15.09.2021

Global guide for diaconal work in the 21st century

From left: Rev. Godwin Ampony, coordinator International Diakonia of the UEM; Angelika Veddeler, head of the Germany Region and member of the board of the UEM; Rev. Lusungu Mbilinyi, coordinator for Global Learning in Ecumenical Perspective; Rev. Matthias Börner, head of International Diakonia of the UEM; Photo: Johannes Schermuly/UEM

On Thursday, 16 September 2021, the new International Handbook on Ecumenical Diakonia was published.

The online presentation was attended by the editors of the handbook and the cooperation partners involved - Institute for Diaconal Science and Diaconal Management, Bread for the World and the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), as well as interested people from all over the world. The book was officially presented by Dr Zephania Kameeta. The former bishop was a member of SWAPO (South West African People's Organisation) and deputy president of the first parliament of the independent state of Namibia, as well as Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare in Namibia until 2020. He was Moderator of the UEM from 2000 to 2008.

Rev. Godwin Ampony, International Diakonia Coordinator of the UEM, pictured left: "It is one of the first English-language reference books. It does justice to the claim of presenting diakonia from a global perspective in a practical way. At the same time, it takes into account religious, cultural and linguistic influences of local diaconal work. We hope it will become one of the leading handbooks for both practitioners and academics. It presents issues that are topical and highlights the main areas of work of all 39 United Evangelical Mission member churches and agencies active in Africa, Asia and Germany. From the Lutindi Mental Hospital in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania to the Tondo Community in the Philippines, the handbook offers a guide to diaconal work in the 21st century. We would like to thank all the participants in our presentation. Your appreciation is important to us!"

The online version of the book will be available for download free of charge from 13 December 2021.

Godwin Ampony, Martin Büscher, Beate Hofmann,
Félicité Ngnintedem, Dennis Solon, Dietrich Werner (Editors):
International Handbook on Ecumenical Diakonia
Contextual Theologies and Practices of Diakonia and Christian Social Services – Resources for Study and International Learning
ISBN 978-1-913363-91-8
Oxford : Regnum Books International, © 2021, £ 45