MICAH NETWORK AFRICA CONSULTATION 2008-WRAP UP

MICAH NETWORK AFRICA CONSULTATION 2008-WRAP UP

MONDAY 18 TH AUGUST 2008 The Consultation started with an opening Prayer

WELCOME ADDRESS A Welcome address was delivered by Danladi Musa. He welcomed and introduced John Wesley Kabango, Jame and Leanne Lewis, Regine & All participants.

KEY NOTE ADDRESS The Key note address was delivered by Dr Shem Zagbayi Nuhu. A former Deputy governor of Niger state, Nigeria. Nuggets from key note address: Leadership is ordained & appointed by God to Establish godliness on Earth.(Exodus 18:13-26; Proverbs 24:21-22, Romans 12:8, 13:1-8) Leaders will be held responsible(mat 23:23-24) Jesus is the example of an ideal leader. A leader that is worthy of his calling should be a Shepherd or Servant leader( like Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd). Every Human being is God s steward on Earth and so every thing the Lord commits into our hands are intended for the purpose of serving Him. We must serve to the satisfaction of our master by using every position or possession committed into our care.

KEY NOTE ADDRESS Committed Christian men should go into politics and clean it up as Salt & Light. There are peculiar difficulties like persecution(1 st Tim 3:12), Temptation(James:1:13-17), Physical or body stress. Leaders must have unbroken communion with God.

INTRODUCTION TO INTEGRAL MISSION The plenary titled Introduction to Integral mission was facilitated by Danladi Musa. Started with definitions of Integral mission. Made a clear distinction between Proclamation and Demonstration of the Gospel and the need for the Church to integrate both in practice. Nuggets from this presentation were: Its not simply that evangelism & social involvement are to be done alongside each other, rather, in integral mission, proclamation has social consequences while our social involvement has evangelistic consequences(micah Network declaration). The Nazareth manifesto (Luke 4:18) was the mission statement of our Lord Jesus Christ and provides a basis for promotion of integral mission. The goal of Integral mission is the building & establishment of the Kingdom of God. Key challenges of Integral mission are-developing a passion for Integral mission, How to carry out Integral mission, Personal involvement in Integral mission, Dependency on External resources & Building the Kingdom of God.

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH NETWORK This plenary was facilitated by John Wesley Kabango. Nuggets from this presentation were Micah Network(MN) is a group of over 460(currently 500) relief, development & justice organizations, Churches and individuals. MN started in 1999. The aims of MN are- strengthening capacity, Encouraging a deeper understanding of Integral mission & Advocacy for and with the poor. MN pursues these aims through capacity building events, Interactive learning & Information sharing, advocating together (Micah Challenge & Advocacy forum). MN is governed by a global coordinating group. Rene padilla serves as the President of MN. There is an international secretariat based in Australia led by Jane Furniss. MN has regional coordinating groups in South Asia, Latin America & Africa.

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH NETWORK The African coordinating group(acg) includes: Dr Tesfaye Yacob(Ethiopia) Dr Willy Mutisio(Kenya) Dr Rohini Knight(Lesotho) Mr Danladi Musa(Nigeria/West Africa) Pastor Ngamdeye Bako(Tchad) Pastor Patson Netha(Zimbabwe) MN has a full time Africa Regional Coordinator in person of John Wesley Kabango.

MICAH NETWORK GOVERNANCE PROJECT This plenary was facilitated by Jame Lewis. Jame & Leanne Lewis volunteered to work on the MN governance project for two years.

TUESDAY AUGUST 19 TH 2008 Plenary 3 with the title Servant Leadership&Integrity was facilitated by Dr Mike Oye. Defined a Servant leader as a style of governance in which the person or persons responsible for running an organization/community do their work by serving the followership. Identified 12 key attributes of a servant leader as- (a)love, purity & example (b)availability, Accessibility, service, simplicity and Humility (c)diligence, Resourcefulness, Accountability and Integrity KEY NUGGET: one thing the Church should teach the world today in-order to bring a measure of SHALOM is Servant-Leadership!

CASE STUDIES & WORKSHOPS ON LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT Six case studies and Six workshops were considered by the six groups formed, extensive discussions on the case studies & workshops were held in the six groups. Group outcomes after discussions were presented at the Plenary. MAJOR LESSONS LEARNT That there is a crisis of leadership in the Church and nations of Africa. That the current deterioration and decay observed in organizations & nations of Africa are not unconnected with the current crisis of leadership both at the domains of Church and Nations in Africa.

COUNTRY PRESENTATIONS Participants took turns to present their country contexts to the plenary. MAJOR LESSONS LEARNT That Africa is a resource rich continent,. That African nations and peoples are the poorest at this historic point few months after the mid-way point for the achievement of the MDs in 2015.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20 TH 2008 The 4 th Plenary titled Good governance was facilitated by Abi Akinyemi and Richard Clarke: &

GOOD GOVERNANCE 5 definitions of good governance (from the World Bank, Solium Capital, Department of Health, U.k & an unknown source)were written on flipchart paper and placed on the walls at several points within the conference hall and at the entrance of the hall. These definitions generated reflections on the subject. The objectives of the sessions were read out. A Definition of good governance from the UNDP workshop on Ethics & Accountablity was taken.

GOOD GOVERNANCE The concept of good governance was further clarified as relating to laws, policies, rules, values, institutions, processes, mechanism. Following from above, good governance means rule of law, accountability(upward & downward), transparency, participation, respect for human rights, responsiveness, efficiency & effectiveness. Poor governance means- poor or the lack of rules, policies, corruption, instability, ineffective structures & systems, voiceless followership (civil society, media, laity), poor or unfair justice systems. Levels at which governance operates were identified as- global level, Regional level, National level, community level and house hold level. Distinction between governance & good government was indentified. Some Characteristics of governance were identified as participation, accountability, transparency, equity & inclusiveness.

GOOD GOVERNANCE A framework for measuring governance quality was identified as comprising- Laws(policies, culture, norms, traditions, values), Mechanisms & processes, Outcomes/impact. 4 reasons why the Church in Africa should be alert to governance issues were identified as follows (a)governance is at the heart of the biggest challenge in Africa today (b) Governance including corruption is a fundamental driver of spiritual & material poverty (c) the Church can be a role model of best practice (d) More Christians are aspiring to political positions.

GOOD GOVERNANCE The areas where the Church needs to improve internally were identified as- (a) clear vision, mission, goals/strategy, (b) clear systems & procedures of governance (c) Accountabilty rules & mechanisms, (d) Management of Church resources etc. MAJOR LESSON: The Church in several instances has itself not demonstrated good governance, transparency and accountability and that in-order for the Church to be an effective witness to the nations and meet God s expectations, it has to transform its internal structures, systems and processes, promote good practices in servant leadership/management and ultimately demonstrate good governance in all interactions and transactions with a watching world.

THURSDAY AUGUST 21 ST 2008 The 5 th plenary titled Advocacy was facilitated by Abi Akinyemi & Richard Clarke: &

ADVOCACY A power point presentation titled The Church & Advocacy: Seeking Justice for the Poor was presented. The objectives of the session were read out. Several definitions of Advocacy were presented in addition to the display of some Advocacy definitions on Flip chart paper. Three goals of Advocacy were presented (a) Introduce a new policy where there is none in existence (b) Ensure the implementation of an already existing good policy (d) change a bad policy. The relationship between advocacy & governance were presented. Reasons why we need to do advocacy were presented. Some points to bear in mind when planning for Advocacy were listed. Guidelines for an Advocacy plan, Advocacy methods, Advocacy ricks and how to manage them were listed.

MICAH CHALLENGE A session introducing Micah Challenge to participants was facilitated by Regine. 1. The name Micah came from prophet Micah in the Bible.

MICAH CHALLENGE 2. The Micah Challenge logo uses two biblical symbols of justice : the sun at dawn and a river rolling down. We find these symbols in Isaiah 58 :6-12 and in Amos 5 :24. Both these passages, like Micah 6 :8, are calling God s people to practise justice

What is the Biblical Basis for Micah Challenge? The Biblical basis stems from the book of Prophet Micah:...what does the LORD require of you? To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

What is Micah Challenge? Micah Challenge is a global Christian campaign. It aims to enable the Church to deepen engagement with impoverished and marginalized communities; and to challenge international leaders, and leaders of rich and poor countries, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and so halve absolute global poverty by 2015!

HOW DID THE MICAH CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN EMERGE? Micah Challenge is an initiative of Micah Network and the World Evangelical Alliance.

What are the aims of Micah Challenge? To mobilize Christians against poverty. To hold World Leaders to their public promise to achieve the MDGS by 2015.

How is this done? The summary of the MC framework for engagement was shared by Regine? It consists of a collaboration between the Global North & South.

How does the collaboration work? Csos & Churches in the Global North speak to their home governments to honour public promises made pertaining the MDGs. Csos & Churches in the south hold leaders accountable for realizing the MDGs in their various countries.

Mapalo Case Study A case study of Micah Challenge Zambia pertaining to Mapalo community was presented by Martin Kapenda.

What was the case study about? Jubilee Centre & Micah Challenge Zambia worked with the local churches to be vehicles of transformation in Mapalo by engaging with politicians during the general elections of 2006. This led to the development and signing of a memorandum of Understanding between Mapalo & Politicians.

SPECIFIC RESULTS OF THE ENGAMENT A community youth initiative in Mapalo which had tried to get government funding for the previous three years, received government approval Some of the key pastors were harassed by politicians who accused them of being too political

SPECIFIC RESULTS OF THE ENGAMENT Other communities in Ndola developed their own memorandum of understanding for use in advocacy work after the election. The Electoral Commission of Zambia identified the Mapalo Social Contract as a model to be adopted by other communities

SPECIFIC RESULTS OF THE ENGAMENT The memorandum of Understanding has been used as a powerful tool to keep the politicians accountable After the elections the community leaders wrote a letter congratulating the newly elected councilors and the members of Parliament These newly elected leaders were reminded to meet the needs of Mapalo during their terms of office.

SPECIFIC RESULTS OF THE ENGAMENT Since the 2006 elections the government has agreed to fund a secondary school. The community has helped by clearing the site for the school The government has so far funded 13 churches to carry out HIV prevention work

SPECIFIC RESULTS OF THE ENGAMENT The government has started setting up water kiosks to enable residents to buy safe water The local MP is working with the community to rebuild a bridge that links the community to the town centre Government has promised to upgrade the community from an illegal settlement to a site and service community.

SPECIFIC RESULTS OF THE ENGAMENT The Local member of Parliament has collaborated with other members of parliament in Ndola to establish the Ndola Development Trust which has brought together politicians and the business community to develop various communities in the City.

COMMUN IQUE A draft communique was developed and presented for correction & adoption by participants.

TYRANNY OF CAMERAS?-FRIDAY 22 ND AUGUST 2008

PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS PRESENT AT THE MICAH CONSULTATION LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O YOU GATES; BE LIFTED UP, YOU ANCIENT DOORS. THAT THE KING OF GLORY MAY COME IN, WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY? THE LORD STRONG AND MIGHTY, THE LORD MIGHTY IN BATTLE. LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O YOU GATES; LIFT THEM UP, YOU ANCIENT DOORS. THAT THE KING OG GLORY MAY COME IN. WHO IS HE, THIS KING OF GLORY? THE LORD ALMIGHTY, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY. PSALM 24:7-10