Faithful
Faithful
Voices
CHRISTIAN LEADERS’ ADVOCACY GUIDE
ON POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING
Voices
JULY 2015
Suggested citation: Mbuya-Brown, R., and L. Mteka. 2015. Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’Advocacy
Guide on Population and Family Planning. Lilongwe, Malawi: Futures Group, Health Policy Project.
Illustrations by: R. Chilemba
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v 5
Faithful Voices:
Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide
on Population and Family Planning
JULY 2015
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Foreword
Malawi is one of the fastest-growing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Our country’s population has more
than tripled over the past 40 years, and is expected to triple again by 2040.* As a result, our environment,
our economy, and our communities are under increasing strain. It is difcult to meet the basic needs of so
many people, much less improve their lives and achieve the development goals of the nation as a whole.
As religious leaders, we hold positions of trust. With this trust comes much responsibility—to lead by
example, to do our utmost to follow God’s teachings, and to nourish the spiritual and physical well-being
of our congregants. In light of this, we believe religious leaders have a responsibility to raise awareness
within our communities about the impacts of population growth, and discuss the potential benets of
planning families.
As Christians, faith is the foundation of our lives.The Bible reminds us that this faith is both manifested
and perfected through works—through our actions in the world (James 2:14–26).“As the body without
the spirit is dead,” the Bible teaches,“so faith without works is dead also.” This guide represents our own
faith in action. Through it, we encourage religious leaders to address issues related to family planning,
reproductive health, and population growth. These issues have profound impacts on the communities
we serve—affecting the individual health and well-being of men, women, children, and families, as well as
Malawi’s overall development.
Rev Francis Mkandawire
General Secretary
Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM)
Bishop Gilford Matonga
Acting General Secretary
Malawi Council of Churches (MCC)
Pastor Innocent Chikomo
Executive Secretary
Malawi Union Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists
* Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. 2012.“Malawi RAPID: Population and Development.” PowerPoint presentation,
available at http://www.healthpolicyproject.com/index.cfm?ID=publications&get=pubID&pubID=71.
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CoNTeNTS
Acknowledgements...........................................................................................................iii
Abbreviations...........................................................................................................iv
1 Introduction..............................................................................................................1
1.1 Purpose of This Guide.......................................................................................................2
1.2 Who Should Use This Guide?...........................................................................................2
1.3 How to Use This Guide......................................................................................................2
2 Population, Family Planning, and Development.....................................................3
2.1 Population Growth..............................................................................................................3
2.2 Family Planning.....................................................................................................................5
2.3 What Does the Bible Say About Marriage and Planning Families?...........................8
3 Advocacy.................................................................................................................11
3.1 Why Should We Engage?.................................................................................................11
3.2 The Advocacy Process....................................................................................................12
3.3 Implementing Key Activities...........................................................................................16
4 Conclusion.............................................................................................................30
Worksheet: Advocacy Implementation Plan.................................................................32
Annex 1: Institutional Structures......................................................................................34
Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM)..............................................................34
Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM)...........................................................41
Malawi Council of Churches (MCC).....................................................................46
Seventh Day Adventists (SDA)............................................................................49
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ACKNowLedGeMeNTS
This publication was developed by the Health Policy Project, with funding from the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID). It was written by Rebecca Mbuya-Brown and Laston Mteka,
with technical input and/or review from Erin McGinn, Carol Miller and Olive Mtema. The content of this
guide was drafted in partnership with Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), the Episcopal Conference
of Malawi (ECM), the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), and the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA).
The Health Policy Project is grateful for the dedication and efforts of all religious leaders who
participated in the consultative drafting process.We have been inspired by their passion and commitment
to addressing population and family planning issues in Malawi, and hope this guide will help them in their
future endeavours.We also want to express our appreciation for the Ministry of Finance, Economic
Planning and Development—formerly the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development—for its
participation in the drafting process, and its ongoing efforts to engage religious leaders in efforts to
respond to the population and development challenges facing Malawi.
Lastly, HPP would like to recognise the role played by representatives of the Christian mother bodies,
especially those who participated in the development of this publication. These include: Rev. Charles
Makata, Howard Kasiya, and Rev. Dr. Davidson Chifungo from EAM; Mtheto Lungu and Fr. Kaswanyundo
from MCC; and Pastor Goodwin Sibande and Pastor Gazamwala from SDA.
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ABBreVIATIoNS
AIDS acquired immunodeciency syndrome
EAM Evangelical Association of Malawi
ECM Episcopal Conference of Malawi
FP family planning
HIV human immunodeciency virus
HPP Health Policy Project
IEC information, education, and communication
IUD intrauterine device
MAM Muslim Association of Malawi
MCC Malawi Council of Churches
MEPD Ministry of Economic Planning and Development
MoFEPD Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development
SDA Seventh Day Adventists
SRH sexual and reproductive health
QMAM Qadria Muslim Association of Malawi
TA traditional authority
USAID U.S.Agency for International Development
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1 INTrodUCTIoN
High fertility, combined with a lack of services to support the healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies, is
causing Malawi’s population to grow rapidly. As the population grows, the availability of natural resources
does not. We are farming the same land and shing the same lakes as our ancestors, but there are
many more of us today. This is resulting in environmental degradation, with signicant impacts on health,
education, and the economy. Moreover, the high fertility that is causing our population to grow so quickly
is also harming the health and well-being of women, children, and families.
Recently, religious leaders from different faith communities have come together to address common concerns
related to the planning of families, reproductive health, and population growth. In 2012, representatives from
Malawi’s religious “mother bodies”—the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), the Episcopal Conference
of Malawi (ECM), the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM),
the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), and the Qadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM)—assembled
to discuss how they could become more involved in these issues. The result was an interfaith effort,
through which religious leaders implemented “population weekends” in several districts (see Box 5).The
population weekends were supported by the USAID-funded Health Policy Project, in collaboration with
the Population Unit of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD)—now the Ministry
of Finance, Economic Planning and Development (MoFEPD)—and succeeded in mobilising communities,
raising their awareness of the impacts of population growth, and fostering discussions about the benets
of planning families. Our experiences with this work have led to this guide, which is intended to strengthen
the role of religious leaders in addressing population and family planning issues.
Religious leaders in Malawi have a key role to play in addressing population and family planning issues.As
trusted role models and guides, we have a responsibility to raise awareness in our communities about the
impacts of population growth, and to discuss how planning families can increase the health and well-being
of families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
God gave the earth into
the keeping of human
kind. He made man and
woman “masters of the
sh of the sea, the birds
of heaven, the cattle, all
the wild animals and all
the creatures that creep
along the ground … ”
(Genesis 1:26–28; 2:15).
