The thirteen original members of the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN), all persons with disabilities, held their first consultation under the sponsorship of the WCC in Nairobi, Kenya in December 1999. They came from Africa (Uganda, Madagascar, D.R. Congo, Ghana and Kenya), North America (USA), Caribbean (Jamaica), Latin America (Cuba), Europe (Hungary, Netherlands, and Sweden), and Asia (Taiwan, South Korea).  

The purpose of the consultation was to set out parameters for furthering the disability agenda globally. As such, it was a landmark in the development of EDAN from a mere concept to an institutionalized operation.  

Consultation participants said that people with disabilities have immense capacities that need to be shared to enrich the lives of God’s people world-wide. God is committed to the total wellbeing of his people, and calls us to a similar commitment to enhance their satisfaction and fight against those forces that discomfort human beings.

This observation is the basis for EDAN's work. At the end of the seven-day consultation, EDAN members agreed on all its operational structures, goals and objectives. 

Management

EDAN is managed as a decentralized operation from the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Previously, it was managed under the auspices of the National Council of Churches of Kenya.  

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the AACC agreed to work together on EDAN in June 2004. The work is carried out at both regional and international levels.

At the regional level, EDAN reports to the AACC general secretary through the established structures and in accordance with the practice and regulations of AACC. The programme works closely with the AACC Social, Economic Justice and Women Programme, but also endeavours to have disability concerns integrated in all other AACC programmes.  

At the international level, EDAN remains a WCC Programme and is guided by the WCC constitution and general regulations. Operating within the framework of WCC structures and governing bodies, the programme executive secretary is assisted by an international reference group that assists in policy direction and envisioning of the work. He is also assisted by eight volunteer regional representatives drawn from each of the eight WCC regions, namely: Europe, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The Programme reports on its international work to the WCC through the Justice, Peace and Creation Team.  

The eight regional coordinators initiate and coordinate networks responsible for detailed operations regionally, nationally and locally. Their work responds to concerns specific to the particular situations in their regions.  

In implementing this programme, members of EDAN believe that all persons with or without disabilities are created in the image of God and called to an inclusive community in which they are empowered to use their gifts. This inclusive community of all the people of God is holy in Christ, irrespective of the physical state of their bodies and level of psychological functioning. Through the Holy Spirit, this inclusive community is called to repentance, transformation and renewal (Gen: 1:27 and II Cor: 5:17). 

See:

EDAN's constitution

Memorandum of understanding