Africa
Lutherans concerned about peace and AIDS

afrol News, 24 March - Concern for genuine peace in Africa, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and preparations for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Tenth Assembly are the main issues at the Africa region preparatory consultation for the July 2003 LWF Tenth Assembly, which began yesterday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

- With the recent flare-ups of military conflict and a further worsening of the situation as a result of the uncontrolled weapons' proliferation throughout the continent, there is still no peace at home for Africans, said Rev. Dr Musa Filibus, LWF Area Secretary for Africa. The office is hosting the March 23-26 Africa Pre-Assembly Consultation which is combined with the All Africa Lutheran Leadership Conference.

- In Africa, peace and stability are often threatened, thereby undermining any genuine effort to encourage development in the continent, said Mr Filibus. "In protest against conflicts between ethnic and religious groups, civil wars and a violence-dominated culture, the Lutheran community in Africa plans at the meeting to especially urge Africans to live in peace with one another, the LWF Africa Secretary stated.

Another focus of the conference was to be the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is spreading rapidly especially in Southern Africa, Mr Filibus continued. At the consultation, the goal will be to build up on the global LWF HIV/AIDS campaign, officially launched in May 2002 in Nairobi. As stated in the LWF HIV/AIDS action plan, "Compassion, Conversion, Care: Responding as Churches to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic," all resources must be harnessed to work effectively against the pandemic, explained Mr Filibus.

The African Consultation is the fourth in a series of five regional consultations in the run-up to the LWF Tenth Assembly. They focus on the Assembly theme, "For the Healing of the World," and overall content from the viewpoints of the different regions. The Assembly will take place July 21-31 in Winnipeg, Canada, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC).

The main purpose of the regional consultation is to prepare the delegates for active and meaningful participation in the forthcoming Assembly, says Rev. Dr PÈri Rasolondraibe, DMD Director. He pointed out that Pre-Assembly Consultations are important in that, for around two-thirds of the participants, this would be the first time that they would be attending an LWF Assembly.

About 110 representatives of African LWF member churches and Assembly delegates are expected to take part in the Nairobi conference. The 29 LWF member churches in Africa have a total of 11.9 million members in 21 countries.

Around 1,000 participants are expected at the Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg including the 436 delegates from the 136 LWF member churches.

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