Category Archives: Justice

The final stretch of the journey of LWF together

Posted on October 24, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A journey is nearing its end. Many of the participants are going to end it with prayer and a celebration.

It was a journey that brought together 100 groups of young people from different places in the world. There were many exchanges on biblical texts and how young people see current problems – surrounding the environment and  justice.

This journey was not always easy. Some groups lost momentum and stopped meeting. The contact between groups was difficult in most cases; it is just not easy to communicate with people you have never met, in a language which is not your native one and using the Internet.

Next Sunday, Reformation Sunday, many groups are going to talk about LWF together in the worship services of their congregations. And they are all going to pray for the partner groups.

We are also going to use this week in order to discuss about the future of LWF together. Tomorrow, there will be a post on some ideas for next year’s program and your comments on it.  Later this week, we are also going to invite applications for coordinators of the program.

So, stay tuned for a week of conversation about LWF together, leading up to the Reformation Day finale.

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Posted in Enviroment, Faith, Justice, LWF, LWF together - the earth needs you, Spirituality, Youth, Youth Ministry, Youth participation

Christians are Called to Justice

Posted on August 17, 2011 by | 4 Comments

This is a guest post by Fernando Sihotang, Indonesia, a former intern in the LWF

Churches and Christians should be in the position to promote justice within the society and in the earth. To take responsibility for a sustainability of human lives and other creations has been given by God. Promoting economic equality, environmental sustainability, and justice of all forms must be regarded as a non-derogable task of both Christians and Churches.

Today, there are millions of people throughout the world facing obstacles as they try to gain justice. Continue reading →

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Posted in Asia/Pacific, Justice

Failing to invest in youth is a false economy – UN High level meeting

Posted on July 26, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Post by Daan Leker, the Netherlands.

The second day of the UN meeting is starting. Today we’ll get a summary of the panels yesterday and the outcome document of the High Level Youth Meeting will be approved. Yesterday we listened to an inspiring speech of His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon. As he said: he loves the youth and especially our sense of style. One of the sentences he said that really stuck with me was: ‘Failing to invest in youth is a false economy.’

It was an impressive and educative day yesterday. I was touched by the fact that all the delegates extended their sympathies to Norway and the Norwegian minister spoke about the attacks this week. It was good to see that even during this meeting Norway is on everyone is minds and so many people are sympathizing and praying with and for Norway.

Yesterday I ended up at the wrong side event, and was really grateful for that. The event was about Adolescent boys and young men’s participation in Gender Equality. The panel spoke about different ways to approach boys and men and teach them about gender equality. One example was a project in India where both parents as young boys get sexual education, separate from each other so there’s a save space for both. The project is a big success and changed for many the way they perceive equality in relationships and their ideas about sexuality.

One of the organizations involved in this and advocating and creating projects addressing gender based violence is UNFPA. Amongst other things they created an online game about gender norms, violence and behaviour. This game is a huge success.

Today the side event I will be attending is about the Millennium Goals and implementation of these goals. 2015 is approaching and it seems that goals will not be achieved. I’m curious what the panel of my event thinks about these issues. Tonight there will be a press conference of ICMYO (International Coordination of Youth Organizations) an organ we have been working together with during this meeting. The conference will be about the evaluation of the United Nations High Level meeting on youth.

I am looking forward to today. It’s quite an experience. Greeting in to the UN building already takes a while, going trough all the security, getting the right passes. And seeing all these high placed people speaking is really inspiring. Tomorrow we will have a last side event and then it will be over.  We’ll keep you updated!

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Posted in Justice, LWF, UN, Youth participation

Preparing for the UN high-level meeting on youth

Posted on July 25, 2011 by | 3 Comments

Here are some reflections by Daan Leker, one of the LWF Youth delegates to the UN high-level meeting in New York. We had some first reflections on the outcome document here:

I’m sitting in my hotel room, it’s 40 degrees Celsius outside and I’m preparing for the High Level Meeting on Youth of the United Nations. About three months ago I heard that I was going to New York and I felt so blessed. To go to the UN and have the voices heard of so many young people from all over the world! That is, if I don’t melt this weekend…

This year is the year of the youth. Because of that the UN has decided to have a High Level Meeting on Youth. On the 25th and 26th of July we will discuss youth issues. There are opportunities to talk to each other.

There will be two thematic panel discussions. The first one will be on: Strengthening international cooperation regarding youth and enhancing dialogue, mutual understanding an active youth participation as indispensible elements towards social integration, full employment and the eradication of poverty. The second one will be on: Challenges to youth development an opportunities for poverty eradication, employment an sustainable development. Not the easiest topics I guess but a challenge to talk about and I’m very curious how my fellow participants think about these themes.

 

Next to that we will have plenary meetings. A few participants have been chosen to speak at these meetings. The outcomes from the two thematic discussions will also be summarized here. Also we’ll have the chance to go to different side meetings where youth issues will be discussed. In short, there will be plenty to do and no time to get bored!

