Heart Of The Mission – on ecumenical diaconia, freedom of religion and LGBTQI+ rights

The focus during the heart of the mission was on two themes, value-based work in relation to ecumenical diaconia and on the relationship between religious freedom and LGBTQI+ rights.

Call to Transformationen – ecumenical diakonia

During the morning, representatives from SMC’s network and parts of the chancellery’s staff looked at the Call to Transformation, the document that guides the work with ecumenical diaconia. The document has both the World Council of Churches and the ACT Alliance as senders. From SMC’s perspective, the document is about how Christian denominations and Christian-based aid organizations should find a common language as a basis for cooperation in a world where churches and professional organizations can contribute in different ways to a common task. The document is as relevant in a local context, where the church meets a professional organization, as it is on a global ecumenical level when 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 Church of Equmenia described the chapter in the document that concerns how the diaconal challenge looks like in different parts of the world.

– It requires a conscious action and strategy as a faith-based NGO in order not to lose its faith-based language. It won’t happen if we don’t work on it, Petter Jacobsson.

Freedom of religion and LGBTQI+ rights

The afternoon session focused on SMR’s learning priority about the relationship between religious freedom and LGBTQI+ 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 LGBTQI+ in Sweden and with international partners based on respectful treatment in relation to both doctrine and identity.