VeNews February 2010

Welcome to VeNews, the newsletter for Vesper Society friends.

In Memoriam:
Steve de Gruchy
1961–2010

On February 21st, Vesper Society lost a cherished colleague and friend in a tragic river accident. South African theologian, author, and activist, Steve de Gruchy was a founding member of the African Religious Health Assets Programme (ARHAP). From its inception, Vesper Society provided support for this groundbreaking network that connected religious and public health organizations and individuals in Africa and beyond. As our partnership unfolded, it became clear that ARHAP was emblematic of Steve’s fierce vision of a just society that attends to the needs of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Whether working to right the wrongs of apartheid or ensuring equitable health care for the world’s poorest inhabitants, his clear, constant voice was a salient, hope-filled reminder that justice is not a philosophical abstraction. It is concrete, relational, and integral to God’s covenant.

In recent days, the internet has crackled with tributes to this remarkable man. One of the most eloquent was shared by The Reverend Canon Ted Karpf, Partnerships Officer, World Health Organization. The following is an excerpt of his message:

Steve’s personal charisma and vision, which informed this work, has touched all of us in deeply personal ways over the years. There is no replacing his work and what he has meant to each of us to the many institutions in which we serve. His leadership and multifocal visioning and responsibilities have drawn many into the world of faith, ministry, theology, anthropology, health and welfare; but most of all have reminded us of the legacy of seeking justice as our calling and responsibility in all times and places. His pioneering work has raised hearts and minds to a higher level of reasoning and thinking and sought to bring each of us to a greater accountability, not only before God, but before the people. 

In September 2006, Vesper Society published a conversation with Steve in which the reader encounters a man of deep faith who was a fully engaged partner in the work of making the world a more compassionate place. All of us at Vesper Society join others around the globe in expressing our deep sense of loss and in extending condolences to the de Gruchy family. We take comfort in knowing that, for years to come, the force of Steve’s spirit will continue to inspire so many who “hunger and thirst after righteousness.”

Click here to learn more about the Society’s work with ARHAP.