Dimensions of diaconia: the public, political and prophetic

Abstract

In this article, I inquire into the concept of diaconia by examining the relationship between its public, prophetic and political dimensions. Firstly, I introduce the main constitutive features of public, political, and prophetic theology and the related controversies within and between them. Secondly, I present the document A Moment of Truth. A word of faith, hope, and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering (Kairos Palestine 2009). This document articulates a Christian ecumenical theology that combines critical social analysis with theological reflection on current socio-political issues. I show how it exemplifies how the public, political, and prophetic can be combined and integrated in a textual expression of diaconia. I conclude by arguing that all three approaches need to be critically combined in Christian social work. The tensions between them must be viewed as tensions within diaconia itself. Accordingly, it is a key task for the academic field of diaconia to study and interpret these dimensions.