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Issue 00435 |
September 9 - 15, 2006 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Local News |
| Poverty and the Mission of the Church in Africa By Elizabeth Lobulu Churches in Africa have been challenged "to tackle poverty head-on and not by becoming neutral but by being in critical solidarity with the Governments and Civil Societies in the community." The challenge was given in Arusha last week by Bishop Dr. Zephania Kameeta, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Vice President for Africa Region, when he delivered a key-note address to a Consultation on Poverty and the Mission of the Church in Africa held from September 4th to 8th, 2006. Bishop Kameeta whose address was interrupted by applause from more than 80 participants to the consultation admitted that churches in Africa were not adequately addressing the real problems on the ground rather they were busy supporting the status quo which in most cases perpetuated poverty. He told the consultation that the church should not shy away from its responsibility to serve and be accountable to the people. Dr. Kameeta who has been a politician and former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Namibia said if things go wrong the church should speak up instead of staying neutral. The Director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD), Rev. Dr. Kjell Nordstokke explained that poverty in Africa has now become a scandal both at ethical and political levels. He said the theme of the consultation was: "That the poor may have hope and injustice shut its mouth", (paraphrased from Job5:16). Bishop Kameeta also spoke out against the emerging type of leadership in Africa that is good at making beautiful talk and isolated from the people they are supposed to serve. He warned that if the churches are not accountable in taking their responsibilities, they too will find themselves dependent so much on outside support that they will implement programmes that dictated from outside. "We limit ourselves in what we do and work for and by so doing we are also limiting the hopes and expectations of the poor towards a better life and the achievement of social justice", Hon. Right Rev. Kameeta, who is also author of a number of books, said. He drew the attention of the participants when he said "if the church is called to reach the good news to the poor (as in Luke 4: 18 -19); then we have to seriously get involved in the fight against poverty in Africa. We cannot preach the good news from the pulpit while not being connected, attached and most importantly touched by the every day life and suffering of the people living in poverty." He urged churches that have donor support to critically examine their business as usual tendency cautioning that the role of churches should not be so much in carrying out projects but rather to learn to be players in the society as a whole. This is why he said "we need participatory research to become true ambassadors of our people by advocating for solutions from the people and supported by them". He captivated the audience by giving examples of how Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia strive for sustainability and how it collaborates with the government in various ways to fight poverty. Re. Dr. Filibus Musa the Area Secretary for Africa with the LWF/DMD who is the coordinator of the consultation said: "Addressing poverty in Africa was an arduous task that goes beyond money or 'aid to Africa.' "It calls for a holistic approach, including creating an atmosphere for justice, peace and freedom, which are necessary ingredients for sustainable communities and livelihoods, and promoting sustainable democratic institutions, good governance and ensuring public accountability." Rev. Dr. Filibus states that the primary aim of the consultation was to enable member churches reflect theologically on their self understanding and responsibilities of the church and the public within the context of impoverishing conditions in Africa. The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden. The LWF now has140 member churches in 78 countries all over the world representing 66.2 million Christians.(662 words).
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