wfn.org | Diakonia Is about Justice, 'More Than the Strong Serving the Weak'

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

LWF Global Consultation Ends with Call for a More Proactive Church

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa/GENEVA, 8 November 2002 (LWI) -
"Diakonia is more than the strong serving the weak. Those who
benefit at the expense and exploitation of the poor must be named,
confronted and brought to justice." This was one of the messages
in a statement agreed upon by more than 80 delegates from Lutheran
churches, partner organizations, social service agencies and
institutions worldwide at the closing of a Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) consultation on "Prophetic Diakonia - For the
Healing of the World," in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The statement will be published in the form of an epistle, echoing
the voices of the participants and summarizing the main points of
agreement. The November 3-7 conference was dealing with the
understanding of diakonia - church social service - in its
national and international context.

"Churches are called to participate in the struggle of the poor in
addressing poverty and to pursue alternatives that are just," the
letter states, stressing that diakonia is more than social service
- it always includes social change. To achieve this, "churches
need to address governments, expecting them to carry out their
fundamental responsibility to provide for the basic needs and
rights of their people, including political, economic, social and
cultural rights, and to challenge policies that perpetuate poverty
and suffering. Churches should become more proactive in making
efforts to work with governments, while at the same time,
challenging them, when necessary, and keeping a critical distance
so as not to be co-opted."

In the statement, churches are also challenged on the need to work
together with other faiths, organizations and movements in civil
society. "Although diakonia has explicitly Christian grounds, we
also recognize that God is active... not only through the church.
We must work with other partners ecumenically, with those of other
faiths, and with others in civil society. Building cooperative
strategic alliances is crucial." At the same time, churches are
encouraged to organize advocacy at international levels as well.
"Churches need to raise their voice more explicitly in favor of
global mechanisms for protecting the social, economic, cultural
and political rights of the vulnerable in all societies."

The diakonia consultation participants identified poverty,
violence and HIV/AIDS as the three major issues that today
challenge churches "to move into more prophetic expressions of
diakonia." Confessing that the church has too often tolerated and
even legitimized practices of violence - including through some of
its theology and the ways in which power is structured - they
admit in the letter, that this attitude has jeopardized the
churches' prophetic voice and needs to be addressed. Thereby,
"cultural values and practices that propagate or encourage
violence must be rejected, and those that can contribute to bridge
building and peace encouraged."

Similar response is called for when addressing HIV/AIDS. "Cultural
beliefs, practices, and traditions must be challenged whenever
they lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS." Moreover, the diakonia
consultation participants urged the church to break the culture of
silence with respect to the pandemic. "The church is living with
HIV/AIDS; there are many living with HIV/AIDS in our midst ...
Rather than with fearful or moralistic approaches, the church must
reach out pastorally, with unqualified acceptance of those
affected by HIV/AIDS. We must break out of our comfort zones to
accompany those affected in ways that constantly safeguard and
promote their rights and self esteem," they affirm in the final
message.

Referring to the role of diakonia in the church, the letter
clearly states, that diakonia is central to what it means to be
Church. "As a core component of the Gospel, diakonia is not an
option but an essential part of discipleship." The Lutheran
communion of churches needs to be shaped by "a theology of the
cross, which compels us to identify with and for the suffering
rather than the successful." This also means that diakonia is part
of the calling of all churches and all Christians in the world,
irrespective of a church's resources and expertise. Both the
materially rich and poor are challenged to practice diakonia as
part of their calling.

The conference was organized by the LWF Department for World
Service in conjunction with the Departments for Mission and
Development as well as Theology and Studies. "For the Healing of
the World" is the theme of the LWF Tenth Assembly, which will take
place from 21-31 July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(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
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced
with acknowledgment.]

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