Strategies for Diaconia in Europe

CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES
CONFERENCE DES EGLISES EUROPEENNES
KONFERENZ EUROPAEISCHER KIRCHEN

"Strategies for Diaconia in Europe"

The European Diaconal Forum 2001 - September 26 - 29, 2001, Järvenpää/Finland

1. Introduction

Since the first all European Diaconal Consultation held in 1994, there have been many rapid changes in the region and diaconia faces new challenges, which have emerged. There is a need for a wide dialogue about the nature of the challenges and the ways in which diaconia can meet them. The Conference of European Churches (CEC) has therefore launched the concept of a Diaconal Forum. The Forum is a space for dialogue and for the development of analysis and reflection, which will lead to new agreed priorities and strategies. It is co-organised by CEC, Eurodiakonia and the European Contact Group on Urban Industrial Mission. It will not produce a new structure or meet regularly in the future.

2. Aims of the Forum

The Forum will be an essentially forward-looking event, offering an opportunity for those involved to:

Exchange experience of diaconia at work in the midst of the changes taking place in Europe.

Analyse the new issues confronting diaconia in the context of global economic developments.

Deepen theological reflection on the nature of diaconia and its contribution to the life of the church.

Build new visions and strategies for diaconia in Europe for the coming period and identify resources and training to enable those visions to be implemented.

These aims will guide the process of the Forum towards the intended outcomes.

3. Target Groups

The Forum will have wide regional participation, paying attention to the need to have different 'voices' in the process. Participation will be from national bodies, local diaconia, training organisations and funders of diaconia. The around 100 participants will represent the diversity that is Europe. It is foreseen that the working languages of the Forum will be English and German.

4. The Programme and Methodology of the Forum Meeting

The Forum will be organised in four thematic groups that will work throughout the meeting to carry out the aims detailed above. The four thematic groups will be confronted with the 'horizontal' issues (para. 6). Worship and study of the Bible will be an integral part of the programme.

5. Context and Priority Challenges for Diaconia in Europe - The Forum Themes

Through consultation with different networks and actors the Planning Group has identified the following challenges which will form the themes of the Forum:

The Value(s) of Work and Employment There is a need to address the ongoing situation of structural unemployment and deteriorating working conditions that affects many people in Europe. Many have no regular income and inequality is growing.

Migration and Mobility in the 'New Europe' The questions of migration affect all regions of Europe. Diaconal organisations face the challenge of those forced to move or who move to find a way to survive. They face the issue of the trafficking of people, of all ages as more people get drawn into the sex industry.
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Building Sustainable Communities The growth of social exclusion and poverty and a worsening of living conditions have affected many neighbourhoods and cities and rural areas in Europe. There is a threat of fragmentation and conflict as different groups try to find a way to live side by side. The individualism of the wider society reduces the capacity for dealing with the situation.

Seeking Quality of Life for All The privatisation and introduction of 'market led' and 'quality' criteria have raised many challenges for diaconia. There are also new questions about the ethics of life and death and genetic manipulation.

6. 'Horizontal' Issues

The above four thematic issues have to be confronted with a number of ‘horizontal' issues, which have to be addressed by all diaconal actors. They go to the heart of the diaconal task. They are:

The nature of the churches' role in diaconia and the role of diaconia in the church.
;(plenary 5)
Diaconia and civil society: strategies for participation and working with people. This will include strategies for empowerment and community building. There will be a special focus on alliance and coalition building, including such action on issues with which diaconia is not directly engaged but which impinge on the quality of life.(plenary 6)

Diaconia and the political challenges, including the role of diaconia in the face of the changing role of the state. The role of European institutions, especially the European Union and other international structures of governance should be included. (plenary 7)

7. Planning & Evaluation Process

A preparatory working group convened by the Conference of European Churches is planning the Forum. Its members are representative of the different interests & organisations involved in Diakonia. The planning group will carry out the evaluation of the conference. It will be discussed with their governing bodies. The reporting to donor agencies will be accomplished within 6 months after the Forum.