As stewards of God’s
creation, human beings
must carefully consider
how their choices and
actions affect the earth.
Decisions regarding
reproduction—when to
give birth, and how many
children to bear—affect
the well-being of individual couples, as well as the earth’s ability to thrive and support life. When the
population grows too fast, the earth’s natural bounty is depleted.
Committing our families to God, responsible parenthood includes planning and spacing pregnancies to
maximise the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families (Proverbs 16:3). When couples are
able to better plan their families, it can save the lives of mothers and children and improve families’ overall
health and economic situation. Better planning of families also helps slow population growth. A smaller
population will help ease the pressure on natural resources, putting Malawi in a better position to address
the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. A smaller population will also
enable Malawi to provide more social services (such as health and education) and jobs for its people.
Our past three years of ecumenical work on these issues is only the beginning. We must build on these
successes to ensure sustained engagement by all religious leaders on population and family planning issues.
1.1 Purpose of This Guide
This guide is intended to make addressing population and family planning issues a part of religious
institutions’ routine “way of doing things.” It gives religious leaders the guidance and information needed to
integrate advocacy on population and family planning issues into the policies and activities of our religious
institutions on an ongoing basis.
The activities and approaches presented in this guide should be understood as an ordinary part of
religious life, rather than as “extra” activities.
1.2 Who Should Use This Guide?
This guide should be used by
• Religious leaders (for example, bishops and priests, reverends and preachers, chairpersons and
general secretaries, vestry leaders, church group leaders, and para-church leadership)
• Anyone else who plays a leadership role within their faith community and would like to see that
community do more to address population and family planning issues
1.3 How to Use This Guide
This guide should be used to support advocacy and activities at all levels, from national to local. It offers
• Information on the impacts of population growth, the benets of healthy timing and spacing of
pregnancies, and the need for religious leaders to engage on these issues
• Suggestions for faith-based messages on population and family planning issues
• Guidance for planning and carrying out advocacy on population and family planning issues within
religious communities and institutions
• Overviews of institutional structures of relevant religious institutions, and suggestions for how to
advocate effectively within these structures
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2 PoPULATIoN, FAMILY PLANNING,
ANd deVeL oPMeNT
2.1 Population Growth
If current fertility rates remain unchanged, Malawi’s population—13.1 million in 2008—is expected to triple
by 2040.
1
This rapid growth, along with water scarcity and declining food production, has led researchers
to identify Malawi as one of 15 population and climate change “hotspots”—places in the world where the
effects of climate change will fall especially hard.
2
The impacts of population growth can be seen in many
different areas:
Environmental degradation
Population growth,when it happens too fast,can seriously harm the environment and reduce the availability
of natural resources. The environmental impacts of population growth in Malawi can be seen in water
scarcity, deforestation and soil erosion, and reduced agricultural productivity. As the population grows,
more and more people need access to fresh water. This leads to water scarcity, as there is less water
available per person. Population growth also causes deforestation, as more and more land is cleared for
crops, fuel, and building materials. Deforestation leads to soil erosion, as topsoil is washed away without
trees and other vegetation to hold it in place. Soil erosion, in turn, reduces agricultural productivity and
increases the devastation caused by oods.
All of these challenges are compounded by climate change, which alters patterns of rainfall
and leads to droughts, floods, and unpredictable growing seasons. Population growth makes it
harder for Malawi to handle the effects of climate change—effects that will only intensify in the
coming years.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Agriculture and land scarcity
Malawi’s land resources are already under great strain. With an average of 126 people per square
kilometre of land, Malawi has one of the highest population density rates in Africa—six times the density
of neighbouring Zambia. If the population keeps growing at the same rate, by 2050 there will be six times
as many people (803) for every square kilometre of land.
Close to 80 per cent of Malawi’s population lives in rural areas, and the majority of Malawians rely on
farming for their livelihoods. Over time, land has been divided into smaller plots that make it harder for
families to make a living. As a result, they must farm their land more intensively, which gradually leads to
soil depletion and declines in agricultural productivity. Land scarcity also contributes to conicts within
families and communities. Disputes over inheritance are increasingly common and have even resulted in
violence in some districts.
Access to public services
With more people comes increasing pressure on Malawi’s public services, such as health and education.
Already, the country faces a shortage of healthcare workers and teachers, particularly in rural areas. In
addition to reduced availability of public services, service quality (in health, infrastructure, education, etc.) is
compromised in the face of overwhelming need. The MoFEPD’s 2012 RAPID analysis projects population
growth rates over a 30-year period (2008–2040).The RAPID analysis estimates that if the current rate of
population growth continues, the Ministry of Health will require three times as many trained nurses and
health centres in 2040 as in 2008. In the education sector, the number of primary school students is expected
to more than double, from 3 million to nearly 8 million. With slower population growth, the government
could save K116 billion (US$751 million) in education and K226 billion (US$1.5 billion) in health over the
same period.
3
Economic development.
Population growth has visible impacts on economic development. Slower population growth would help
Malawi’s economy grow more quickly, as resources could be shifted from meeting existing needs to
investing in future growth.The declines in agricultural productivity resulting from rapid population growth,
along with increased pressure on water resources and public services, will also hinder economic growth.
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Population, Family Planning, and Development
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The economic consequences of rapid population growth will fall particularly hard on youth. More than
alf of Malawi’s population (52%) is under age 18. As youth enter adulthood, they will need jobs and other
pportunities. If the current rate of growth continues, 4.9 million youth will enter the job market by 2040.
et, already there are not nearly enough jobs for all those who need them.
mpact on churches
s the population grows, demands on churches also increase, as congregations require more assistance.
t the same time, congregants have fewer resources available to support their churches. In one church,
new building was built to accommodate a larger congregation. The construction took ve years to
omplete. By the time it was nished, the new building was already too small to hold the congregation.
his shows how fast the population is growing, and how resources and infrastructure cannot keep pace.
his combination of factors can make life harder. However, as people of faith, we should not be discouraged.
nstead, through God’s grace, we can make Malawi’s future better by coming together to address population
nd development issues.
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2.2 Family Planning
What is family planning?
Family planning is when a couple makes
informed choices about when to have
a child, how many children to have, and
how much time to wait between births.
Couples should start discussing their
plans for a family before they marry and
continue talking about this throughout their
marriage, as their options, decisions, and
life circumstances may change over time.
Couples should also teach their children
about the importance of planning families—
preparing them to become responsible
parents when they reach adulthood.
Couples can choose natural or medical
methods to plan their families. These
methods are widely researched and safe
for both women and men. They vary in
effectiveness, characteristics, and in who
should use them. The latter is based on
family planning intentions and some rare medical conditions, so women and couples should consult
healthcare providers to discuss their options.
