DMD Themes
The vision of a communion in mission grows out of the understanding and firm belief that the church is missional. The reason for being the church is mission in a holistic form that encompasses proclamation, diakonia/service, advocacy for peace and justice, interfaith dialogue and care for creation. The following themes reflect the focus of DMD work:
Diakonia
Created in God's image. |
Diakonia is central to what it means to be the church. As a core component of the gospel, diakonia is not an option but an essential part of discipleship. Diakonia reaches out to all persons, who are created in God’s image. While diakonia begins as unconditional service to the neighbor in need, it leads inevitably to social change that restores, reforms and transforms.
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Mission
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A process of extensive consultation with LWF member churches, mission agencies and ecumenical partners, beginning in 1998, resulted in adoption of a revised LWF Mission Document in December 2004. With the title, “Mission in Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment - An LWF Contribution to the Understanding and Practice of Mission," the new mission document aims to stimulate self-analysis and reaffirmation of mission in context among the LWF member churches and other bodies.
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Sustainable Development
Sustainable development and environment© LWF/J. Schep |
Sustainable development promotes the God-given dignity of each person and enhances the capacity of persons and communities to determine their own future. The LWF Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
, adopted in 2000, articulate a holistic approach in addressing general principles of sustainable development as well as specific dimensions of human rights, gender, environment and communication. The importance of sustainability of the churches is also recognized as a central issue for mission and development.
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HIV and AIDS
The LWF launched a global campaign against HIV and AIDS in 2002. It includes an LWF action plan on HIV and AIDS, with the theme, "Compassion, Conversion, Care: Responding as Churches to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic," (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) aimed at engaging LWF member churches in open discussion about the disease, and promoting their active participation.
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Advocacy
Holistic mission includes advocacy as well as proclamation and service or diakonia. Advocacy is the effort to influence those in power to use their power in a different way, and to change power structures and relationships. Therefore advocacy addresses governments, corporations, civil society and the churches regarding the dignity, rights and the equality of all people.
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Communication
DMD supports regional communication forums and networks in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, and various media projects in member churches. DMD also sponsors capacity building measures, such as regional and national seminars to help the members of the networks stay abreast with new technologies, in order to communicate effectively and to stimulate professionalism of Lutheran communicators in the regions.
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