(l to r) Rev. Vladislav Iviciak, Marija Parnicki, both Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia © LWF/Juho Kuva
Participants in a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) global consultation on diakonia that opened in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 13 October said they favored a redefinition of diakonia to fit the world today. They also agreed to look into ways of resolving the dilemma of divisions between the diaconic, development and evangelism work of the church.
In his welcoming remarks, Rev. Iteffa Gobena, president of the consultation host church, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), said the first evangelists who spread the gospel in Ethiopia in 1900 found it necessary "to help the sick and educate children as a means to actualize service in Christian love."
Describing such acts as "gospel in action," Gobena explained to around 60 participants attending the LWF consultation that "the knowledge of the gospel and the experience of God's love is the power that moved the evangelists to face the challenge of their days; hence they permeated God's love through their actions."
The EECMY leader said the commission of Jesus Christ was to serve the whole person-body and soul. Instead of sub-dividing the work, "challenges should be addressed by the message of the gospel, which is to free the people from evil [whether] spiritual or physical," he said.
The director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD) Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke said the purpose of the consultation was, among others, to enable participants reach a common understanding of the term diakonia, explore its theological foundation and its potential to conceptualize the distinctive nature of church-based action and development work.
He said Addis Ababa was chosen as the venue for such an important meeting because EECMY is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. He pointed out that at the time of registration in 1959, the Ethiopian church had only 20,000 members, and has since grown to become the second largest LWF member church with nearly 5 million members.
The venue also provided an opportunity for participants to get inspiration and learn from the EECMY's experience, including the successful establishment of its impressive Development and Social Services Commission, responsible for implementing various diaconal projects, noted Nordstokke.
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(By LWI African region editor, Elizabeth Lobulu)
