WCC NEWS: Faith communities promote “safe spaces” to discuss health issues

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World Council of Churches - News

FAITH COMMUNITIES PROMOTE “SAFE SPACES” TO DISCUSS HEALTH ISSUES

For immediate release: 19 January 2012

“Churches should not shy away from discussing health issues. The more
we remain in denial, the more we end up promoting a culture of silence,”
said Dr Sr Elizabeth Vadakekara from India, representing the Medical
Mission Sisters in London.

Vadakekara was speaking at a World Council of Churches (WCC) consultation
addressing the theme “Safe Spaces - transforming faith communities”,
held 16–18 January at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.

“We need to have open and inclusive dialogue on mental and physical
health issues, so that we can create safe spaces, where communities can
express their concerns in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust,”
she added.

The event brought together twenty-five participants, representing churches
and religious agencies from around the world, with experience in a variety
of fields, including healthcare delivery, gender issues, human rights,
advocacy against gender based violence and HIV/AIDS.

To challenge the taboos associated with disease, to sponsor confidential
places in which sensitive issues can be explored without judgment and to
equip churches in creating safe spaces in their communities, the
consultation was initiated by the WCC Health and Healing
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=fb23c2c48cb8554c718b ) programme 
in
collaboration with Women in Church and Society (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=6ca69b3ff37c5c4d73eb ) and Youth in the 
Ecumenical Movement
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=d1479e528589270a941d ).

They discussed a wide spectrum of issues, ranging from mental health,
cancer, death, stigma associated with diseases, gender based violence,
abuse and sexuality. Various case studies were shared and participants
analyzed the complexities and difficulties communities face in dealing
with health issues.

Participants stressed the need for creating safe spaces within families,
congregations and communities. They also included government and
leadership, essential to building healthy communities through positive
policy-making and implementation.

Transforming faith communities


They proposed an analytical framework for self-assessment of the safe
spaces in communities and churches. They also proposed guidelines to
assist faith communities to become inviting, inclusive and mutually
accountable.

The participants raised various ethical and theological perspectives on
dealing with the creation of safe spaces. They pointed out the potential
for education and training in existing church settings, which include
groups for youth, women and men, Sunday schools, seminaries,
interdenominational and inter-religious spaces.

“Addressing health related issues can be very divisive for faith
communities”, explained Dr Manoj Kurian, WCC programme executive for
Health and Healing.

Therefore, he said, “It is vital to have an open and inclusive approach
in addressing such issues, which can help prepare the ground for positive
transformation of faith communities.”

The meeting managed to bring difficult issues to the table for discussions,
such as sexual abuse within families, rape and human sexuality.

Nicqi Ashwood, a participant from Jamaica called this event an
accomplishment. She said, “Such dialogues put more responsibility on the
churches to be a space of trust and accountability, which promotes
physical, psychological and spiritual safety.”

“Churches have to be a space where the disfranchised can be supported
with compassion, and a process of positive transformation is possible,”
said Ashwood, who works for the Caribbean and North America Council for
Mission.

The consultation also produced specific guidelines for a strategic process
promoting safe spaces within faith communities.

Safe spaces in faith communities are vital for healing and a path in our
journey towards a world of justice and peace. Therefore, this initiative
will also add to preparations of the WCC 10th Assembly, which will address
the theme, “God of life, lead us to justice and peace” in Busan, Korea
in 2013.

Read also:

WCC programme for HIV-competent church (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=a61cfe85d497a6dc5127 )

More information on WCC's work on health and healing (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=9ede4c04e0160245b95c )

More information on Women in Church and Society (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=70d0e799d5ab186a6de0 )

Youth in the ecumenical movement (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=02e9b01c8d394c9f2de8 )


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.



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