wfn.org | Re: UPDATE: 3 articles on LWF member churches' focus on diakonia in the different LWF regions

["LWFNews" <LWFNews@lutheranworld.org>]

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION  
>LWI News online:
>http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html 

LWI 2008-079

Development Workers Urge African Churches to Mobilize Local
Resources
Asia: Minorities in Pluralistic Societies Face Daunting
Challenges

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia/GENEVA, 30 October 2008 (LWI) - In Africa,
diakonia (church social service work) initiatives are integrated
within the concept of “ubuntu”—which emphasizes “‘I am because
you are and you are because I am’—hence fulfilling the
exhortation to be ‘my brother’s keeper,’” said South African
church development worker White Makabe Rakuba, one of the
participants in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Global
Consultation on Diakonia, held 13-17 October, in the Ethiopian
capital Addis Ababa.

Participants from the region challenged African churches to take
a more active leading role in engaging governments and
international agencies to influence development direction and
mobilize resources. They noted that African churches relied
mainly on their Northern partners to finance their diaconal
activities, while failing to recognize and mobilize local and
regional resources, including volunteer contributions. 

Reporting on their diaconal work experiences, LWF member church
representatives from Asia said they had not been sufficiently
vigorous in speaking out or advocating for the disadvantaged and
powerless members of society subjected to all forms of
injustices. 

The report compiled by Rev. Dr Ginda P. Harahap, Asia secretary
in the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD), pointed
out that some of the Lutheran churches in the region found it
difficult to carry out diaconal programs as they were a minority
in a pluralistic society. The reality of religious pluralism,
secularism, fundamentalism, marginalization, militarism,
terrorism, oppression, exclusion, discrimination and HIV and AIDS
was cited as one of the major challenges seriously affecting the
life of the Asian churches. 

Read the complete article at.

http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2297.EN.html

>*        *          *

>LWI 2008-080
>New, Changing Focus of Diakonia in Europe
>LWF Urged to Provide Forum to Exchange Views

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia/GENEVA, 30 October 2008 (LWI) – In Germany,
diakonia (church social service work) occupies a unique place in
society, and should be seen as a means to fulfill ethical
principles.

Speaking at the mid-October global consultation on diakonia
organized by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, Wolfgang Vogelmann, North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Germany, said the diakonia agenda in his country includes
political debate and advocacy, enabling the church to use this
platform to “influence and as a voice to advocate for those who
have not been heard.”

Until the second half of the 20th century, diaconal initiatives
were separated from the church and were carried out as acts of
individuals guided by their faith confession and “work out of
love,” noted Vogelmann.

The full article containing views from the Nordic countries and
Eastern Europe is available at,
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2298.EN.html

>*        *          *

LWI 2008-081

Latin America: Church Has Mobilized Society Against Unjust
Economic Policies
North American Lutherans Affirm Commitment to Domestic and Global
Mission Contexts

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia/GENEVA, 30 October 2008 (LWI) – Member
churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Latin America
and the Caribbean singled out neo-liberal globalization as one of
the major challenges that the church has had to respond to from a
regional context.

In presentations at the mid-October LWF global consultation on
diakonia, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, church representatives
from the region said they put emphasis on incorporating the
church social service (diakonia) ministry in advocacy campaigns
calling for fair global trade rules and the cancellation of
illegal external debts.to speak out against the use of land mines.

Ms Ruth Ann Reko, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Church in Society unit, spoke of the ELCA’s commitment to support
the church and its members, and partner with others in a ministry
of mission in domestic and international contexts.

The full LWI article is available at,

http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/2299.EN.html

>*        *          *

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF
currently has 141 member churches in 79 countries all over the
world, with a total membership of over 68.3 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.)

[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 dateline of an article contains the notation
(LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.] 

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