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Participants of the meeting in Maseru, Lesotho. © Albin Hillert/WCC

Participants of the meeting in Maseru, Lesotho. © Albin Hillert/WCC

By Albin Hillert*

“So much has changed, and yet so much remains the same. Global public health structures have changed, yet gross inequalities still exist – between developed and under-developed countries, between rich and poor, and the vision for equitable health care still lies in the far distance. Primary health care remains a task unfinished.”

These are the words of World Council of Churches (WCC) deputy general secretary Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri at a meeting in Maseru, Lesotho on 27 February, during which the WCC is initiating the process of developing a new Global Ecumenical Health Strategy by bringing together church leaders from Africa, heads of African Christian health associations and church organizations from Europe and the USA, among others.

Giving the keynote address at the consultation, Phiri stressed the historical importance the WCC has had through the Christian Medical Commission (CMC), but also the importance of looking at our current context, to see what role the church can play today.

“We know that the church is not just another development agency or aid service,” Phiri reflected. “The churches agreed early, and remain steadfast, in the belief that they need to treat the whole person, not just the disease, in order to improve health outcomes. In this sense, the church has indeed been a leader, not a follower. A hospital without walls, as someone put it…”

“And so we have gathered here affirming that working together is more effective than competing against each other,” Phiri continued. “The WCC works through its member churches and structures, and with its partners, to galvanize our common efforts, and to strengthen our contributions to the sustainable development goals on health.”

Dr Frank Dimmock, a senior technical consultant for IMA World Health with decades of experience working with Christians Health Associations (CHAs) in Africa, comments, “I have been part of numerous conferences like this, and many of the same issues come up every time, on health financing, human resources, special diseases and outbreaks, etc. Yet I am thrilled to hear Dr Phiri say there is a reaffirmation of health and healing as a crucial part of the ministry of the church, and to hear there is renewed motivation to work also with the various CHAs.”

“I have seen the hope that the CHAs can give, through reaching out to communities, by touching lives,” Dimmock adds. “But my engagement goes back also to the days of the Christian Medical Commission, and I’ve seen the role the WCC plays at the table of the World Health Organization. I can say it is absolutely crucial that the WCC be there.”

Dr Mwai Makoka, WCC programme executive for Health and Healing, notes the importance of finding ways to avoid a disconnect between church programmes, healthcare providers and policy-makers.

“While there have been many issues on the table today,” Makoka explains, “there also seems to be a lot of consensus regarding the role of the churches. The different analyses presented here have shown very similar strengths and weaknesses, and there seems to be agreement on why we are here, and what is so unique in the health and healing services we provide.”

Rev. Dr Mary-Anne Plaatjies van Huffel, WCC president for Africa adds, “we must reflect on the major influence that Christians have had in the past, but that it can also have in the future.”

“Through the pilgrimage of justice and peace, we should all collaborate, bringing our strengths together, to address the sustainable development goals in a systematic way.”

“But we also have theological challenges ahead,” says Plaatjies van Huffel, “and we work to become advocates against those injustices that harm the poorest of the poor today.”

“The WCC should look again at the healing ministry of Jesus in the Bible, and develop a holistic, contextualized approach concerning healing ministries.”

“As part of a creation groaning in pain,” Phiri concludes, “the Christian community can be a sign of hope and an expression of the kingdom of God here on Earth.”

“The Holy Spirit works for justice and healing in many ways, and we are called to embody Christ’s mission together. Our strategic plans should reflect this, also with regard to strengthening our fellowship and its capacity.”

The WCC held the consultation on the sidelines of the biennial conference of the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP) that has brought together Christian health associations, ecumenical and international partners from more than 50 countries under the theme “Building partnerships for FBO health systems strengthening towards achieving the 2030 agenda.”

A second consultation will follow on 24 May at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, drawing participation from many churches, as well as several UN and other organizations.

*Albin Hillert is a WCC photographer, writer and communications consultant based in Stockholm, Sweden.

WCC work on Health and Healing

Africa Christian Health Associations Platform

Together towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes (WCC Publications)

Full keynote address by WCC deputy general secretary Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri