World DIAKONIA Assembly

The World DIAKONIA Executive are meeting in the last week of June, 2012, and will be discussing the program for the World DIAKONIA Assembly, July 1-8, 2013. A great opportunity to meet Deacons and Deaconesses from around the world, and to engage in learning focussed on diaconal ministry.

Rev Luna Dingyan, guest speaker for the Deacons Conference

Rev Luna Dingyan

Rev Luna Dingyan will be the guest speaker on Friday at the Deacons Conference. He is a minister and key leader of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.  He is the President of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Baguio, the Philippines.  ETS is a UCCP college, but is established with an ecumenical mandate and provides training and resources for several Christian denominations in the region.  Opening in 1996 in cramped, rented premises, with a tiny staff and small student body, ETS has doubled its enrolments every year since.  Its resources are still very meagre but through the leadership of Luna and his wife Perla, ETS has pioneered a curriculum and pattern of delivery that responds to the missional priorities of the UCCP among the poor of the Philippines.  It grounds biblical and theological studies in community development, human rights and Christian leadership.  Teaching is mostly done in short term intensive blocks and regional seminars, supported by distance mode learning.  All students are serving as pastors in the diverse settings, and frequently dangerous settings that characterise the UCCP’s ministry.  Luna’s theological research has been in the area of “a Christology of solidarity”.  He is a fine scholar and educator, and an inspirational church leader. (Luna will also be a Bible Study leader at the 13th triennial Assembly of the UCA in July).

Craig Batty to be ordained

Great news that Craig Batty (Queensland) is being ordained on 28th June, and will begin his placement at Indooroopilly Uniting Church as the children's, youth and families minister on 1st July. Congratulations, Craig!

DUCA Conference 2012

Great to see the registrations rolling in for the DUCA conference. The program looks fantastic, and there are participants ranging from new candidates to retired Deacons , and Deacons in very diverse placements. It will be a great time of sharing and learning. It is fantastic that Luna and Perla Dingayen can join us (Ecumenical Theological Seminary, United Church of Christ in the Philippines). Here's a link to the flyer - not too late for last minute registrations!

The Theology of Diakonia for the 21st century

 

“Diakonia is an alternative form of power which consists precisely in serving. If we transfer this insight into the social and political realm, the question is then to what extent structures of power can be permeated by the spirit of service,” said Dr Walter Altmann, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee.

Altmann was delivering a keynote address at a WCC conference on “The Theology of Diakonia for the 21st Century” in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 2 June 2012.  

Diakonia is a Greek term used in the New Testament to describe ministries of service, mission and support. It is the source of the English words “deacon” and “diaconal”.

While underlining the biblical imperative “It shall not be so among you”, Altmann went on to emphasize the importance of new forms and understanding of partnerships in diakonia.

“Smaller churches with little material resources have learned that the diaconal ministry is not a privilege of rich churches, because it is not primarily a matter of investing financial resources, but of persons placing themselves alongside those who need their service of solidarity, compassion and love,” said Altmann.

He called on churches to work together in addressing poverty and hunger, which seem to  be on the rise due to the effects of the present globalized economy. 

Dr Liz Vuadi Vibila, a theologian from the Democratic Republic of Congo, reflected on the beginnings of diaconal ministries in the church and on meeting the needs of those neglected. In her presentation she said, “Diakonia is proposing solutions and methods of solving problems of injustice and discrimination, helping those who are in distress, proposing a right sharing of resources.”

Emphasizing the need for diakonia within the churches, Vibila shed light on the reality that rampant violence against women is significant for the churches. She said that churches often do not talk about rape and abuse of women. She insisted that the churches cannot make any claims about diakonia while tolerating abuse and injustice within.

The conference brought together over fifty participants from around the world to reflect theologically on diakonia from the vantage points of marginalized people and the geo-political South. The discussions also included perspectives from local congregations stressing the conviction that diakonia is an inevitable ecclesial expression which cannot be outsourced, nor done only in the context of some limited forms and orientations.   

Source: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/diakonia-is-transformativ.html

Goodwill visit to Korea

Rev Adam Tretheway and Rev Christa Megaw (International Mission Officers, SA Synod) are currently on a goodwill trip to visit partner churches in Korea. Here's a photo of them near the border with North Korea. The UCA supports projects in North and South Korea.