LWF Learning Platform

The foundations for Diakonia

Former LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko once wrote that “diakonia constitutes the ‘DNA’ i.e. the very being of what it means to be Church”. But what does Diakonia actually mean, and why is it so important for the church? If you would like to learn more about what Diakonia is, how it is theologically rooted, and why it matters to the church, have a look at our study document “Diakonia in Context”.

Conviviality – inspiration for a Diaconal Church

Since 2010, diaconal actors in LWF's member churches in Europe have been searching for ways to express the core meaning of diakonia in relation to increasing diversity and growing inequality in the European context. Over the past years ‘conviviality’ - the art and practice of living together  -  emerged as a new core concept for local diakonia. Conviviality focuses on everyday life and living together in solidarity provides a vision for transformative change, and develops theological ideas in practice.  Learn more about the concept and practice of conviviality and why it matters to the church.

Diaconal collaboration

There are different churches and church-related actors who are engaged in diaconal action. Diaconal collaboration among these actors is important for mutual learning and to achieve greater impact. In the Lutheran communion, the LWF member churches are implementing diaconal programs in their contexts. At the same time, the churches have mandated World Service as their global instrument for international diakonia. The Guidance Note ‘Joint Engagement of Worlds Service Programs and Member Churches’ aims to provide inspiration and practical recommendations for meaningful joint engagement of LWF’s member churches and the World Service country and emergency programs. It is offered as a resource to affirm and deepen mutual understanding of the joint calling and distinct mandates of LWF’s humanitarian and development arm and the churches’ witness. The four case studies featured in the publication illustrate good practices of existing collaboration. In a wider sense, this document may also provide some orientation for LWF’s programs that work in collaboration with other faith-based communities.