LWF Africa
The LWF communion in Africa includes 30 member churches in 22 countries, with a combined membership of 14.98 million at the end of 2005. Six churches have a membership over 500,000 and ten churches have fewer than 25,000 members.
The Africa area desk (based in Geneva) accompanies LWF member churches in their holistic ministries through programs and projects that respond to particular concerns of church life in the region and specific priorities identified by the member churches.
Sub-regional Expression of Communion
One of the major tasks of churches in Africa is strengthening communion and collaboration among churches across artificial colonial borders. Three sub-regional expressions of communion – the Lutheran Communion in West and Central Africa (LUCCWA), the Lutheran Communion in Central and Eastern Africa (LUCCEA) and the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) – are vital instruments for accompanying both established churches and young churches in their mission and growth.
Mission and Diakonia
The Africa area desk convenes a biennial church leadership consultation for discussion of challenges and issues in holistic mission, and for sharing practical experiences. Such gatherings have focused attention on new understandings and ways of being in mission, encompassing the models within the LWF mission document and the challenges on the continent, especially the HIV and AIDS pandemic, poverty and related issues. Support and coordination is also provided for various joint mission boards, bringing together South-South partners of the churches and their northern partners. This multilateral approach provides essential accompaniment in mission for younger and smaller churches, and strengthens joint action by older and larger churches.
Leadership and Governance
The biennial church leadership consultations include women and youth leaders as well as the heads of churches. These gatherings engage leadership issues such as styles of leadership and teamwork, transparency and accountability, and relevant sustainable structures. The Advisory Committee for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) meets annually for consultation, review of theological curricula, encouraging theological research, and advising churches on their theological education programs.
Communication and Advocacy
The Africa Lutheran Church Leadership Conference in 2005 acknowledged the historical impact of communication on mission in Africa, and stressed that communion was not possible without communication. They resolved to establish the Africa Lutheran Communication and Information Network (ALCINET) that would include a Web site located with LUCSA, print media with LUCCEA, and audio and video communication with LUCCWA.
In cooperation with other units of the LWF Secretariat, the area desk encourages the member churches to develop awareness and capacities for advocacy in their local and regional contexts. The support and accompaniment of communion relationships strengthen the advocacy initiatives of churches and also challenge churches in their own contexts.
Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
An important role for the Africa area desk is to assist and accompany churches that are dealing with internal conflict or conflict between churches. When requested or needed, pastoral visitation teams are organized and mediation services are offered. The focus is on problem resolution, and the healing and building of relationships.
The area desk supports and collaborates with the LWF initiative, Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA), with an emphasis on ecumenical and inter-religious collaboration for peace building in Africa.
50th Anniversary Gathering in 2005
The first gathering of the All Africa Lutheran Conference (AALC) was held at Marangu, Tanzania, in 1955, with a dream that became a common vision for the future of Africa. In November 2005, representatives of African Lutheran churches met in Windhoek, Namibia, for a Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration under the theme, “From Isolation to Communion: For the Healing of Africa.” They shared their dream and commitments to prophetically witness against all forces of injustice, violence, exclusion and corruption, and to actively contribute to the renewal of the entire Lutheran communion.
For further information please contact:
Area Secretary for Africa
Rev. Dr Musa P. Filibus
E-mail:
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Administrative Assistant
Ms Margarita Thilby
E-mail:
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