Africa: Nairobi, Kenya, 23rd March 2003.By the Grace of God and through the strategic planning Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. of DMD/LWF, we the fifty one women gathered in Nairobi, Kenya on the23 March2003. We discussed, deliberated and reflected on several issues amidst our diverse ethnic and language differences in the light of the theme of the Tenth Assembly "For the Healing of the World." We have identified the following areas as wounds to be healed. Women's Education Lack of education and opportunities hinders women from participating in all areas of church life especially in leadership and decision making and therefore we urge the following: * Support training of women to empower them for effective leadership in church, Government and in the community. * The church leaders be more intentional in prompting education of the girl child. * Empower Women's Desk to deal with practical women's issues. E.g. promote education for all persons. * Spiritual empowerment of women to live the message of hope in word and deed, as well as develop and use skills in conflict prevention and resolution. * LWF LWF Lutheran World Federation LWF Love Worth Finding (radio & TV program in Memphis, TN) LWF Lotus Workflow LWF LuraWave Format (image compression format and file extension) to equip pastors on gender analysis and to conceptualize con·cep·tu·al·ize v. con·cep·tu·al·ized, con·cep·tu·al·iz·ing, con·cep·tu·al·iz·es v.tr. To form a concept or concepts of, and especially to interpret in a conceptual way: gender issues Women's Ordination * While we congratulate the churches in Africa who have ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. women, we urge member churches who are still discussing and deliberating on this issue to invest in theological education and in ordaining women. * When women are ordained, they be allowed to participate in Word and Sacrament, and be assigned to parishes and congregations. * We are grateful for the 40% scholarship set aside for women for theological education in the LWF But the girls need to be encouraged from local churches to study so that this scholarship can be utilized. Violence against Women * The LWF document "Churches say 'NO' to Violence against Women" be launched in all the regions, countries and the local churches. * We request for funding to translate the document in all major local languages within the LWF Communion. * The church should take part in giving full support in protecting the property rights of women and on the death of a husband and ensure their children's welfare. * We encourage churches to collaborate with Government and NGO's in giving support to violated women. HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome * The issues of war and conflict, rape, sexuality, drug abuse, poverty, unemployment, ethnic differences and all their related consequences have been the cause of the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in Africa The HIV/AIDS epidemics spreading through the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa are highly varied. Although it is not correct to speak of a single African epidemic, Africa is without doubt the region most affected by the virus. . * HIV/AIDS programs and strategies should be country specific as different countries are at different levels of awareness and challenges as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned. * Churches should be actively involved in HIV/ AIDS Campaigns and in supporting orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA's) together with Government as well as in accessing funds for antiretroviral drugs Antiretroviral Drugs Definition Antiretroviral drugs inhibit the reproduction of retroviruses—viruses composed of RNA rather than DNA. The best known of this group is HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, the causative agent of AIDS. . * That yearly workshops be held for church leadership from the highest (Bishops and ministers) down to the church members on HIV/AIDS awareness and facts to remove all stereotyping and stigmatization stigmatization /stig·ma·ti·za·tion/ (stig?mah-ti-za´shun) 1. the developing of or being identified as possessing one or more stigmata. 2. the act or process of negatively labelling or characterizing another. . * This education should be taken to community at large as a response to the LWF Campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic pandemic /pan·dem·ic/ (pan-dem´ik) 1. a widespread epidemic of a disease. 2. widely epidemic. pan·dem·ic adj. Epidemic over a wide geographic area. n. "Compassion, Conversion and Care" in a holistic way. * Church leadership should be flexible as to cater to the different beliefs and needs as regards the serving of the Holy Communion through the cup, dipping and in small cups. Economic Globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation and Poverty Alleviation * Women are becoming poorer through the effects of economic globalization * African churches should be involved in projects and programs concerning women empowerment to be able to address the environmental factors that affect women: water distribution, deforestation deforestation Process of clearing forests. Rates of deforestation are particularly high in the tropics, where the poor quality of the soil has led to the practice of routine clear-cutting to make new soil available for agricultural use. , forest fires This is a list of notorious forest fires: North America Year Size Name Area Notes 1825 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km²) Miramichi Fire New Brunswick Killed 160 people. and drought. Christians and Politics * Encourage Christians to participate in politics to make a positive influence in the Government and to prepare them for these positions. All African Lutheran Council * We strongly recommend the formation of the All Africa Lutheran Council so that recommendations of the communion could be effectively implemented. Conclusion In the time of lent we remember the redemptive suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ and turn to him asking him to strengthen us with his life-giving Faith, Hope, Love and Wisdom to work effectively towards the healing the world in and through our churches. |
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