Burnett's direct challenge was met by embarrassed silence and evasion; and at that moment the synod, black members as well as white, showed itself to be indeed trapped in apartheid. Burnett had opened to door a chink, but the church did not want to escape from the trap.
Burnett's direct confrontation was countered with uncomfortable quietness and deflection; and simultaneously, the synod demonstrated its confinement within apartheid. Burnett had created an opening, but the church refused to seize the opportunity to escape.