ELCT participates in peace building initiative
By Staff Reporter
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania with its headquarters in Arusha is
among religious institutions to be represented in a forum of various faith
traditions in Africa to be held from April 18-25 in Benoni near Johannesburg,
South Africa.
Over 200 representatives will assemble to review their plan of action adopted
about two
years ago, calling for the active engagement of religious leaders in conflict
resolution and peace building initiatives on the continent.
Tanzania will be represented by five people including Rev. Dr. Mwakabana from
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT); a delegate from the Christian
Council of Tanzania; two members of the Bahai faith; a journalist and Mr Rajab
Kundya representing the Moslems.
The Second Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) Summit is being
coordinated by the Geneva based Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and hosted by
the National Religious' Leaders Forum of South Africa (NRLFSA).
Delegates, around 40 percent of whom are women, are drawn from more than 30
countries, and represent major religions including African Traditional Religion,
the Baha'i faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. The theme
of the summit is "Working Together for Peace in Africa."
Pre-Summit to Focus on Women's Role in Peacemaking "Mothers and Daughters of
Africa"
The first three days of the Summit will be devoted to a "Consultation of Mothers
and Daughters of Africa," aiming at broadening and strengthening inter-faith
collaboration and action for peace in Africa.
Delegates will also evaluate the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Action
adopted at the first summit in October 2002, under the theme "Embracing the Gift
of Peace."
While encouraging trends and signs of peace are emerging in some parts of the
continent, the prevailing potential for war and conflict in many areas, is still
a matter of concern, says IFAPA convenor, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael
Noko. Flash points include Burundi, the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast; Liberia, Nigeria, Northern Uganda,
Sierra Leone and Sudan.
Use and Abuse of Holy Scriptures
Discussion topics will include the use and abuse of Holy Scriptures with respect
to conflict; racism, religion and dialogue; the impact of conflict on children
in Africa; and the threats of
international terrorism and the need to focus on its root causes. Highlights
from the women's pre-summit which will be attended by some of Africa's First
Ladies, will be presented in an official launch of "A
Mother's Cry for a Healthy Africa."
The media will also play an important role not only in spreading the message and
vision of the second summit, but also in active participation. A group of
international and local journalists will take part in a panel
discussion on the role of media in the context of interfaith action for peace.
The Secretary General of the LWF said recently: "We seek ways of working
together with the media to advance the cause of peace in this
continent".
It is further expected that the Summit will strengthen the interfaith forum as a
viable pan-Africa instrument in addressing the state of war and conflict in
Africa and, that it shall forge appropriate mechanisms to
strengthen the existing sub-regional and national interfaith structures in
different parts of Africa.
In terms of both geographical and inter-religious scope, "IFAPA is a
contribution to the African renaissance that we all hope and pray for," Noko
adds.
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