Christian Institute of Southern Africa

The CI became deeply involved with black activists such as Steve Biko, and was banned by the state in 1977.

Factors that contributed to the founding was the need to continue dialogue after the disastrous conclusion of the 1960 Cottesloe Consultation, the last time that all South African churches met until 1990.

The 1963 South Transvaal Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church had forbidden unofficial comments that were not submitted through official channels (Maritz 2003:56).

John de Gruchy, a Congregationalist minister and later an academic at the University of Cape Town, was a founder member.

Peter Randall led the 'Study Project on Christianity in an Apartheid Society' that was jointly sponsored by the CI and the South African Council of Churches.