Theology, health and culture
Issues of identification and exploration
What does it mean to be healthy (including a re-
visitation of the WCC definition of health in the light of
the EDAN work), the association and exploration
between health and salvation, health and theology,
holistic healing in the context of shalom and harmony,
dissimilarities and similarities between spiritual and
medical healing, anthropology and health, a trinitarian
theology of healing as an undergirding of healing praxis
Theology
Theology of suffering, health & healing; the theology of the
Cross & empowerment…
(including an exploration of God as healer/
participant in suffering)
The role of the Spirit in health and healing…
(the role of ministry, charisms and sacraments)
Incarnation and embodiment
Comprehensive & critical analysis of Biblical information re
healing & suffering
Sin, sickness (healing & forgiveness) & responsibility (personal
& collective)
Healing in other faiths
Ecology and healing
The place of sacred places, pilgrimages, saints
The place of evil in suffering
The reality of spirit worlds/ powers
Culture
The role of various cultures in understanding/explaining illness
and facilitating healing (world views and their influence on
health; recognition of diversity; sensitivity to the value of
culture but also the sensitive role of prophetic challenge to it;
affirming it when it’s helpful, challenging it when it’s not)
The role of post/modern societies, systems, resources and
ideologies (positive and negative) and their impact on health
and community
The cultural understanding of the relationship between the
individual, community and the cosmos
The place of experience in determining ones theology of
healing
How beliefs/attitudes concerning birth/death/the life-to-come
affect issues of healing, healthcare & suffering
Praxis
How do churches/institutions teach health and
healing
How are Christians helped in relating/responding
to health, healing and suffering
The value of ritual/symbols
Healing methodologies of Christian healers
Partnerships between churches and all health
and healing agencies to provide wholeness
Cross cutting issues
Issues motivated by justice and gender
issues
Issues of reconciliation/ relationship of
communities, peoples and nations
Targets
How do we plan/dream the future and draw it into
the present; how do we listen to God in this process
Theological reflection including bibliographies
Preamble
In the next five years, the following issues will become
priorities for study and dialogue. The emphasis should be on
life/health and wholeness (embodiment) rather than
death/suffering and thus form an alternative paradigm. This
has to be done together with a critical re-visitation of the WCC
definition of health, especially in the light of the EDAN work.
Priorities
Dialogue with people of other faiths/cultures with regard to
…the place of health/healing
…reconciliation/relationships including with creation
…the place of evil and the demonic in suffering
Dialogue among Christians on the place of the (spirit) powers in
healing/suffering
Biblically based dialogue on health/healing and suffering with an
awareness of the value of different hermeneutical approaches
The varied healing ministries of the Church (in relationship with
health/healing agencies) as a reflection of the healing ministry of the
church (including the role of the Spirit)
Healing and justice in socio-economic frameworks
Structural sin, injustice, personal sin and forgiveness (processes of
reconciliation)
Communication Strategies
Promoting/reinforcing theological education in the areas
above
Collection of relevant sources and texts from within and
beyond the ecumenical movement
Studies and conferences of the respective WCC-Boards in
cooperation with ecumenical bodies, churches outside the
WCC-constituencies and health agencies
Networking
Within the WCC: desks, teams and advisory bodies on
mission and evangelism
health and healing
education
dialogue and inter-religious relations
justice, peace and creation
the decade to overcome violence
…on issues relevant to them
Churches and church bodies beyond the WCC constituency, namely
the Roman Catholic Church, the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement,
regional councils
Health care institutions and Christian Health Associations
Bodies and organisations such as PHM