A Framework For Overcoming Poverty And Economic
A Framework forOvercoming Poverty andEconomic Injustice in Africa
A Framework for OvercomingPoverty and EconomicInjustice in Africa
Acknowledgement:The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) give thanks to the participants belowfrom member churches, theological institutions in Africa and Communionoffice staff who contributed their gifts in preparing this publication. Their workstarted in Lilongwe, Malawi in September, 2015 and was completed in thesame place in May, 2016. Their names are as follows: Rev. Tawanda Chovere(ELC-Zimbabwe), Dean Kenneth Sibanda (ELC-Zimbabwe), Ms SibongileBaker (ELC-Zimbabwe), Dr Rogate Mshana (ELC-Tanzania), Rev. Dr FaustinMahali (ELC-Tanzania), Rev. Dr Tom Omolo (ELC-Kenya), Rev. Dr Faith Lugazia(UEM-Rwanda), Rev. Ernest Kadiva (ELC-Tanzania), Dr Colette Bouka-Coula(ELC-Cameroon), Dr Abeya Wokwoya (EECMY-Ethiopia), Rev. Dr David Tswaedi(LUCSA), Mr. Geofrey Kalugendo (Regional Coordinator – Confronting Povertyand Economic Injustice), Ms Simangaliso Hove (LWF Staff), Rev. Dr KennethMtata (LWF Staff) and Rev. Dr Elieshi Mungure (LWF Staff).Lastly a word of appreciation goes to the Evangelical Lutheran Churchin Malawi (ELCM) under the leadership of Bishop Dr Joseph Bvumbwe forhosting and supporting the above team throughout their work.Copyright: The Lutheran World Federation, 2017Editor:Department for Mission and Development, Africa DeskDesign and Layout:Department for Mission and DevelopmentOffice for Communication ServicesCover design and illustrations:Abdul Kingo from Dar-es- Salaam, Tanzania.Printed in South AfricaISBN 978-2-940459-51-3
ContentsPreface. 5Introduction.7Title. 7Scope. 7The Framework. 7Principles. 8Why the Framework. 81. Situational Analysis. 112. Advocacy. 133. Diaconal Initiatives.154. Theological Education and Training. 175. Church Sustainability. 196. Leadership and Management.217. Care for God’s Creation. 238. Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation.259. Gender Justice.2710. Youth Participation. 2911. Child Rights. 3112. Ecumenism and Interfaith Cooperation. 33Conclusion. 35Sources. 363
PrefaceGod has never blessed poverty. God has blessed the poor as an act ofempowerment to heal them, reclaim their dignity, and make them comeout of poverty (cf. Mt 5:3-11; Luke 6:20-26). This biblical-theologicalunderstanding of poverty calls to an end of the mystification of the realityof poverty in Africa. With such a strong theological foundation, LutheranChurches in Africa have ever since been struggling to come out with a document that will help them come out of poverty and become self-sustaining.A framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in Africais a result of the concerted efforts of churches of the communion of theLutheran World Federation, Africa Region to respond to the theologicalmisconception of the interpretation of poverty. Furthermore, this framework reveals the inevitability of human beings as responsible creaturesto reclaim their role of participating in the preservation of the vitality ofGod’s creation.The framework has outlined important principles that guide actionagainst poverty and economic injustice. The recognition of the poorthemselves as the sole participants in the agenda against poverty makesthis document peculiar and revolutionary. Poor people have always beenneglected and become subject of one way traffic diaconal initiatives fromoutside their context. The church becomes prophetic if she listens tothe needs of her members and cares about them. This means that thechurch should be a safe space for the hopeless people to have hope andthe poor to participate in fighting against systematic injustice and poverty.In order to realize these principles, the document has underlined important activities that will help the church act strategically against such acomplex challenge of poverty. The analysis of political, social, economic andcultural challenges and opportunities related to these aspects is importantfor the prioritization and proper stewardship of the limited resources setapart for fighting poverty.The framework has mainstreamed various aspects that are tools fora comprehensive fight against poverty and economic injustice. Diaconalinitiatives cannot be separated from advocacy based on theological andprophetic responsibility of churches. This also includes empowering andstanding for marginalized and continuously degraded creation of God byhuman beings. It means that churches using this framework should beready to fight against corruption, child abuse, gender inequality, economicexploitation at all levels, undemocratic institutions and environmental5
A Framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in Africadegradation. Such a confrontation requires visionary leadership and goodgovernance as provided by this framework.It is my wish that this document that has timely come during the500 th anniversary of the Reformation will remain a symbol of unity andguidance to action in confronting poverty in Africa. Lutheran communionin Africa is rejuvenated by this document, and it is the responsibility ofthese churches not to shelf such a valuable document, but they shouldutilize it as a catalyst for their initiatives upon realizing the fight againstpoverty and economic injustice.Bishop Dr Alex Malasusa,LWF Vice President for Africa6
IntroductionThe Framework is the outcome of a long process having drawn its impetusfrom a global Lutheran community call to address issues of poverty andeconomic injustice since 2005. It derives its theological and spiritual momentum from different consultative meetings in Arusha (2006) and Lund(2007). These consultations led into emphasizing overcoming poverty andeconomic injustice as part of the holistic mission of the church. The keybiblical justification of this framework as a result of this process affirms,«So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth” (Job 5:16). Thisframework therefore, appeals to the theology of life engraved in the savingact of Jesus on the Cross and in Christ’s glorious resurrection. Both Jesus’suffering against injustice and his victory against sin and death challengeAfrican Lutheran churches as Christ’s commissioned institutions to confrontpoverty and economic injustice in their respective contexts.TitleThis framework shall be known as The Framework for Overcoming Povertyand Economic Injustice in Africa, herein after referred to as framework.ScopeThe framework shall apply to the all LWF member churches in Africa andrelated institutions at all levels in their diversified contexts. It may also beused ecumenically.The FrameworkThis framework is developed to help churches engage on impact basedprocesses of overcoming poverty and economic injustice in Africa. Thelevels of achievements shall be measured based on the set expectedoutcomes of strategic issues underlined by this framework to be realizedby churches in their respective contexts.7
A Framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in AfricaPrinciplesThis framework is based on the principles of people and churches’ capacityto act against poverty and economic injustice as follows:I. Participation of people living underpoverty and economic injustice The capacity of households, groups and individuals to meet their basichuman needs such as access to education, information, health, shelter,water and sanitation, food sovereignty, credits and sustainable income. The ability of communities to demand their democratic and human rightsas well as participation in decision making for their own development. The ability to link their economic production with care and sustenanceof their environmentII. Churches as actors of Social and Economic Transformation The capacity of churches and their related institutions to manage theprocesses of overcoming poverty and economic injustice. The increase of capacity of churches in integrating the principles ofovercoming poverty and economic injustice in the life of the churchin particular theological and diaconal institutions. Promote the capacity of the churches to address the issues of churchgovernance and accountability. The increase of capacity of churches in intensifying their advocacyefforts related to overcoming poverty and economic injustice.Why the FrameworkThe Lutheran churches in Africa share a lot in common in terms of theirestablishment as missionary churches. Many of them trace their originalityfrom Euro-American missionary activities in Africa. Post Euro-Americanmissionary churches have shared Lutheran common values through8
their attachment to the bodies of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) acommunion of churches and in particular in the Lutheran communion inAfrica. These churches serve in contexts where many of their people livein abject poverty and experience political, social and economic injustice.The Lutheran communion in Africa through their commitment in holisticmission is obliged as actors of change in the society to engage in the waragainst poverty and economic injustice (LWF, Mission in Context, 2004).This framework is a result of a long process of the Lutheran churchesin Africa in their initiatives to join the local and international communitiesto fight against poverty and economic injustice. Since 2005 Africa churchleadership together with other organizations jointly worked together inthe fight against poverty and economic injustice in the region. There hasbeen notable progress in these efforts through Africa Lutheran ChurchLeadership Consultation (ALCLC), the Lutheran Council in Africa (LUCA),and the Task Force on Poverty (TFP). The process has enhanced ownership of the initiatives to fighting poverty and economic injustice by thesub-regions and member churches.Based on previous consultations, research, outcomes from pilotprojects and evaluation conducted in 2014 it was strongly recommendedthat the process of confronting poverty was still relevant to the memberchurches in their respective contexts. Poverty and economic injusticeare still overarching problems in Africa. Only few African countries havea medium human development while many countries register a very lowdevelopment (UNDP, 2015). The United Nations has realized the problemof poverty and economic injustice by making fighting poverty and its formsthe top priority agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG, 2015).The magnitude of the problem of poverty and social and economicexploitation requires churches in Africa to have a comprehensive frameworkto guide their concerted efforts in confronting poverty and economic injustice. The Lutheran churches in Africa draw their mandate from biblical andtheological call to act against the exploitative and unjust economic systemscreated by individuals, groups, or nations that deny majority citizens ofthis world from fairly participating in social and economic production andtheir related benefits. The Old Testament statement, “So the poor havehope, and injustice shuts its mouth (2007),” is reinterpreted in Jesus’ ownpromise, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have comethat they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10b). Lutheranchurches in Africa participate in God’s mission to bring fullness of life byaddressing root causes of poverty and at the same healing and taking careof the wounded and oppressed souls. Therefore, the framework aims atproviding guidance to the member churches in Africa in their efforts toconfront poverty and economic injustice.9
A Framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in AfricaVisionA transformed society free from poverty and all forms of injustice.RationaleMajority of people in African countries still live abject poverty and haveno access to basic needs such as shelter, education, health and sanitaryservices Lutheran churches in Africa serve people in these contexts wherelife is so hard and insecure.Lutheran churches in Africa believe in God through Jesus Christ whopromise providence of life in abundance (John 10:10). Lutheran churchesconfess that we are justified by faith. Through faith we are called to beresponsible stewards of God’s creation (LWF, Diakonia in Context, 2009).As Lutheran churches in Africa we have been commissioned to interveneagainst all forms of injustices affecting humankind and creation. Despitethe work done by the churches and international community through Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), the problem of poverty and economicinjustice has persisted. This framework is calling churches in Africa toincrease their efforts and aggressively confront this perennial problem.Objectives Member churches are guided and enabled to produce theologicalreflections and training material on confronting poverty and economicinjustice. Member churches are engaged to plan and implement programs onconfronting poverty and economic injustice in five years. Churches are equipped to mobilize local and international resourcesfor the fight against poverty and economic injustice.This framework on confronting poverty and economic injustice in Africahas outlined 12 issues under the stated objectives to be considered bychurches. These key topics are starting points for churches and relatedinstitutions, which are encouraged to reflect on them with a view of workingout their action plans and produce their own training materials in context.10
1. Situational AnalysisIn order for the churches to have solid programs on overcoming povertyand economic injustice, situational analysis of each context is essential.This analysis will enhance the capacity of churches to deal with the realityin a comprehensive.Churches in Africa should engage communities in various levels ingaining deep understanding of poverty and injustice in their contexts. Itis this understanding that tenable the churches to strategically plan interventions for confronting poverty and economic injustice As God says, “mypeople are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6a; cf. Proverbs 4:5).”11
A Framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in AfricaChurches should: Among other resources use the Guidelines and tools for participatorypoverty studies by Churches in Africa (2010), developed by LWF Support church leaders and communities reflecting on their life situations and possible practical solutions Support communities in developing relevant advocacy agenda12
2. AdvocacyAdvocacy entails empowering vulnerable groups who are victims of povertyand economic injustice to act boldly themselves.In the context of the mission of the church, advocacy should beviewed as part of public witness. Churches and related institutions areencouraged to open up advocacy desks with an objective of influencing13
A Framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in Africagovernance, policies and societal norms and mobilizing communities toengage in overcoming poverty and economic injustice.As human beings we are created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-28)and as Christians we believe in God who is just (Micah 6:8). The churchesin Africa are sent by God to bring hope to the hopeless, freedom to theoppressed, and life in abundance to the poor (Luke 4:18).Churches should: Increase their participation and act in concert with civil society activities in advocacy matters. Challenge unjust systems and policies by speaking truth to power andactively participating in policy making fora Lobby local and global policy makers to create policies favorable forpoverty eradication Networking for the creation of a just society, integrating advocacy intoevery diaconal action14
3. Diaconal InitiativesTraditionally, diakonia has been limited to providing support and care tothe needy. However, a more comprehensive understanding of diakonia aslived out by some churches in Africa in their holistic mission goes beyondcharity initiatives by responding to and addressing the root causes ofpoverty and injustice. Learning from a few experiences churches shouldmaximize the good practices in diakonia. The Church is called to act andrespond to “challenges of human suffering, injustice and care for creation”(Diakonia in Context, 2009).15
A Framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in AfricaChurches should: Deepen their understanding of diakonia through training, seminars,workshops, etc. Mobilize resources for local actions against poverty and injustice Increase and improve existing social services Empower people to participate fully in income generating activities Increase their prophetic voices and empower communities to demands basic rights Engage in pressuring governments to have participatory and inclusivebudgeting and in demanding accountability to citizens Continue addressing HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other emerginginfectious diseases Link diakonia with theological education and training on overcomingpoverty and economic injustice16
4. Theological Educationand TrainingChurches are called to fulfill the great commission of making disciples andholistic service to humanity and creation (Mt 28:18-20).17
A Framework for Overcoming Poverty and Economic Injustice in AfricaChurches should: Strengthen the capacity of theological education and formation – throughimproving Christian education curricula, lectionaries, etc.; thus bringawareness to different groups on matters of poverty eradication andfight against all forms of injustice Theological institutions should develop curricula which address cotemporary socio-political, socio-economic, management and leadership(Theology and development) Engage in action research that shall address problems of overcomingpoverty and economic injustice Disseminate the research findings to enable churches to take up issues of governance, sustainability and accountability which have beenperennial problems among the churches and their related institutions Continually develop capacity of pastors to address contemporarytheological and spiritual issues18
5. Church SustainabilityChurches in Africa, as part of the body of Christ, are endowed with giftsand resources to serve and sustain themselves (1 Cor 12:4ff 2 Thes 3:68).Sustainability of churches is more economic ability to sustain its activities.It entails a well-grounded a theological understanding of being church that19
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