Family planning methods currently available in Malawi include
Natural / calendar methods
Natural methods do not require any medical intervention, although some approaches need instructions
and counselling from healthcare providers. Most natural methods are called “fertility awareness-based
methods.” These methods help women and couples understand how to avoid pregnancy or how to
become pregnant by recognising signs of a woman’s fertile days, when she is most likely to conceive.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Natural methods include
• Calendar-based methods
• Standard Days Method (cycle beads)
• Calendar rhythm method
• Monitoring daily changes in the thickness of vaginal uid
• Billings Method, TwoDay Method
• Monitoring body temperature to detect ovulation
• Basal body temperature method
• Breastfeeding/Lactation Ammenorrhoea Method
• Withdrawal (coitus interruptus)
• Abstinence
Medical methods
• Condoms (male and female)
•
Pills (oral contraceptives)
• Combined oral contraceptives
• Progesterone-only pills
•
Injectables
• Combined injectable contraceptive
• Progesterone-only injectable contraceptive
• Implants (Jadelle)
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
•
Vasectomy (male)
•
Tubal ligation (female)
What are the benets of planning families?
Today, the average couple in Malawi has between ve and six children, but this fertility rate does not
reect couples’ desires or plans. On average, both men and women report that their ideal family size is
four children.
4
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Population, Family Planning, and Development
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• Almost half (45%) of pregnancies in Malawi are unintended or mistimed.
5
• One in four couples would like to delay or avoid further childbearing, but do not use any
methods to avoid unintended pregnancies. These couples have an unmet need for services that
can help them better time and space their pregnancies.
Health benets
The healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies is vital to the health of women and children. Malawi has
one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world (675 per 100,000 live births). Underlying causes
of these maternal deaths
include early childbearing
(35% adolescent
pregnancies), high fertility
rate (5.7), and high HIV
prevalence among women
of childbearing age.
6
Unintended pregnancies can
increase the risk of death
and disability for mothers
and children, especially
when pregnancies are
• Too early—when the
mother is under
age 18
• Too many—when
the mother has had many previous pregnancies
• Too late—when the mother is older than age 35
• Too frequent—when pregnancies are spaced too close together
In Malawi, one in nine children does not live to see his or her fth birthday; however, increasing the time
between births can dramatically increase a child’s chances of survival. Children born less than two years
after a previous birth are more than twice as likely to die before age ve as those born at least three years
after a mother’s last birth.
Family benets
When couples have only as many children as they can readily support, there are many benets for
the family:
• Stress on marriages can be reduced, as can conict within families over scarce resources.
•
Parents have more time and attention to devote to each child, creating more opportunities to
give spiritual guidance.
•
Parents are able to provide their children with better nutrition, health, and education.
•
Children are less likely to be left to fend for themselves at an early age.
•
Economic and educational opportunities increase for both parents and children.
Young couples
who wait to have children can pursue higher education and obtain better jobs, and both boys
and girls can go to school when parents have only the number of children they can afford.
•
Women, in particular, will have better health, and may have more time for education, social
engagement, and participation in community life.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Gender equality
High fertility contributes to gender inequality by limiting women and girls’ access to education, employment,
and other life opportunities. Over half of Malawian women (51.6%) are married by age 18, and one-quarter
of adolescents ages 15–19 have already had at least one child.
7
Young girls who begin childbearing at an
early age are deprived of their chance for education, and their lives are placed at risk due to the dangers
of early pregnancy.
Likewise, when parents have more children than they can support, it is usually girls who lose out—
receiving a smaller share of family resources for things like education, healthcare, and food.
Church benets
As families benet, so do churches—the benets of planning families can decrease strains on the church.
Happier, healthier, more productive families are able to more fully participate in church life and support
other congregation members and the church itself.
2.3 What Does the Bible Say About Marriage and Planning Families?
Some Bible versions include an introduction to each book, in which Bible scholars explain the book’s main
themes; who wrote it; and when, where, and why it was written. This provides the reader with a contextual
understanding of Bible texts, which helps avoid fundamentalist interpretations. There are a number of issues
related to marriage and family planning that should be claried based on the guidance of Sacred Scriptures.
Principles of marriage
Family planning takes place within the context of marriage, and a good marriage is a foundation for
responsible planning of families. Likewise, family planning can contribute to healthy marriages by reducing
the stress that can be placed on marriages when couples struggle to meet their children’s needs. A good
Christian marriage should be guided by principles outlined in the Scriptures.
Marriage: a loving and caring covenant
“Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed over for us a
sacricial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed it over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word…” (Ephesians 5:25-26)
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
(Colossians 3:14)
“Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
Marriage is a sacred, loving covenant entered into between a man and a woman. Love is essential to a
Christian marriage,
as matrimony is modelled on the loving relationship between Jesus Christ and the
church. Christian love impels husband and wife to develop a positive Christian attitude towards one
another.
As human beings,
husband and wife must accept one another’s weaknesses and forgive each other.
Partnership and mutuality
“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” (Genesis 2:18)
Genesis (2:18) points to partnership as one of the most important reasons for entering into marriage.
Christian marriage is an intimate partnership, in which a man and woman come together in marriage as
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Population, Family Planning, and Development
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loving partners to care for, help, and support each other in the fullment of their physical, social, economic,
and spiritual needs. Marriage is built on the basis of mutuality—the idea that husband and wife support
one another, each according to his or her unique gifts. Mutuality is created through the manifestation of
various qualities,including honesty,trust,openness,submission/obedience,respect,tolerance,understanding,
faithfulness, and partnership/support (Genesis 2:24). In the spirit of mutuality, a husband and wife should
share equally in both the labours and benets of marriage, including economic activities. If a husband and
wife live in this spirit of loving partnership and mutuality, peace and comfort will prevail in their marriage.
Intimacy
Marriage involves both physical and emotional intimacy. Within marriage, man and woman express their
intimacy when, through their bodies, they engage in sexual relationship. Sexual satisfaction and emotional
connection/support, together with openness, are key to establishing and nurturing intimacy (I Corinthians
7:3–5; Ephesians 5:1–33).
Commitment
Marriage is a serious commitment that involves giving oneself to another. God’s unconditional and
perpetual love for us is the model of Christian love in a family (John 3:16). In marriage, husband and wife
offer themselves fully for the good of the other. Each gives up part of their independence and self-interest,
transferring their energy and will towards the goal of mutual happiness. In the Scriptures, marital love is
compared to the love and commitment between God and humankind, or to the relationship between
Christ and His church.You may also refer to Genesis 2:24; Colossians 3:19; and Ephesians 5:25-33.
