Africa
Poverty and the Mission of the Church
The scandal of poverty confronted as a spiritual journey. © LWF/M. Filibus |
"Poverty ... robs people of their human dignity, health and well-being.” (LWF mission document titled Mission in Context, p. 16)
The concern for human suffering has always been a priority for the LWF. Since 2002, an emphasis on prophetic diakonia has urged churches to participate in the struggles of the poor to overcome poverty and to seek greater justice. In 2005, the Africa Lutheran Church Leadership Conference committed to witness against all forces that perpetuate poverty.
Consultation on Poverty and the Mission of the Church
Arusha, Tanzania – September 2006
A Maasai choir group called Upendo Kwaya from the ELCT Kimandolu congregation, outside Arusha. The group joined the opening ceremony at the Arusha Town Lutheran Church, Arusha. © LWF/K. Bloomquist |
The LWF Consultation on Poverty and the Mission of the Church in Africa convened with a focus on these objectives:
- To further the understanding of poverty trends in Africa and their perpetuating factors.
- To further clarify the church’s self-understanding, its mission and diaconal task in the context of poverty in Africa.
- To identify strategies and concrete actions to further the efforts of the churches to engage both individually and jointly the challenges of poverty in Africa.
- To empower churches to work together in pursuit of an “economy that serves life.”
Click for the Message from the Arusha Consultation. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
The Arusha Action Plan
A cross section of participants in the LWF consultation on poverty and the mission of the church in Africa, held in Arusha, Tanzania, 4-8 September 2006. |
Participants in the Arusha Consultation declared that being the church in Africa today is not only a privilege but also an obligation. They committed to speak out and act more boldly as churches in concert with others, and adopted the Arusha Action Plan with more specific steps to accomplish their commitments.
Click for the Arusha Action Plan (p. 3). (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
The Stewardship of Wealth and Overcoming Poverty
"Why are you standing [sitting] here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us" [unemployed, not idle] (Matthew 20:6-7) for archives only: Dessy, 300 km north of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, where new buildings are coming up along the main street . Charcoal is offered to travellers in vehicles, while a family roasts some food on a small stove. © LWF/J. Schep |
“Stewardship of Wealth – Overcoming Poverty ” is a special edition of Lutheran World Information (LWI) issued in October 2007. It includes feature articles from the LWF regions (including Africa) that provide insight into the churches’ role in restoring justice and advocating the rightful redistribution of wealth to all God’s people, especially the poor.
Click for the LWI Special on Stewardship of Wealth and Overcoming Poverty (1,024 kb). (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
For further information please contact:
Area Secretary for Africa
Rev. Dr Musa P. Filibus
E-mail: mfi@lutheranworld.org
Administrative Assistant
Ms Margarita Thilby
E-mail: mth@lutheranworld.org
