I am grateful to the Church of Sweden and the Women Ministry International of the Free Methodist Church for their financial support. By doing this the Free Methodist Church participates in what should be the mission of the Church of Christ worldwide.
The Democratic Republic of Congo
The abundance of resources is the cause of the occurrence of war in the eastern DRC. A more devastating effect of this war remains its connection with the outbreak of the HIV pandemic in the eastern part of the DRC.
Research problems and Objectives
It is the responsibility of the Church to love and care for one another, especially those who are discriminated against and stigmatized for being HIV positive in our community. To identify the challenges posed by the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Kivu region of the DRC.
Theological Framework
How can the doctrine of social sanctity be applied to the care of people living with AIDS. My argument in this study is that the doctrine of social holiness of the Free Methodist Church (FMC) offers ideas and vision that can be used to achieve social change in the care of people living with AIDS in Kivu.
Outline of the Study
Introduction
The Church must prioritize the issue of HIV/AIDS by articulating focused programs to combat the problems of AIDS in society (2004:2). The Church's greatest contribution is said to be above all in conveying theological reflections on issues related to the disease and defining the true theology of AIDS.
Defining the Church
Webster insists on the temporal, material and social existence of the Church as a visible body of followers participating in divine communion. Each denomination chooses one or a combination of the above models of the church and differs from another.
The Need For a Theology of HIV and AIDS
The Church of Christ has, in its tradition, theological and practical responses to people living with HIV. This section is an attempt to provide the theological rationale regarding the involvement of the Church in the fight against disease.
Theology of HIV and AIDS 1. Sexuality
Love and Compassion
One cannot be sure that the Church has always shown love and compassion to people living with HIV. The incident reported in Matthew 8:2-3 sets an example of how the Church should show love to people living with HIV and AIDS.
Christian fellowship (Koinonia)
The concept of God's image will give a more dignified image of our service, because it will help us not to distinguish between the sick and the healthy, between the helpers and the helped. The various theological themes discussed here, sexuality, love, community, diakonia and the body of Christ, provide a solid basis for the Church's involvement in responding to the challenges posed by the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
Death and Resurrection
Suffering and death are not limited to humans, but the whole of creation suffers with us and longs for salvation. A theological understanding of death is not only a matter of comfort to those infected with HIV, but a call to all of us to prepare ourselves to face the reality of death sooner or later. The clear teachings of the Bible show that death is not the final destiny of mankind.
Response of the Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo to HIV
The Archdiocese of Kinshasa broadcasts its program via Elikia Radio (Radio of Hope) to spread information, education and communication about HIV and AIDS. The Salvation Army is very proactive in their response to the HIV and AIDS crisis in the DRC. Papa Plus is very active in Kinshasa, where the organization involves men to contribute to reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Response of the Free Methodist Church-DRC to HIV
Femmes Plus is doing well in expanding its activities even in the eastern part of the DRC, which is often neglected in terms of HIV and AIDS programs. Churches in the Congo have decided to work together without separation to join their efforts to respond to the HIV epidemic. A National Council for Interfaith Based Alliance consisting of 8 religious leaders has been established to work closely with government structures and provide the right message and support to the community (EHAIA 2006:22).
Conclusion
This document is an attempt to draw the attention of FMC leaders in the DRC to the urgency of standing in the gap for dying people who cannot be helped by the government. In the next chapter, I will discuss the doctrinal teachings of the Free Methodist Church and its relevance for responding to the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS in the Kivu region.
Introduction
Wesleyan Doctrine of Social Holiness
Christian Holiness
John Wesley was aware that Christian perfection was not achieved by human effort or by mystical practices, but was given as a free gift to human believers through the work of the Holy Spirit and through faith. He believed, despite some criticisms that we will examine shortly, in the possibility of maturing into Christian perfection in the present life. Christian perfection breaks human selfishness to allow them to participate in sharing their life and resources with the needy.
Social Holiness
This concern for the poor and socially disadvantaged justified the inclusion of women in the leadership of Wesley's movement. You, like them, are made in the image of God: you are likewise candidates for immortality. This passion to help the poor is at the heart of the doctrine of social holiness in the Free Methodist Church, as inherited from Wesley.
Social Holiness in the Free Methodist Church
This identity with the poor can only take place if the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a believing individual has transformed selfishness into self-giving. What Church calls "the Free Methodist soul" is that deep concern for social needs among the poor which characterizes the Wesleyan heritage of social holiness in the Church. This brings us to the next point of our discussion: how does the Free Methodist Church in the NGK carry out the teaching of Social Holiness.
Social Holiness in the Free Methodist Church of the DRC
In addition to the help provided by Compassion International, another ministry of the Free Methodist Church called "Child Care International" has provided considerable relief to children of many servants of the Church. It is important to note that the Church is committed to preaching the gospel to the poor who often cannot pay a salary to their leaders. The Church has always found a way to channel this support wherever there are beneficiaries, even in refugee camps established outside the country.
Strengths of the Doctrine of Social Holiness
- Social Holiness and God's Love
- Social Holiness and Christian Stewardship
- Social Holiness and Christian Fellowship
- Social Holiness and God's Creation
Koinonia, as connexion [sic], is mission-oriented: a common mission that witnesses to all people the gospel of God's grace and serves the whole creation.. The Koinonia of the Church is. Wesley used the same creation ethic to denounce the exploitation of the poor by industrial owners. The above description of the doctrine of social holiness should not leave the reader thinking that everything is beyond criticism.
Weaknesses of the Wesleyan Doctrine of Social holiness
Conservative View of the State
Wesley is said to have had a very conservative view of politics and total respect for king and state. He believed that civil power emanated from God, therefore challenging the state seemed to him impious and hostile to Christianity (Marquardt 1992:133).
None of us shall either in writing or conversation, speak lightly or irreverently of the government under which he lives
We are to observe that the oracles of God command to be faithful to the higher powers and that honour to the King is there connected with the fear
Rejection of Structural Change in Society
This second weakness derives from the first because Wesley's loyalty was not only to the king, but also to the institutions of the state. His conservative approach to the Bible and particularly Romans 13 made him a defender of the political status quo. Wesley considered himself a preacher of the word, not a politician, and advised his followers to distance themselves from politics.
Individual Influence Rather Than Mass Movement
This focus on individual perfection has led many scholars to think that Wesley was not interested in social transformation. Kumalo shares the same sentiment as he testifies that, "To say that Wesley taught and worked for social transformation is a misunderstanding of his thinking work. In my view, one should not confuse weakness in Wesley's approach to social transformation with rejection of his.
Conclusion
Introduction
Why Care?
Since the first initiative proposed by Richardson belongs to medical technology, this work focuses on care because it is within the Church's ability and also its significance in the current situation in Kivu. I will concentrate on three main areas of care where we accept that the role of the Church is indispensable.
Spiritual Care
Today, people are discovering how reading the Bible can strengthen and spiritually heal those infected with the virus. That is why I believe that the spiritual healing of people living with HIV and AIDS is primarily in the hands of the Church. The good news for all sinners is that today we can be made whole after sin because of God's unfailing love that redeems sinners.
Physical care
The silence of the Church and the international community on the atrocities of the war in the DRC would remind us of what Beverly Haddad denounces in the case of South Africa, as she argues. In the current situation in Kivu, I agree with Haddad that the Church's silence and inaction are deadly. There are several aspects of the disease that require care.
Care with Justice: The Importance of the Doctrine of Social Holiness
It is the role of the Church to see that justice and human rights are given to all people, without discrimination, because everyone is created in the image of God. This is our testimony to Christ that will be made visible to the world. The importance of the Methodist Church will be determined by the response of the Methodist people. The role of the Church is to advocate and sensitize churches and organizations worldwide, through other agencies, to allocate funds for this cause.
Conclusion
Summary of my Discussion
This is why the doctrine of social holiness can offer an appropriate framework for the Church to mobilize and empower society and lobby external actors to effect large-scale social transformation for the benefit of those living with HIV. This is a broad field of action, but useful if the church can share biblical principles along with physical care and mobilize mass movements to join this fight. The doctrine of social holiness allows the church to be militant when human rights are violated, as was the case with slavery in the eighteenth century.
Recommendations
34;Choosing to Remain Silent: Links between Gender Violence, HIV/AIDS and the South African Church" in LA Phiri, B. 34;The HIV/AIDS Pandemic: A Crucial Task For the Church in Africa" in African Ecclesial Review . 34; AIDS Discourse in the Church: What we say and what we do" in Southern African Journal of Theology.