Reverence (prayerfulness)
The Scriptures also show that marriage should be entered into and sustained in a prayerful spirit. All things,
including marriage, are created by God. Husband and wife must look to God for guidance in their marriage
(Proverbs 16:3). Through prayer, we receive God’s grace. We cannot sustain our families or marriages
without God’s help, and it is through His grace that we are able to ourish (I Peter 3:7).
God’s relationship with humankind is symbolic of the marriage relationship.Therefore, marriage must be
modelled on the relationship between Jesus and the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Prayerfulness in marriage
also refers to the importance of marital communication. In prayer, we dialogue with God; likewise, in
marriage, we should dialogue with our spouses (Jeremiah 33:3).
Procreation and responsibility
Genesis identies procreation as one of the benets that can result from marriage. Procreation is not the
primary purpose of marriage, but children are a gift from God (Genesis 1:28) (see below for more on
responsible procreation).
Family Planning—Responsible procreation
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Psalm 127:3)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with
whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
We should understand that when God instructed Adam and Eve to “ … be fruitful and multiply, and replenish
the earth, and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28), the world population was much smaller than it is today—actually,
only a few people! It is also important to understand that the word “subdue” in this verse refers not to
domination, but to responsible management.
It is also clear from Genesis 1:28 that God expects humankind to add value to the earth. If you have so many
children that you cannot meet their needs and help them ourish, you are failing to add value as God intended.
There are several other biblical passages that point to the importance of responsible parenthood. Parents
have a responsibility to meet the material (e.g., medical care, education, food), emotional, and spiritual
needs of their children and ensure that they have a dignied quality of life (1 Timothy 3:5). This is more
possible when the number of children in a family is reasonable and manageable. When parents are unable
to meet the needs of their children, these children may become disheartened (Colossians 3:21).
St. Paul instructed Timothy that leadership in the Church must be modelled on leadership in the family,
saying, “He must manage his own household well, keeping his own children under control, with perfect dignity.”
(1 Timothy 3:5).
Parents are responsible for giving protection to their children as Joseph and Mary did in Matthew 2:1–13.
In Matthew 19:14, Jesus stood his ground as protector of children when he said, “Let the little children come
unto me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Some have asked, “Why bother about family planning, if God takes care of children?” God provides and
takes care of children through their parents. Failing to care for your children does not please God, and
is sinful (1 Timothy 5:7–8). As Paul says in I Timothy (5:8), “And whoever does not provide for relatives, and
especially family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Today, without contradicting Sacred Scriptures, churches recognise signs of the times with regard to
environmental degradation, scarcity of natural resources, and climate change. Church leaders nd that it is
important for couples to make thoughtful, informed choices about when to have children, how long to wait
between pregnancies (birth spacing), and the total number of children they intend to bear.
There is a need for couples to plan their families together, and to discuss how many children they wish to
have. These conversations require tolerance, faithfulness, and sacrice. Ultimately, the outcome is in God’s
hands. If a married couple cannot have a child, they must accept their situation and continue to love one
another (Romans 8:28).
Endnotes
1. Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. 2012. “Malawi RAPID: Population and Development.” PowerPoint
presentation, available at http://www.healthpolicyproject.com/index.cfm?ID=publications&get=pubID&pubID=71.
2. Zulu, E., J. Ciera, N. Musila, C. Mutunga, and R-M De Souza. 2012. Population Dynamics, Climate Change, and Sustainable
Development in Malawi. Washington, DC: African Institute for Development Policy and Population Action International.
Available at http://populationaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Malawi_Country_Report_Final.pdf.
3. Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. 2012. “Malawi RAPID: Population and Development.” PowerPoint
presentation, available at http://www.healthpolicyproject.com/index.cfm?ID=publications&get=pubID&pubID=71
4. National Statistical Ofce (NSO) and ICF Macro. 2011. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Zomba, Malawi and
Calverton, MD: NSO and ICF Macro.
5. Ibid.
6. Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM). Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy. Balaka: Montfort Media, 2013.
7. National Statistical Ofce (NSO) and ICF Macro. 2011. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2010. Zomba, Malawi and
Calverton, MD: NSO and ICF Macro
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3 AdVoCACY
With population growth and family planning
becoming urgent concerns in Malawi, religious
leaders at all levels (from national to community)
must become involved in addressing these issues.
We can use the teachings outlined above to help
our communities understand the impacts of
Box 1. What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is a carefully planned process
designed to influence decisions regarding
policies, programmes, or resources. Advocacy
targets decisionmakers (those who have the
power or position to make the change you are
seeking) to achieve a clearly defined goal.
population growth and the importance of making informed choices—grounded in Christian principles—
regarding procreation. However, our efforts should not be limited to discussing these issues with our
congregations. Rather, our goal is to make addressing population and family planning part of the everyday
work of religious institutions.
Through a series of interfaith discussions in early 2015, we identied seven key activities that we can
undertake to achieve this goal:
1. Create awareness among our fellow religious leaders regarding the linkages between family
planning, population growth, and development.
2. Incorporate population and family planning issues into our worship services and
conversations with congregants, and encourage other Christian leaders to do the same.
3. Integrate population and family planning issues into our institutional policies and plans, and
educational programmes and materials.
4. Get population and family planning on the agendas of discussion groups, events, and meetings.
5. Organise one-off events to mobilise, educate, and raise awareness in communities about the
linkages between population growth, family planning, and development.
6. Engage with the media to increase coverage of population and family planning issues and
ensure that supportive faith-based perspectives are included in the national conversation.
7. Spread the word!
This section will help you carry out these activities.
• In Section 3.1, we share teachings from the Scriptures that explain why we, as religious
leaders, have a responsibility to take action.
• In Section 3.2, we provide an overview of the advocacy process, which is vital to carrying out
the key activities listed above.
• In Section 3.3, we offer guidance on applying the advocacy process to plan and implement the
key activities listed above, using tips and examples drawn from our own experiences.
3.1 Why Should We Engage?
“ … give instructions to your brothers as a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished on the words of
the faith and of the sound teaching…” (1 Timothy 4:6)
Many biblical texts teach us about our responsibilities as Christian leaders. In the passage above, Paul
exhorts Timothy to full his ofce as a servant of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:6). Other passages show us
our duty to deal with issues in the same way a shepherd tends and feeds his sheep (John 21:15–17). In
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
the eyes of Jesus, each and every person is so precious that the shepherd cannot but search for any one
lost sheep.
Christian leaders must not be ashamed of testifying to the Lord (2 Timothy 1:8), and we should not be
ashamed of giving testimony regarding population and family planning issues. However, we must also move
beyond words to action. Do not be empty preachers, “but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves” (James 1:22–24). We should not avoid our responsibilities or wait for others to act (Matthew
14:16). A question is posed in James 2:14: “What [doth it] prot, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,
and have not works? Can faith save him?”
