wfn.org | LWF Leader Urges African Churches to Take Up Responsibility

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

LWF Leader Urges African Churches to Take Up Responsibility
Shake Off Chains of Spiritual Colonization 

WINDHOEK, Namibia/GENEVA, 10 November 2005 (LWI) - Namibian Lutheran
Bishop Dr Zephania Kameeta has called on African Lutheran churches to
shake off the chains of spiritual colonization, and the fear of losing
favor, in face of those in power. He challenged them, instead, to
courageously take up their socio-political, ethical and spiritual
responsibility.

Kameeta made these remarks when he preached at the opening service of
the African Lutheran Church Leadership Conference in the oldest Lutheran
church in the Namibian capital Windhoek, on November 9. The bishop of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) also
reminded members of African Lutheran churches, as citizens of their
respective countries, also of their obligation to act in critical
solidarity with their governments and non-governmental organizations. 

More than 80 participants from African Lutheran churches, partner
churches and organizations worldwide, are taking part in the conference,
which is jointly organized by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and
the three Lutheran churches in Namibia, under the theme "From Isolation
to Communion: For the Healing of Africa." The church leadership
conference coincides with the 50th anniversary celebrations of the All
Africa Lutheran Conference, which gathered for the first time in
Marangu, Tanzania, in 1955. 

The churches in Africa respond to the spiritual needs of their people
and contribute, substantially and practically, to their material and
spiritual growth, development, unity, justice and peace, said Kameeta,
who is chairperson of the LWF National Committee in Namibia. In July
2003, he also became LWF Vice-President for the region of Africa.

Call to Renewal Process

Kameeta said it was "God's call and the mission of the church in Africa
today," to enter a dynamic process that would include renewal,
repentance, and healing from fear and being neutral. In this process,
that should focus also on working against the high infectious and
destructive diseases of division, corruption, tribalism, violence,
especially against women and children, and the idolization of human
beings, among other concerns, the church should begin with itself, the
ELCRN bishop said.

Based on Ezekiel 37:1-14, Kameeta described Africa as a continent of
unending civil wars, destruction of the infrastructure of cities, towns,
roads, water and electricity supplies, education and health systems in
shambles, crippled democracies, ruling and opposition parties at war
with each other, [and] economies destroyed by dictatorships and
corruption. "And, to add insult to injury: HIV/AIDS [is] killing more
[people] than the civil wars!" he added. 

He reminded the audience of the high hopes that the African Union (AU),
the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and the idea of
the African Renaissance brought to Africans. "However, we have to
concede to the terrible reality: Africa is dead!" he declared. "The
church is not anymore the salt of the earth and light of the world but
the mirror of what is happening in this world."

But the Lord does not forsake the church, Kameeta stressed, God's
strength is revealed in her precisely when she is wounded and weak. The
fate of Africa lies in the hands of the African churches. African church
leaders are prophets for Africa today, as Ezekiel was for Israel. "You
are the salt of the old earth of Africa and the light of the continent,
which has suffered for too long!" (554 words)

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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140
member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
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 LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
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*	*	*

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