“Poverty … robs people of their human dignity, health and well-being.”
Mission in Context
Through an emphasis on prophetic diakonia, the LWF urges member 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.
Anti-Poverty Action Plan
The LWF Consultation on Poverty and the Mission of the Church in Africa held September 2006 in Arusha, Tanzania, focused on:
- Furthering the understanding of poverty trends in Africa and their perpetuating factors
- Further clarifying the church’s self-understanding, mission and diaconal task in the context of poverty in Africa
- Identifying strategies and concrete ways for the churches to engage the challenges of poverty in Africa
- Empowering churches to work together in pursuit of an “economy that serves life.”
Being the church in Africa today is not only a privilege but also an obligation, according to the Arusha Consultation participants.
They committed to speak out and act more boldly as churches in concert with others. The Arusha Action Plan details specific steps that are to be taken to meet this commitment.
For more information contact the DMD Africa Desk.
