wfn.org | Lutheran Pastor Calls for Rethinking Diakonia amidst Violence

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Indian Lutheran Pastor Calls for a Rethinking of Diakonia amidst
Violence
Churches Challenged to Speak Out on Violence even When not
Directly Affected

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa/GENEVA, 6 November 2002 (LWI) - A
Lutheran pastor from India has pleaded for a new understanding of
diakonia in a world with violence.

Addressing participants in a Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
consultation on diakonia taking place in Johannesburg, Rev. Dr.
Deenabadhu Manchala, Program Executive for Peace Concerns, World
Council of Churches (WCC) and a pastor of the Andhra Evangelical
Lutheran Church in India, pointed out that the majority of victims
of violence are the powerless and poor, and that ultimately,
violence is an exercise of power over the powerless.

"As an instrument of intimidation and subjugation, violence serves
the interest of the structures and cultures of domination - often
invoked in the name of patriotism, social identity and religion,"
he said at the November 3-7 LWF Global Consultation on "Prophetic
Diakonia - For the Healing of the World." Participants drawn from
Lutheran churches, partner organizations, social service agencies
and institutions are focussing on the understanding of diakonia in
its national and international context.

Manchala criticized the "unholy silence" of some churches in the
face of violence, especially when the churches are not directly
touched by it. Recently in India, nearly 2,000 Muslims were
massacred over a period of two months and the churches remained
unfazed, he reported. Last year, on the other hand, when there
were some stray attacks against Christians and churches in India,
the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches clearly voiced
their protest.

A great number of victims of violence belong to Christian
churches, Manchala pointed out. Their victimization, in many
cases, has the tacit approval of the theological and
ecclesiastical traditions and norms of the church. "Many have
learned or have been forced to remain silent on account of several
factors, including the way the Christian faith is presented and
practiced," he argued.

"What forms of diakonia would make a difference in the lives of
these and others who are caught in the vicious cycle of violence?"
Manchala asked. He personally pleaded for an "openness to change
and consequent re-conception." The church should become credible
and relevant and explore "how best diakonia can be a ferment of
change, transforming this violent world into a world of peace and
justice." If the churches do not actively participate in the
struggle of the poor to improve their lives, other agencies would
take over and deprive the church of an opportunity "to be an ally
of those in the vanguard of justice," Manchala cautioned.

A thorough process of introspection and reformulation is also the
central concern of the WCC 2001-2010 "Decade to Overcome
Violence." Realizing that the church "has a problem and has been
part of the problem of violence" consequently calls for a process
of genuine repentance for intolerant attitudes and complicity in
violence. Only then can a true diakonia emerge affirming human
dignity and the rights of people at all levels, he said.

In the international context, the 2001 September 11 attacks
against the United States provided an example of the vulnerability
of humankind, which, according to Manchala, should be used as an
opportunity to express more openness, solidarity and compassion.
Affirming one's vulnerability means following the example of Jesus
who "rejected the temptation of foolproof security when the devil
asked him to jump down from the pinnacle of the temple (Matt.4:
5-7)." Accepting vulnerability means accepting interdependence.
This in turn can lead to the necessary redefining, exercising and
sharing of power for a less violent world, Manchala added.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 136 member churches in 76 countries representing over 61.7
million of the 65.4 mllion Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human
rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and
development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted,
material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the
LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
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