wfn.org | Seize Opportunity to Build Peace in Hopeless Situations

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

Tanzanian Church Leader Tells LWF Church Representatives
ELCT Deputy General Secretary Says Healing is in the Hands of
Ordinary People

MONTREUX, Switzerland/GENEVA, 17 November 2002 (LWI) - The quest
for peace building in Africa is not a matter for heads of states
and governments, religious leaders or the elite and educated,
rather, it is in the hands of ordinary people on the continent, a
woman leader from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
(ELCT) told participants in the first preparatory gathering prior
to the 2003 Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

"If I in Tanzania know that people in Mozambique, South Africa,
Sierra Leone, Liberia and other countries think not about peace
for their own countries but also for Africa as a whole [then] I am
healed," Ms Loe-Rose Mbise, ELCT Deputy General Secretary, told
around 60 women representatives from LWF member churches
worldwide, gathered in Montreux for the November 14-17
Pre-Assembly Women's Gathering. Her sermon during the November 17
Sunday worship service, focused on "Healing through Peace Building
* Opportunities for Peace Building in Africa." Deliberations
during the consultation were based on the Assembly theme, "For the
Healing of the World."

Although Africa's 762 million people are faced with enormous
challenges that discourage and demoralize many * conflict,
poverty, HIV/AIDS and a host of other concerns * there are
opportunities for peace building, Mbise sad. Her reflection was
based on Luke 19: 41-42. She pointed out that Jesus wept for the
city of Jerusalem not because the people were dying and surrounded
by many difficult situations, but "in a state of war, hunger,
sickness and turmoil, he saw opportunities for peace building for
the city and its people."

"Are there opportunities for healing through peace building in
Africa? Who is seizing these moments filled with opportunities?
[Or] are we so much used to seeing sufferings in Africa that we no
longer recognize opportunities for peace building?" Mbise asked
and challenged listeners to seize the moment because "Jesus is
reminding us today" of the peace-building opportunities in Africa.

The ELCT deputy general secretary cited examples of peace building
opportunities in Africa namely the courage, will and
determination; unity; spirituality and faith; and the rich and
diverse composition of the African people. Africa's colonial
division, "has for a long time kept the people of the continent
apart," Mbise noted. But she also sees an opportunity * although
indeed tragic, situations of colonization, civil wars, apartheid
and so on * have brought many people together. "Can the hurting
issue of refugees be turned into an opportunity that will enable
future generations not to have to undergo the same experience
again?" she wondered. She cited an association of friendship
between the people of Mozambique and Tanzania, and underlined an
opportunity in linking such "associations of ordinary people from
all corners of Africa" with other forums to form a "strong web to
be used in bringing peace to the continent."

The ELCT official stressed that religious beliefs and values, a
central feature of the lives of the African people, "are a source
of a hope and courage" that transcend cultures and other barriers
that could come in the way of peace building.

Mbise challenged the LWF church representatives "to recognize the
numerous opportunities around us as a communion of believers, and
as a body of Christ," anduse them to bring healing to ourselves."
Peace building for Africa is healing to Africa and the world, she
concluded.

(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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