I don’t know yet what to expect except for the fact that these will be a few really interesting days. Days in which the youth really gets a voice and the leaders of our nations will have to listen, and are willing to listen. Which I think already is a big step in helping and supporting youth. I hope I can contribute and give young people from al over the world a voice. I’ll let you know!

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Posted in Justice, LWF, UN, Youth, Youth participation

A global Agenda for Youth Participation?

Posted on July 22, 2011 by | 2 Comments

An invitation to discuss the draft outcome document.

It looks like success. On Monday (25 July 2011), a High-level meeting of the UN is taking place in New York on the theme of youth. Finally, it seems that governments pay attention to the particular problems of young people.

However, there is the real risk that event will be not more than a token. The draft outcome document is available now it is very likely that it is going to be adopted without major changes. It is crucial that we are going to support our small delegation in their efforts to make this agenda even stronger. Continue reading →

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Posted in Gender justice, Justice, LWF, UN, Youth participation

UN General Assembly prepares to discuss Youth globally

Posted on July 22, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Daan Leker from the Netherlands and Warime Guti from Papua-New Guinea are already on their way to represent LWF Youth at the United Nations High-level meeting of the General Assembly on Youth.

They are having some tough days ahead of them. At the United Nations in New York, they are going to attend full days of meetings and will also participate in the many of the side events.

LWF Youth, together the World Council of Churches, the World Student Christian Federation and ICSM Pax Romana, had submitted a statement to prepare the UN meeting. It will be interesting to see how our demands are being followed up.

You can stay in touch with the events by reading this blog, following on facebook or even watch the webstream of the proceedings.

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Posted in Ecumenism, Justice, LWF, Youth, Youth participation

West African youth active for gender justice

Posted on July 21, 2011 by | Leave a comment
The Lutheran Communion in West Africa (LUCCWA) has just ended their seminar on Gender Equality and Economic Justice. Here is the important contribution of the young participants:

 Theme: Sustainable Gender equality- the path way to alleviate Poverty in Africa.

 We the Youths of this Region strongly believes that if our Churches will get engage into programs that are in line with Sustainable Gender equality poverty will be alleviated in our sub-region.

 The Church is the body of Christ that God Himself has commissioned and mandated to manifest His will for man here on earth.

 In line with the above mentioned, after extensive deliberations and information on the above subject, the following positions are taken:

 1.      That the Lutheran Churches  use the word of God as a standard yard-stick to inform the society that both Men and Women were created equally by God in His own image to be channels of blessing to mankind. Galatians 3:28  

 2.      That Girl-child is encouraged to appreciate quality education as a pre-requisite toward facing the challenges of the society just as the opposite sex.

 3.      That the Advocacy Programs of our Lutheran Churches be done in collaboration with Traditional Institutions, to condemn in totality the practices of Gender Inequality in our society.

 4.      The Church should initiate Economic Empowerment and Skill acquisition programs/projects for Young people and mostly rural Women to develop and alleviate their poverty level.   

 Faithfully Submitted:

A. Elijah Zina – Liberia
Mfonobong S. Archibong- Nigeria
Wanwu Gray – Liberia
Christopher Ephraim- Nigeria
Doyambe Laonon- Cameroon

 

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Posted in Africa, Gender justice, Justice, LWF, Poverty, Poverty/Affluence, Youth, Youth participation

Men and women are not equal

Posted on July 14, 2011 by | 4 Comments

Probably, it is also written in the constitution of your country: Men and women are equal. They have the same rights and the same  duties. There should not be a difference between the genders before the law.

However, that is not really the case. A new report of the gender unit of the United Nations UN Women details some injustices.  For example:

  • Inheritance laws in many countries are unfavorable towards women. The daughter, or even the wife does not get as much as the son.
  • Many countries have no protection against rape in marriage.
  • A legal minimum age for marriage is often not enforced.

These and many more cases are explained in the report “Progress of the World’s Women – In Pursuit of Justice”. Gender justice was a priority theme for the LWF Pre-Assembly Youth Conference last year. This is great information to follow up.

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Posted in Gender justice, Justice, UN

What are missionaries?

Posted on July 13, 2011 by | Leave a comment

This is a guest post by Brian Kokol, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (short bio at the bottom). 

Every two years, longer-term Global Mission personnel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) engage in “Home Assignment”, which includes two months of visits alongside congregations, universities, and a variety of other organizations throughout the United States.  Among other things, Home Assignment is meant to produce a dynamic dialogue surrounding what God appears to be doing around the world, and a result, animate a heightened awareness that mission takes place everywhere and involves everyone.

After two months of driving, flying, speaking, listening, backpack living, hospitality receiving, and Lutheran pot-luck consuming, the following are some lessons learned: Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa, Church, Ecumenism, Evangelism, Justice, LWF, North America

Young Christians promote peace – youth report online

Posted on July 12, 2011 by | Leave a comment

 

Many of you followed the young Lutherans who joined others in promoting peace in the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (they posted here, here, here, and here).

The youth contributions of this meeting have now been collected in a report. You can download the pdf here.

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Posted in Church, Ecumenism, Enviroment, Faith, Justice, Latin America/Carribean, Youth, Youth participation