All of these texts indicate that, as Christian leaders, we should play a role in protecting and guiding our
congregations. In the case of family planning and population growth, Christian leaders can help families
enjoy a better quality of life simply by giving them vital information that enables them to make informed
choices. Yet to fully benet our ocks, we must work—not only with community members, but also with
our fellow religious leaders and our religious institutions—to ensure that addressing family planning and
population issues becomes part of our day-to-day activities.
3.2 The Advocacy Process
Carrying out the seven activities described above involves advocacy. In this section, we provide an overview
of the advocacy process and offer examples of applying it to make addressing family planning and population
issues part of the day-to-day work of Christian institutions at all levels.
The advocacy process has ve main steps.
Step 1: Identify the issue
• What problem are you trying to solve?
• Why is this problem important?
Clearly dening your issue and thinking about
why it is important will help you choose
goals and objectives, come up with persuasive
advocacy messages, and stay focused.
Box 2. The Advocacy Process
Step 1: Identify the issue
Step 2: Develop a goal and objectives
Step 3: Develop an advocacy strategy
Step 4: Implement your advocacy strategy
Step 5: Monitor and evaluate your
advocacy efforts
Tip: The more specic you are about the problem, the easier it will be to develop clear goals and objectives.
Step 2: Develop a goal and objectives
Alongside identifying a problem, advocates must also propose a solution: What change are you trying to
bring about? This is your advocacy goal.
Next, outline the specic objectives that will help you reach that goal. It may help to think of the goal as
the “header” of your advocacy effort, and the objectives as “subheaders.”
Tip: The more specic your goals and objectives are, the easier it will be to plan your advocacy strategy.
Step 3: Develop an advocacy strategy
Next, develop your advocacy strategy (your plan for achieving your objectives). Coming up with a
strategy requires careful thought about what you are trying to achieve, the circumstances (context)
in which you are acting, who needs to be engaged, and how they should be engaged. This involves six
key actions.
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(1) Assess the situation
Developing an effective advocacy strategy requires assessing the situation, both internally (within your
institution) and externally (in the broader community/nation). Key questions include
• Who has the power to make this decision or take this action?
• At what level are these decisionmakers? (e.g., national, regional, district, community)
• What is the process by which this decision will be made? (For example, decisions regarding
Sunday school curricula may be determined by the national committee, which rst
designates a subcommittee to recommend curricula updates.)
(2) Identify your target audience
Your target audience should be the decisionmakers identied during your situation assessment. However,
you should think strategically, narrowing down your target audience by focusing on the most inuential
decisionmakers, those who are most supportive of your goal, and/or those in the best position to help
you achieve your objectives. Alternatively (see action item 6 below), you may need to identify resistance
and focus on persuading those decisionmakers to support (or at least not to oppose) your objectives.
Once you have identied the decisionmakers whose support you need, consider the following:
• What is their existing level of knowledge and awareness about population and family planning?
• Are they supportive of your advocacy goal? Neutral? Opposed?
•
What do they care about/What matters to them? How is this connected to your
advocacy goal?
• What beliefs do they hold about population and family planning? (For example, some may have
the mistaken impression that family planning is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.)
(3) Craft advocacy messages
Once you have identied and learned more about your target audience, you are ready to start crafting
your advocacy messages. Effective advocacy messages help decisionmakers understand the following:
• What the problem is
• Why it matters (use evidence to support this)
•
What you are asking them to do
Advocacy messages should be
• Tailored to the target audience(s)
• Clear and persuasive
•
Evidence-based
•
Appeal to the head, the heart, or both
Use the list of messages in Box 3 as a starting point for crafting your own advocacy messages.
Tips:
#1—Choose your language carefully, keeping in mind your target audience and avoiding sensitive
language. For example
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
• Avoid sentiments like “population control,” and instead emphasise the importance of ensuring
that decisions about reproduction are made by married couples themselves.
• Consider using “responsible parenthood” or “planning of families” instead of “family planning.”
#2—Use evidence to support your position. Ask yourself
• Do you have the information/evidence you need to persuade your target audience(s)?
•
If not, how can you gather this evidence?
•
Remember, evidence does not have to be numerical. For example, if a policy already exists
but is not being carried out, the policy itself can be used as evidence as you advocate for
improved implementation.
Box 3. Ideas for Key Messages
This list of possible messages (based on the information in Section 2) can be used as a starting
point as you craft your own specic advocacy messages:
•
Population growth has huge economic impacts and affects the education, health, and
well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
•
There is an urgent need for religious leaders to speak out on population issues.
•
Support for healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies is benecial for the health and
well-being of women, children, and families, and helps to slow population growth.
•
Family planning helps couples achieve healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies.
• Family planning is benecial and recommended by the church.
•
Religious leaders have a duty to advise couples regarding healthy timing and spacing
of pregnancies.
•
Family planning leads to healthier and wealthier communities by helping families improve their
health, achieve higher levels of education and employment, and put aside savings for the future.
•
As family planning involves both husband and wife, the church recommends planning
together as a couple and seeking advice from a counsellor if in doubt.
•
Couples are better able to provide for their children if they bear only as many children as
they can responsibly care for.
•
Having only as many children as they can readily provide for reduces couples’ nancial
stress and helps them better full their responsibilities as husbands, wives, and parents—
and also leaves them with more time and resources to devote to their spiritual lives.
•
Religious leaders are encouraged to advise couples on the benets of having only as many
children as they can readily provide for.
•
Family planning helps reduce the negative environmental, economic, and social
consequences of rapid population growth.
• Family planning can help reduce conict over land, including conicts within families
about inheritance.
(4) Identify avenues of inuence/entry points
Once you have identied your target audience(s) and advocacy message(s), you must consider how you
are going to reach your audience(s):
•
Where and how do they make decisions? How can you gain access to this
decision-making process?
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For example, if a committee or regional body is involved, how often does this group meet? Do
you have access to this meeting? If not, how can you gain access? What needs to be done to get
your issue on the agenda?
• If you can’t reach your audience directly, who could help you reach them?
• Where does your audience get their information? What media outlets/programmes do they
watch/read/listen to?
Tip: Choosing the right spokesperson(s) can be crucial to success. Consider: Who does your audience
see as credible and trustworthy? Who will they nd most persuasive?
(5) Identify supporters and allies
Often, the success of advocacy efforts depends on choosing the right supporters and allies. Supporters
and allies can play a variety of roles, such as providing additional information, advising you on effective
messages and approaches, providing access to meetings and policy processes, and serving as credible
spokespersons to help you reach your target audiences. Consider
• Which leaders or groups within your institution and/or community are already supportive of
addressing issues related to population, family planning, and development?
