possessor of a copy of the book delayed action , which is an ecumenical witness from the Afrikaans speaking Church to which the contributors are eleven leading clergy of the Dutch reformed Church , Professor B B Keel , Professor Dr A S Geyser , Professor Dr Ben Marais , Professor Dr A van Selms , Professor Hugo du Plessis , Ds M Redelinghuys , Dr G C Oosthuizen , Dr J A van Wyk , Ds C Stutterheim , Ds C Hattingh , Dr G J Swan . I have named each of these eleven Dutch reformed Church leaders deliberately to make it quite clear that every one of them is fully a member of the Afrikaans section of the white population of South Africa . here are the chapter titles , which are also significant : the bell has already tolled ; the first gospel and the unity of the Church as witness to Christ ; the Church in the contemporary world ; the communion of the Saints and the colour problem ; the new era and Christian calling regarding the Bantu in South Africa ; developing an indigenous Church in South Africa ; communication and human values ; the Church and racial ideology ; Christianity and nationalism the prophetic calling of the Church towards the state . the significance of this composite work is that it expresses forcibly the fact that at long last , after delayed action in fact , the former strongholds of spiritual and practical apartheid are being permeated with a new realisation that the walls of Jericho do weaken under the continued blast of the trumpets of truth . E H Wade . the argument is about power . Valerie Pitt writes on Christian choice in politics . Aneurin Bevan said , the argument is about power , and any serious - and honest - politician will agree . the matter of politics is the control and management of power , and power is not an abstraction . it is wealth and weapons , the brute force of sheer numbers , and the weight of law . it is above all the command of human loyalties . there are many theories about the balance of these forces in the perfect society , and many reasons for believing that X &apos;s party , class or nation may be trusted with them where Y &apos;s can not . but the day to day business of politics , at U.N.O or the parish council meeting , is the struggle with or for the power released by events , or by the convictions and abilities of human beings . in old and settled societies like our own the realities of the struggle are obscured because it is not normally expressed in violence . our deepest instinct is to reject the brute force of the Congo riots , or those of St Pancras as a-political &amp;hellip; since for us politics is politikos , civilis , that which belongs to the citizen as a citizen , and is , therefore , constitutional , and responsible . and indeed the marriage of power and responsibility is the first , the one essential achievement of any civilisation . Machiavelli . but Machiavelli , a much less respectable author than Aristotle , taught us that politics is also policy , the use of power for a purpose , the manipulation of men and events in the service of a cause , a ruler , or a nation . the absence of violence does not mean that the power game is played out , only that it is more skilfully , and more quietly conducted . 