Church and State in Namibia. The Politics of Reconciliation

In this book the role of the Church in Namibia, particularly of the Black Churches, is accentuated as an important liberation agent before independence and as a reconciling institution especially during the post-conflict period. Equally important is the role of the State in a liberated environment, the division of tasks between Church and State, but at the same time the cooperation between these two entities on important social, political and economic issues. One of these is reconciliation. The topic is discussed in a historical and political context. It also exemplifies how the State as a secular entity and the Church as a religious body can cooperate with each other while identifying and pursuing common objectives. GERHARD TÖTEMEYER, born Namibian, studied in Stellen- bosch (South Africa) and Freiburg i. Br. (Germany). Next to his academic career as a professor of political and administrative studies at universities in South Africa and in Namibia, he served as Director of Elections, Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government in Namibia. He is now retired and resides in Namibia