De los directivos

Ecumenism is concerned with good governance. Politics is an avenue for service. Too much of what happens in African countries has raised ecumenical concerns. Africa is ridden with poverty and disease. In many African countries, there is hunger and poverty which compounds health problems. The growth rate of African countries is average and this is due largely to the poverty situation. Kinoti (1994:15-16) says, “One out of every three Africans does not get enough to eat. A study covering

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the period 1988-1990 showed that some 168 million Africans were victims of chronic hunger. This was an increase of 40 million people in just one decade. Tens of millions of African children suffer from malnutrition, which means retarded physical and mental development, disease, disability and death.” This is an embarrassing fact and African governments do not seem to have a way out of this menace. The economy is very bad because of bad governance. Poverty and disease can only be reduced when governance is good and focused. Good governance seeks to address the problems of the people in order to bring relief.

In this poverty-disease ridden context the church has the opportunity to share the gospel through works of mercy. This can happen when the church makes efforts to set up relief schemes through which it can reach out to those who suffer poverty, disease and wars. The church in Africa can also seek to persuade governments to imbibe good governance.

It is also incumbent upon Christian politicians to see that their calling into politics is an opportunity to seek ways of serving the people through good policies that can help to bring speedy relief to the suffering masses. A true Christian is one who is defined by his faith in Christ. A Christian is a Christian by faith and deed. The principle of godliness should inform the manner in which politicians should handle the resources of the state for the common good of all. The principle of godliness should have impacted Christian politicians in resisting corruption that has been destroying the African economy and subjecting the people to perpetual abject poverty.

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

4.0 CONCLUSION

The problem of societal ills calls for the church to rise up to its responsibility in helping to build a responsible society. In Africa especially the level of poverty is quite alarming and the church in conjunction with governments must address this problem in radical terms.

Our society is having an ever increasing rate of crime as a result of poverty. This crime wave is bound to increase in years to come if employment opportunities are not created while poor health and poverty rages on. Ecumenical efforts must be geared towards ensuring a free and virtuous society where there is justice and equity for all. It is up to churches at the regional and local levels to consciously develop programs that would turn the attention of the governments in this direction.

5.0 SUMMARY

We have seen that for the well-being of humanity, the need for a responsible society is ardent. We need a responsible society where everyone finds opportunities and ways of fulfilling their aspirations in life.

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For this to be attainable, the church must work together with the society in instilling the principles of just society as God demands. The church has been given the cultural mandate to turn the society into a better place for all. The relationship between church and society must be directed in accordance with the teachings of Scripture. Christians can help to change the bad ways of our society by matching their political engagement with their faith, so that justice and fair-play will be made to be a cultural value. Both church and government should cooperate in creating genuine poverty alleviation programs that are run according to just and transparent rules. By establishing this as a cultural orientation, it will in the long run help to reduce poverty and also check the rate of diseases.

6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT

1. How can a responsible society be built?

2. Is there any relationship between church unity and unity of humanity?

3. How can the church influence good politics?

4. Are church and society complementary in building a just society?

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Darri lHudson. (1969). The Ecumenical Movement in World Affairs.

Worcester: The Trinity Press.

Robert S. Bilheimer. (1986). Breakthrough: The Emergence of the Ecumenical Tradition. Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans and Geneva: WCC.

Harold E. Fey, ed. (1970). A History of the Ecumenical Movement 1948-1986. Geneva: WCC.

Philip Potter. (1981). Life in All its Fullness: Reflections on the Central Issues of Today’s Ecumenical Agenda. Geneva: WCC.

Michael Taylor. (1995). Not Angels but Agencies: The Ecumenical Response to Poverty. London: SCM.

Bob Lupton. (2006). “In the World–Gentrification with Justice” By Faith, Issue 9.

Paul A. Crow Jr. (1982). Christian Unity: Matrix for Mission. New York:

Friendship Press.

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Paul A. Crow Jr. (1987). “Ecumenics as Reflections on Models of Christian Unity,” The Teaching of Ecumenics. Geneva: WCC.

Wilbur O ‘Donovan (2000). Biblical Christianity in Modern Africa Carlisle: Paternoster.

George Kinoti. (1994). Hope for Africa and What the Christian Can Do. Nairobi: Africa Institute for Scientific Research and Development.

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UNIT 6 PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF