As IAM celebrates 30 years of being a constructive religious voice in Africa, we spoke to some of our cherished friends and allies who have partnered with the organisation over the years.
This week, we hear from Ashwin Thyssen – Junior Lecturer, Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, Stellenbosch University.
“It is with great joy that I join in celebrating Inclusive & Affirming Ministries’ anniversary. As a catalyst for change, IAM has challenged oppressive regimes of power, particularly in the faith sector. Through its advocacy and embodied praxis, IAM has been intentional about creating safe and affirming spaces for dialogue, thereby inviting individuals and institutions to continue the path of celebrating diversity.
I am immensely proud of IAM’s transformative partnership with the academic community. Engaging academic theology, the organisation has capacitated religious leaders to imagine another reality, in which human dignity and flourishing communities are at the centre. This partnership with academia has also opened new possibilities of pursuing research that pushes against the normative religious grain; in fact, it has energised many of us to queer faith, and allows ourselves to be queered by our faith. This anniversary is therefore a celebration of both IAM’s journey thus far and the countless possibilities for its future.”
