Building Belonging: Global Ministries, UCCSA, and Global Partners Gather in South Africa to Explore Identity, Justice, and Resistance
From October 9–12, 2026, Global Ministries and the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), along with global partners from around the globe, gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a Cross-Regional Gathering focused on the theme “Identity & Belonging: Nationalisms and Resistance in the World Today.” Bringing together church leaders and partners from across regions, the gathering created space for meaningful conversation, reflection, and relationship-building around the challenges facing communities in an increasingly divided world.
The gathering came at a significant time for both organizations, marking Global Ministries’ 30th anniversary and the 59th anniversary of the UCCSA. Together, participants explored how nationalism, migration, colonial histories, and questions of identity shape people’s experiences of belonging. Through presentations and shared reflections, they considered how churches can respond to exclusion, discrimination, and injustice while remaining rooted in the values of human dignity, solidarity, hospitality, and mutuality.
The conversations challenged participants to look beyond national borders and documentation as measures of identity and worth. One recurring message was that “Dignity comes before documentation,” while another reflection captured an important theme of the gathering: “Diversity is not the problem; exclusion is.” Participants also explored how resistance to oppressive systems must be grounded in justice and must not reproduce the very forms of domination it seeks to overcome.
Time spent learning about South Africa’s history brought these conversations into sharper focus. Visits to the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Hector Pieterson Museum offered opportunities to reflect on apartheid, the struggle for freedom, and the ongoing work of building a society where all people are valued. These experiences connected the country’s history of resistance with contemporary struggles for justice, inclusion, and belonging globally.
Participants also visited local churches in the Johannesburg area, where they were welcomed for worship, conversation, and a shared meal. Sharing in worship offered a meaningful expression of faith and community. Conversations with church members touched on the realities facing local churches, including the continuing effects of apartheid, nationalism, and the challenges and opportunities facing younger generations.
As the gathering concluded, participants worked in small groups to identify affirmations and commitments that could guide their work moving forward. Themes included radical hospitality, recognizing the image of God in every person, embracing diversity, decolonizing theology, and challenging systems that perpetuate exclusion and inequality. Participants also reflected on the importance of creating spaces where everyone can experience genuine belonging.
A particularly meaningful expression of connection came through a quilt made from fabric pieces contributed by international partners present at the gathering. Each piece represented an individual and a place, woven together into something larger—a tangible reminder that relationships across cultures, regions, and traditions strengthen the shared work of the global church.
Throughout the gathering, participants were reminded that belonging is more than a feeling or an idea; it is something communities actively create through their choices, relationships, and commitment to justice. As Global Ministries, the UCCSA, and global partners continue their shared journey, the conversations in Johannesburg invite us to build communities where difference is welcomed, dignity is upheld, and faith calls people to resist exclusion and work toward a more just and inclusive world.
Recaps of Conference
- Day One of Global Ministries Gathering Explores Nationalism, Identity, and Belonging (10/9/26)
- Day 2 of Global Ministries Gathering Examining Nationalism, Resistance, and the Meaning of Belonging (10/10/26)
- Day 3 of Global Ministries Gathering: Voices of Faith, Stories of Belonging (10/11/26)
- Day 4: Global Ministries Gathering Concludes with Call to Turn Conversations on Belonging into Action (10/12/26)