• How can they help you achieve your objectives?
• How can you strengthen their support?
•
What arguments/evidence might help them engage more effectively?
(6) Identify potential opposition and challenges
It is important to think about what opposition and challenges you might encounter during your advocacy
efforts.
You will be able to respond to opposition and overcome challenges more easily if you have
prepared for them.
Think about
• Are there individuals and/or groups within your church/institution who are particularly
resistant to addressing population and family planning?
• How might you be able to persuade them to change their position?
• What is the basis for their opposition? What information and evidence can you provide to
counter their arguments?
• What allies/supporters could help you inuence the opposition?
•
What other challenges might you face?
•
How could you overcome these challenges?
Step 4: Implement your advocacy strategy
Now that you have identied your objectives and outlined your advocacy strategy, you must develop a
detailed implementation plan. It is important to consider the following:
•
What are your available resources? (human, nancial, material—books/materials, etc.)
•
What resources will you need?
•
Which supporters will you adopt as partners?
•
Timing:
When will you implement your activities? Are there key meetings/events that you need
to be present for? When do you need to begin preparing for these events? Are there holidays
or other events you could take advantage of?
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
• Assigning clear roles and responsibilities will help you avoid delays and keep you on
track (accountability).
Tip: Timing is key to effective advocacy. Advocates must choose the right moment to engage and must
think ahead.This means you have to understand the decision-making process. For instance, if you want to
engage decisionmakers to ensure that they incorporate issues related to population and planning families
in policies that guide your religious community, you must know when and how those policies will be
developed, and you must start advocating before the drafting process begins.
Step 5: Monitor and evaluate your advocacy efforts
It is important to monitor your progress in carrying out your advocacy strategy, and to take time to
evaluate how well your strategy has worked. Having clear, established objectives will help you in this
effort.What objectives have you reached? What strategies were most successful? What messages were
most persuasive? Were there messages or strategies that didn’t work? How could you change your
approach to make it more effective?
It is also important to monitor commitments made by decisionmakers. For example, if your religious
institution agreed to establish a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policy, has the policy been drafted?
Has it been nalised and, if so, was it adopted? If the drafting process has stalled, you can try to identify
why and gure out how to get it moving again.
Advocates continue to play an important role after policies have been adopted. Sustained effort is
needed to ensure that policies are implemented effectively at all levels.
3.3 Implementing Key Activities
The key activities outlined at the beginning of Section 3 may be implemented individually by a single
religious leader, or collectively by a group of leaders committed to addressing population and family
planning issues.
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Key Activity 1—Create awareness among our fellow religious leaders regarding the
linkages between family planning, population growth, and development.
Raising awareness and fostering support among fellow religious leaders is key to the sustainable
integration of population and family planning issues into the work of religious institutions.
Step 1: Identify the Issue—What problem are you trying to solve? Why is this important?
Insufcient awareness among religious leaders at all levels about the linkages between population growth,
family planning and development.
The process of setting goals and objectives involves assessing the general level of awareness among your
fellow religious leaders. Effective engagement of other religious leaders requires an understanding of the
current state of their awareness and attitudes. This can help you choose a particular group of leaders to
target for engagement, or develop an effective engagement approach.
•
Where is the weakest awareness of population and family planning issues? You may choose this
level/group as your target audience.
•
What is your position within the institutional structure? This may affect the focus of your
efforts.
Awareness may be needed at a variety of levels, but you may want to consider targeting
(a) the level with the greatest inuence on your community, and/or (b) the level where you
yourself have the greatest potential inuence/impact.
Example 1:
While the national leadership of my institution (e.g., EAM, ECM, MCC, SDA, or a particular
church) is aware of the linkages between population, family planning, and development, religious leaders
at regional and district levels are largely unaware of these connections.
This is making it hard to carry out
the plans laid out at national level, or to reach communities with key messages.
Example 2:
Within my religious institution, some key leaders at national level understand the linkages
between population, family planning, and development. However, others still have little understanding of
how these issues are connected or why the church should
address them.
This is making it more difcult to
integrate population and family planning issues into the institution’s policies, plans, and activities.
Step 2. Develop your goal (What change are you seeking?) and objectives (What intermediate
achievements are needed to
reach this goal?)
The broad goal is clear—to create
awareness among fellow religious
leaders. However, you will want to
identify specic goals and objectives
depending on priorities
and circumstances.
Example 1:
Goal: Increase awareness and
understanding among leaders
at regional and district levels
(e.g., dioceses, synods, regional
conferences).
Box 4. Champions
One strategy we have used to raise awareness about family
planning and population issues within our institutions is
to identify and train “champions.” Champions can educate
and motivate others—changing mindsets and/or inspiring
them to act.
When picking champions, look for
• Inuence
• Impeccable reputation
•
Passion for population and family planning issues
•
Limited (or no) interest in payment for
their involvement
If you are trying to reach a specic group—such as youth—
you may want to choose champions from within that group.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Objectives
(1) Reach 10 regional leaders with key messages and information.
(2) Reach 50 district-level leaders with key messages and information.
Example 2:
Goal: Increase awareness and understanding of population and family planning issues among the other
leaders of my church.
Objectives
(1) Hold a special meeting on addressing population and family planning attended by at least four other
church leaders.
(2) Persuade a well-respected regional religious leader to address my church’s leadership on population
and family planning issues.
(2) Reach leaders of youth, women’s, and Bible study groups with key messages and information.
Step 3. Develop an advocacy strategy
Use the key questions listed under Step 3 on page 12 to guide you in developing your approach.
In Example 1, advocates are trying to reach leaders at regional and district levels.If the advocates themselves
are district-level religious leaders, they may use gatherings in their respective districts to reach their fellow
religious leaders. To reach leaders in other districts, they would likely need to get support from higher
levels. For example, religious leaders within EAM could use pastors fraternal and/or district executive
committee meetings to reach other leaders in their districts, but would need to go through higher-level
bodies such as the regional executive committee to reach leaders elsewhere.
In Example 2, the advocate is trying to reach fellow church leaders. To be most effective, the advocate
should think carefully about the structure and decision-making processes of the church. Based on this
understanding, he/she can decide which leaders are most important to engage.Thinking about the attitudes
and beliefs of other church leaders can help the advocate decide how best to engage. For example Objective
2 indicates that the advocate believes having a prominent regional-level leader as a spokesperson can help
persuade leaders who may be less willing to listen to someone from their own church.
Step 4. Implement your advocacy strategy
Now it’s time to bring everything together in a single detailed action plan.The worksheet on page 32 can
help you with this process.
