Achievements and Results
Since 2008
In 2008 none of the LUCSA affiliated churches were involved in work to prevent and respond to SGBVF in both church and the broader society.
Between 2009 and 2010, LUCSA conducted a baseline survey through the Women in Church and Society desk of the LWF to ascertain and identify all issues of abuse, marginalization and oppression, which LUCSA members experienced. This resulted in a plan of action as a response to the findings.
Between 2011 and 2013, the Lutheran World Federation identified LUCSA as a pilot project for the roll-out of the LWF Gender Justice Policy. The gender justice policy, adopted by LWF in 2013 provides a framework for the promotion of gender justice in institutional practice as well as gender transformative programming in LWF member churches and its country programs. LUCSA has cascaded this policy to its member churches.
In 2015 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, a member of LUCSA, was amongst the first churches to launch the Lutheran Action Against Gender-based Violence Project as a result of LUCSA’s work to raise awareness on the importance of gender justice. The aim of the project was to educate members of the church about the scourge of sexual and gender- based violence and to create awareness about this social ill. In 2015, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe also launched a project on the implementation of Gender Justice in the Church.
In 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, launched the Trauma Accompaniment for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, as a response to the call from the President of South Africa about the high incidence of SGBVF in the country.
In 2021 the LUCSA secretariat started the Pilani Madoda Project focusing on men’s wellness and positive fatherhood as part of the Gender Justice programme.
By the end of 2023, 80% of LUCSA member churches were involved in SGBVF prevention and response work.
This is a huge milestone considering that there was no active and structured engagement on GBV before 2008.
Some of the flagship projects under this initiative include:
- Supporting the World Council of Churches Thursday in Black Campaign.
- Supporting LUCSA members to participate in the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with some churches running their own programmes.
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) have produced their own programmes and Toolkits on Gender-Based Violence.
- The Hagar Campaign, an ELCSA initiative, is now a regional campaign connected to the watchwords of
Reverse
- The effects of misinterpretation of religious texts, that are often used to perpetuate gender based inequality and discrimination.
- Challenge harmful cultural practices and patriarchal systems which continue to oppress women and girls.
- The lack of female biblical interpretation which leads to women doubting themselves, because their experiences are trivialized.
- Patriarchal interpretations of scripture through using womanist biblical interpretation and providing positive examples of women in the bible.
Renew
- Give fresh strength and courage to women to continue striving for equality.
- Deconstruct and reconstruct gender roles and identity.
- Emphasize the importance of education and lobbying for more scholarships and opportunities for continuous education to be made available for women.
Restore
- Women’s lost identity and dignity.
- The dignity of all human beings as created in the image of God.
- Self-love and a positive self-affirmation through women’s empowerment.