Heart of mission – on Ecumenical Diaconia, religious freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights

The focus during Heart of mission was on two themes, value-based work through ecumenical diaconia and the relationship between religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights

Called to transformation – Ecumenical Diakonia

During the morning session, representatives from member organisations and SMC staff learned about Called to transformation, a document that guides the work with Ecumenical diakonia initiated by the World Council of Churches together with ACT Alliance. The document offers a common ground to talk about development work for Christian denominations or faith-based organisations, as a common language or starting point for cooperation where churches as well as professional NGOs contribute in different ways to a common goal. The document is as relevant in a local context, where the church meets a professional organisation, as it is to the global ecumenical level where the World Council of Churches seeks cooperation with the ACT Alliance.

Father Milutin Janjic from Sant Ignatio’s high school described the Orthodox view of diakonia based on “the liturgy after the liturgy”, i.e. the connection between the liturgy and action in the world. Anna Ljung from the Uniting Church in Sweden described the chapter in the document that elaborates on how diaconal challenges look in different parts of the world.

– It requires conscious action and strategy as a faith-based NGO not to lose its faith-based language, says Petter Jacobsson.

Freedom of religion and LGBTQ+ rights

The afternoon session focused on SMC’s learning priority about the relationship between religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Among other things, the community-wide reference group that discussed the issue from a mission theological and pastoral perspective during the past year shared some of their common lessons. Much focus was on methods for conversations about both human sexuality and LGBTQ+ in Sweden and with international partners based on respectful treatment in relation to both doctrine and identity.