Step 5. Monitor and evaluate
Think about how you will determine the success of your efforts. How will you know that you have
successfully raised awareness among your fellow religious leaders? The more specic your goals and
objectives, the easier it will be to monitor progress and gure out whether you are on track.
Key Activity 2—Incorporate population and family planning issues into our worship
services and conversations with congregants, and encourage other Christian leaders to do
the same.
One of the easiest and most straightforward ways to address population and family planning issues is to
incorporate them into worship services and conversations with congregants—and to encourage fellow
religious leaders to do the same.As this is not an “advocacy” activity, the process for implementation is
relatively simple.
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Step 1. Identify worship services and engagement opportunities with congregants that you can use
to discuss population and family planning issues.
Set an overall goal, as well as specic objectives—e.g., to preach one sermon every month related to
population and family planning issues.
Step 2. If necessary, secure appropriate higher-level permissions within your religious institution
(this may require using the advocacy techniques described under activities 3 and 4).
Step 3. Plan your messages/sermons.
Sections 1 and 2 of this guide
provide useful information
that can be used for reference.
However, the best way to
ensure that your messages get
through to your congregants
is to connect them to real-
life experiences. Think about
whether any recent events in
your church or community have
shown the impact of population
growth. Has the church
struggled to meet the needs
of its congregants? Perhaps
there has been conict in the
community as a result of land
scarcity. Also, there may be married couples willing to share their positive experiences of family planning,
or the difculties they have faced due to large family size. Be careful to ensure that couples do not feel
pressured to share their stories, as these can be sensitive issues.You must do all you can to protect couples
and families from situations that might cause them to feel shamed, embarrassed, or uncomfortable.
To maintain momentum, consider tying your worship service to follow-up activities. For example, you
could ask Bible study or women’s groups to include a conversation about the issues during their next
meeting. Or, perhaps the church development committee could talk about how the church experiences
strain as a result of population growth.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
If you are unsure of how to talk about population and family planning issues with your congregants, reach
out to your relevant mother body. They can connect you with a leader who has been trained in addressing
these issues.
Step 4. Implement
The worksheet on page 32 can help you bring everything together in a detailed action plan.
Step 5. Monitor and evaluate
Monitoring and evaluating this activity is relatively simple. Did you meet the objectives you set for yourself?
If not, what prevented you from doing so? Moving forward, how will you overcome these obstacles?
How were your sermons received? Which messages and stories did congregants respond positively to?
Following the worship services, did congregants talk to you about population and family planning issues?
Key Activity 3—Integrate
population and family
planning issues into our
institutional policies and
plans, and our educational
programmes and materials.
Integrating population and family
planning issues into institutional
policies/plans and educational
programmes/materials is key
to ensuring that these issues
are routinely addressed in
Christian communities at all
levels. Policies and plans that
explicitly acknowledge the
role of religious institutions in
addressing population and family
planning issues lay the foundation
for undertaking effective faith-
based programmes and activities. Integration into policies and plans also provides support and justication for
individual religious leaders who are engaging on these issues.
Step 1: Identify the issue—What problem are you trying to solve? Why is this important?
Begin by identifying the relevant policies/plans and educational programmes/materials for your institution,
and nding out whether these policies and plans address population and family planning issues.
Annex 1
provides information on the current policies/plans and educational programmes/materials of religious
mother bodies. However, these lists are not exhaustive and are likely to change over time (hopefully as a
result of your advocacy efforts!).
Policies and plans
Policies include both written policies and the unwritten rules that govern activities and behaviour in
your religious community.
Your efforts could focus on (a) crafting written policies to make guidance on
population and family planning issues more clear, and/or (b) changing unwritten rules that hinder efforts
to address these issues.
Where supportive policies already exist, your efforts could focus on improving
implementation of these policies.
• What policies and plans guide your religious community?
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• What policies (if any) hinder efforts to address population/family planning (FP) issues within
your religious community?
• In which policies/plans would it be appropriate to include population/FP issues?
• Do these policies/plans already address population/FP issues?
• If so, are they supportive?
To choose which policies to focus on, it can be helpful to consider
• Which policies/plans, if revised to include population/FP issues, would have the greatest impact?
• Are there any efforts ongoing to integrate population/FP issues into policies/plans?
• What other policies/plans are being developed or revised at the moment?
• How could you integrate population/FP issues into these policy processes?
Educational programmes
and materials
Educational materials may
include sermon guides (“daily”
guides), Sunday school curricula,
and pamphlets. Programmes
may include things like couples
retreats, youth activities,
workshops, and counselling.
• What educational programmes
and materials are used in your
religious community?
• In which of these
programmes/materials would
it be appropriate to include
population/FP issues?
• Do these already address population/FP issues?
•
If so, are they supportive?
To choose which educational programmes/materials to focus on, it can help to consider
• Which educational programmes/materials, if revised to include population/FP issues, would have
the greatest impact?
• Are there any efforts ongoing to integrate population/FP issues into educational
programmes/materials?
• What educational programmes/materials are being developed or revised?
• How could you integrate population/FP issues into these revised programmes/materials?
Step 2. Develop your goal (What change are you seeking?) and objectives (What intermediate
achievements are needed to reach this goal?)
Identify goals and objectives based on the information you gathered regarding policies/plans and
educational programmes/materials in Step 1.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Example 1: You discover that the MCC has a national HIV/AIDS programme, but no corresponding
programme for sexual and reproductive health (SRH). You decide to focus on creating such a national
programme and ensuring that it includes an emphasis on family planning, population, and development. You
believe that this would help the MCC and its member churches address population and family planning
issues routinely and consistently at all levels.
Goal: Ensure that the MCC and its member churches address population and family planning issues
routinely and consistently at all levels.
Objectives:
1. Create a national sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programme for the MCC, based on
church doctrine and best practices in sexual and reproductive health.
2. Ensure that the SRH programme includes an emphasis on family planning, population,
and development.
3. Secure approval of the programme by the General Synod and the Anglican Council of Malawi.
4. Achieve thorough implementation of the program at all levels.
Example 2: The content of worship services in your church is established through national-level
guidance in the form of a “daily guide.” You realise that the best way to incorporate population and
family planning issues into worship services is to ensure their inclusion in the daily guide, along with
the guidance and information needed by those leading the worship services to provide accurate and
supportive information to congregants.
Goal: Ensure that population and family planning issues are incorporated into worship services at all
levels on a regular basis.
Objectives:
1. Draft content on population and family planning issues for inclusion in the daily guide.
2. Secure approval of the content and its inclusion in the daily guide for the coming year.
3. Develop a follow-up plan and ensure that the guidance provided in the daily guide is used.
For example, regional or diocese-level committees could ask district- or zonal-level
representatives to nd out whether churches in their area have incorporated population/FP
issues into worship services as directed by the daily guide.
