Participants in the LWF Peace Messenger Training in Jerusalem in September 2017. Photo: Ben Gray
Forums focusing on climate justice and interfaith relations and peacebuilding established
(LWI) - Through its Action for Justice (AFJ) Unit, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has initiated two forums focusing on climate justice and interfaith relations and peacebuilding. The forums will support and promote the advocacy work of LWF member churches in these areas.
“Our advocacy is based on a local to global approach,” said Isaiah Toroitich, LWF’s Head of Global Advocacy. “The witness of our member churches informs how we engage with international decision-making processes.” The AFJ forums are an important step towards supporting the advocacy of member churches. They also enable the churches to contribute to the communion’s joint action for dignity, justice, and peace, Toroitich added.
The witness of our member churches informs how we engage with international decision-making processes.
The AFJ Forum on Climate Justice will take up concerns about climate change and the care for creation, said Elena Cedillo, Program Executive for Climate Justice. It will also facilitate joint discussions, strategizing, and engagement on policy, advocacy, and programmatic work for climate action among LWF member churches. “We need to work together all over the world to tackle the impact of climate change,” Cedillo added.
The AFJ Forum on Interfaith Relations and Peacebuilding focuses on supporting member churches seeking constructive ways to live and work together with people of other faiths, explained Rev. Dr. Sivin Kit, Program Executive for Public Theology and Interreligious Relations. “In situations of harmful conflict as well as increasing misinformation and narratives of hostility particularly in social media, we believe faith communities and religious leaders, especially women and youth, can play an important role in building more inclusive societies.”
A letter inviting church leaders to nominate members was sent out this week. They are called to nominate persons who are already engaged in one of the two focus areas or have the potential to contribute to them. The deadline for nominations is 29 March.
This year several online meetings are planned in the different LWF regions. Each regional forum should include representatives from at least five member churches in the region and meet the LWF’s gender balance and youth participation criteria. Every two years, a global meeting with representatives from all regional forums is planned.
By LWF/A.Weyermüller
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AFJ forums call for nominations
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Terms of reference for AFJ Forums
Action for Justice (AFJ) is the expression of the LWF’s advocacy, where the witness, voice, and decades of experience and work of the LWF member churches, World Service country programs, and communities at the local and national level inform and influence policies, legislation, and decisions.
