Diakonia: An Essential Part of the Church's Mission in the World LWF Member Churches in Central America Hold First Workshop in Series
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras/GENEVA, 11 April 2007 (LWI) * Rev. Ilo Utech of the Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope (ILNFE) has said he views the current series of workshops on diakonia as a positive sign for the Lutheran churches. The series is run by the Lutheran World Federation Department for Mission and Development (LWF/DMD) in cooperation with LWF Department for World Service (DWS) regional and country programs. A first such workshop, organized by the LWF/DWS regional program in Central America with DMD, took place 29 January to 3 February in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
According to Rev. Martin Junge, DMD Area Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, the workshop constituted an important milestone in the already close cooperative relationship between DWS and DMD in the region. He said it served to confirm the clear agreement between the programs and projects of the two LWF departments in Central America. While DWS has a regional program there, focused on expanding the churchesâ diaconal services, DMD has worked on articulating an understanding of diakonia that will be made available to LWF member churches, in the form of a discussion paper, at the end of the series of regional workshops and consultations. DMD is thus continuing on the path that was begun during the process that led to the 2004 publication of the LWF Mission Document "Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment * An LWF Contribution to the Understanding and Practice of Mission."
The results from the workshop will also be discussed at the Latin American Church Leadership Conference, 16 to 21 April, in Santiago, Chile, where further steps to be taken by the Latin American LWF member churches in relation to diakonia will be decided.
Utech, who also represents the Latin American LWF member churches on the LWF Project Committee, said that the churches in Latin America were appreciative of and interested in the focus of the workshop series, which makes it possible for âchurch and service to coincide more closely within the LWF, thus corresponding better to our fundamental understanding that they are well intertwined.â
âWe are comparatively young churches*this constitutes great potential for the renewal and further development of diaconal services. At the consultation, I was able to clearly see what still needs to be done if we are to be better witnesses to Godâs love. I feel encouraged to take these steps within the Lutheran communion.â These were the words of a participant in the workshop, which included representatives of the four LWF member churches in Central America, as well as a delegation from the Guatemalan Lutheran Church (ILUGUA) and observers from member churches in South America.
As part of the consultation, each of the Central American churches presented two diaconal projects, which were evaluated in group discussions. They were analyzed with reference to their orientation, with particular emphasis on their diaconal profiles and their own self-understanding.
Junge said that observations from past years were also borne out in the course of the consultation, while new perspectives for church diakonia in Central America opened up as well. âThe churches remain firm in their conviction that diakonia is an essential part of the churchâs mission in the world, and that diakonia and the ministry of the word adhere and interact closely together,â he explained. The churches continued to view respectful assistance to the needy, and support for their initiatives that serve to overcome suffering and oppression, as the best way to carry forth Jesusâ practice into todayâs world. âAll churches strive to bear prophetic witness to their hope as derived from Jesusâ acts,â Junge pointed out.
Working intensively together in groups, t he representatives of the Latin American churches first analyzed the profile of their diaconal work. In a second step, they focused on the question of the methodology followed in the course of setting forth a clear understanding of diakonia. This included an intensive discussion on the required qualifications for diaconal workers in churches and parishes.
Junge added âthe churches were unanimous in that a democratic approach and the required participation at the grassroots level needed to be expanded and provided with a sound methodology.â He continued: âThe need became evident as well for an improvement in the training of diaconal workers for qualified service, which would make diakonia more sustainable. The necessary training would need to be seen in an interdisciplinary light: from the theological basis through to techniques and methods in advocacy work.â
Dr Alois MÃller, LWF/DWS regional representative for Central America, said he saw the workshop as offering new impetus for the further deepening and focus of the DWS regional program to expand diaconal service. He stressed that the âprogram will become more effective as a result of this consultation, in which the churches were able to articulate their needs and perspectives.â The regional program indicates âdiaconal strengtheningâ as one of its focal points, which aims to assist churches in serving neighbors in need, by focusing on social transformation, gender equity, and ecumenical dialogue and cooperation.
Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke, director of DMD, said he was impressed by the âdeep roots of the Central American churchesâ diaconal organizations in spirituality, faith, and worship.â He also emphasized the ability of the churches to analyze their social and political contexts with a critical eye. âThese characteristics constitute a great gift that the Central American churches can share both within the Lutheran communion and in the ecumenical context,â he added.
The second diakonia workshop is planned for Hong Kong, China, in early September 2007. (939 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 66.7 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)
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