wfn.org | African Lutheran churches concerned about Muslim-Christian relations

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Country reports cite examples of conflicts due to religious differences

ARUSHA, Tanzania/GENEVA, 23 July 1999 (lwi) - Discussions on
Christian-Muslim relations generated a lot of interest during the Lutheran
Communion in Central and Eastern Africa (LUCCEA) General Assemby which took
place in Tanzania's north-eastern city of Arusha from 8 to 10 July 1999.

The 40 participants who were drawn from LUCCEA's seven member churches
(since increased to eight) urged the churches to learn as well as stock
adequate material on Islam and organize regular Christianity revival
activities in order to strengthen believers spiritually.

Most participants who contributed views documented examples of conflicts in
their countries as a result of Muslims confronting Christians due to their
differences in doctrinal teachings and beliefs.

They said that nominal Christians need to correct their ways of life and
ensure they effectively impart Christian and doctrinal teachings to members
of their families by their action and utterances as one way of
strengthening believers spiritually.

After a long discussion, the participants agreed to continue with dialogue
between leaders of the two religions as well as carry out in-depth study on
what the doctrinal differences are and how other churches cope with Muslim
fundamentalism.

They also urged members of LUCCEA to ensure they introduce Islam as one of
the compulsory subjects in their theological training curriculum.

Participants called on pastors in the LUCCEA sub-region to ensure that the
doctrinal and scriptural teachings are targeted at the youth because they
are the major focus in the Muslim fundamentalism campaigns.

The participants expressed concern that the spiritual healing ministry is
lacking in most Lutheran churches hence some members and especially some
women opt to go to Muslim religious leaders for counseling and "spiritual
healing".

However, it was noted that in some of the member churches of LUCCEA,
evangelism crusades were organized regularly or the members of the
congregation who needed special prayers are asked to stay behind after a
church service.

The Chairman of LUCCEA, who is also the President of the EECMY, Rev.
Yadessa Daba, called upon members of the sub-regional body to pray for
churches in war torn areas of Eritrea, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC).

Reflecting on Romans 1:11-12, in which St. Paul talks about the sharing of
spiritual gifts as a source of strength, Rev. Daba urged LUCCEA members to
work closely and encourage each other as a way of giving each other
strength.

Speaking during the assembly opening ceremony, the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) Department for Mission and Development (DMD) Secretary for
Africa, Dr. Vivian Msomi, commended the creation of LUCCEA - about 44 years
after the first African church leaders meeting was held at Marangu Teachers
College, near Moshi. He urged members of the sub-regional body to cooperate
in order to maximize on the advantages of such a communion.

(The LWF is a global communion of 128 member churches in 70 countries
representing 58 million of the world's 61.5 million Lutherans. Its highest
decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven years.
Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council which meets
annually, and its Executive Committee.)

[Lutheran World Information 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 acknowledgement.]

(This article was contributed by Elizabeth Lobulu, a journalist with the
communication desk of the ELCT Communication Unit.)

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/