By Karen Breytenbach
The rehabilitated cleric Allan Boesak was ordained by the United Reformed Church of Piketberg on Sunday, following his presidential pardon.
Boesak, his wife Elna and their two daughters were welcomed to the rural congregation on Sunday by co-minister Walter Philander and a host of political figures and clerics from around the country, including Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane and former South African ambassador to Washington Franklin Sonn.
According to Philander, Boesak was ordained using words written by Boesak himself in 1984.
Others present included the former dean of the faculty of theology at Stellenbosch University Danie Louw, Judge Nathan Erasmus, Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille and six town mayors.
Philander said: "Today we must set the record straight. Certain members of the South African media think we are here today because of the pardon by President Mbeki. That is not true. We are here today solely by the work of the Almighty God."
Ndungane described the day as one of victory, both for the church and the community. Boesak would fulfil a prophetic and leadership role in the local and national church, he said.
Philander added the time had come for Boesak to fulfil his role as prophet.
"The period of exile is over. Many shared the pain in the dark days. But a heart of kindness broke through the clouds of darkness," said Ndungane.
Boesak in turn thanked Ndungane for supporting him while in jail in 2000.
On Sunday Boesak said that the voice of God had previously been drowned out by people calling "Boesak, Boesak", but he had found it again in jail.
"I have been sent to Piketberg (by God) to turn the town around. I am one of those wild clerics. If you can't keep up, you just have to follow," he said.
He said he hoped to tackle issues crippling the community, such as HIV and Aids, gender inequality and poverty.
"Our church will be a beacon of hope to South Africa," he said during his acceptance speech.
His wife Elna thanked the church for giving them a chance to make them proud again.
Boesak, who was a founding member of the United Democratic Front, a former African National Congress economic affairs MEC of the Western Cape and former president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, was convicted in 1999 of fraud and theft of R400 000 of foreign donor money to the Foundation of Peace and Justice. This included donations from musician Paul Simon and organisations in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Boesak was sentenced to three years' jail, but was released on parole after a year.