Step 3. Develop an advocacy strategy
Based on your identied objectives, use the key questions listed under Step 3 on page 11 as guides.
It is particularly important to consider
• Who has the power to incorporate population/FP issues into these policies/plans or
educational programmes/materials?
• How are these policies/plans and educational programmes/materials developed? (processes, timing,
key players, roles and responsibilities).
Your target audience(s), as well as avenues of inuence/entry points, will depend on the structure of your
institution, the policy development process, and your own position within the institution.
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Step 4. Implement your advocacy strategy
The worksheet on page 32 can help you bring everything together in a detailed action plan.
Step 5. Monitor and evaluate
What advocacy strategies/activities did you use? Which were most successful? Which need to be changed?
Which policies/plans and educational programmes/materials were revised to integrate population/FP
issues? What lessons did you learn? Moving forward, what is your new advocacy priority for integrating
population/FP into policies/plans and educational programmes/materials? Remember, this can include
strengthening implementation of existing policies.
Key Activity 4—Get population and family planning on the agendas of discussion
groups, events, and meetings.
Step 1: Identify the issue—What problem are you trying to solve? Why is this important?
Start by identifying discussion groups, events, and meetings that exist within your institution/community.
Consider focusing on those that (a) are most inuential, (b) reach the largest audience, and/or (c) you
have the best chance of inuencing.
Key questions include
•
What discussion groups/events/meetings are active/inuential within your religious community?
(see Annex 1 for ideas)
•
Are population and FP issues on the agenda of these groups/events/meetings?
•
Which of these groups/events/meetings, if they include population/FP issues, could have the
greatest impact?
•
Which of these groups/events/meetings do you participate in?
•
Which of these groups/events/meetings do you have access to?
Step 2. Develop your goal (What change are you seeking?) and objectives
(What intermediate achievements are needed to reach this goal?)
Develop advocacy objectives based on the discussion groups, meetings, and events identied in step 1.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Example 1: Population/FP issues are rarely included in the agendas of discussion groups, events and
meetings within my religious institution.
Goal: Increase attention paid to population and family planning issues within my religious institution.
Objectives
•
Ensure that population and family planning issues are included on the agenda of bi-annual
meetings of the National Executive Committee.
•
Ensure that population and family planning issues are included on quarterly meeting agendas for
the regional committee in all three regions.
Example 2: Population/FP issues are never included in the discussions of our women’s group.
Goal: Increase attention paid to population and family planning issues within my religious institution.
Objective: Include population and family planning issues in at least three women’s group meetings in the
coming year.
Step 3. Develop an advocacy strategy
Based on the objectives you identied, use the key questions listed under Step 3 on page 12 to guide you
in developing your approach.
It is particularly important to consider
• When do these groups/events/meetings take place?
•
Who participates in these groups/events/meetings? (key players)
•
When and how are they planned? How is the agenda set? (timing, key players)
•
Which of these key players are already supportive? Who else could be inuential
supporters/allies?
•
Who has inuence over the agenda/content of these groups/events/meetings?
When crafting your advocacy messages, be sure to clearly articulate the importance of integrating
population/FP issues into these groups/events/meetings.
Your target audience(s), as well as avenues of inuence/entry points, will depend on the structure of your
institution, your position within the institution, and the process for planning events/meetings described
under Step 1 above.
Step 4. Implement your advocacy strategy
The worksheet on page 32 can help you bring everything together in a detailed action plan.
Step 5. Monitor and evaluate
What groups, events, and meetings
included population and family
planning issues? What advocacy
strategies did you use to achieve
this? What messages and strategies
were most effective? Which need
to be revised? What lessons did you
learn? Moving forward, what is your
new advocacy priority for integrating
population and family planning into
groups, events, and meetings?
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Box 5. Planning a Population Weekend
“Population weekends” are interfaith awareness-raising and community mobilisation events
designed to increase understanding of family planning, population, and development issues among
Malawi’s religious communities. Various religious mother bodies coordinate to ensure that, on the
same weekend, religious leaders in churches and mosques throughout a specic geographical area
will all preach about these issues during their worship services. Accomplishing this requires multi-
level engagement from the national level all the way down to traditional authorities.
The idea of population weekends came about through government efforts to implement the
National Population Policy. The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD), in
collaboration with the USAID-funded Health Policy Project (HPP), reached out to mother bodies
to discuss how religious leaders could become involved in addressing population growth, family
planning, and development issues.
Step 1: National-level “buy-in”
Planning for a population weekend starts at the national level, as interfaith collaborations are
always a matter for religious institutions’ national-level leadership. Once mother bodies agree to
move forward with a population weekend, a joint task force is created to supervise implementation
and choose the date and location.*
Step 2: Creating a district-level planning team
Following the institution’s structure (see Annex 1), each mother body identies district-level leaders
to participate in a district planning team to further develop and implement activities.
EAM: The National Executive Committee agrees to participate and passes information down to the
Regional Executive Committee, and then to district executive committees in relevant districts.
ECM: The process of planning a population weekend begins at the national level, led by portions
of the Catholic Secretariat—the Catholic Health Commission, the Pastoral Directorate, and the
Research and Communications Commission. Together, these bodies agree on which dioceses to
engage. Then, the Catholic Secretariat contacts the diocese through the bishop and the diocese’s
pastoral secretary. This is done because the Pastoral Committee has the authority to instruct other
committees at diocese level to collaborate.
MCC—A desk ofcer within the Secretariat is assigned to work on the issue. Once a date and
location are selected, Secretariat programme staff discuss which member churches to engage at the
district level and identify one district-level leader to serve as coordinator for the population weekend.
SDA—The president of the session agrees to participate in a joint population weekend and passes
responsibility down to the regional president in the appropriate region, who passes it down to
district pastors.
Step 3: Planning activities
The leaders identied come together for an interfaith district planning meeting. The district
planning team determines which activities will be carried out in the district, and which churches
and mosques will be involved. Planning meetings should also include representatives from
traditional authorities and district government ofcials (such as the director of planning and
development, the district health ofcer, and the FP coordinator). Involvement from government
representatives is important. The district health ofcer and the FP coordinator are good sources of
information. Moreover, involving government partners keeps them “in the loop” about activities
that are being planned in their jurisdictions.
Population weekend activities vary by district, and even among churches within a single district,
depending on the interests and resources of participating churches. In addition to addressing
population and family planning in worship services, common elements include distribution of
information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and media engagement.
*The geographical divisions of different mother bodies don’t always correspond, so a “catchment area” is identied that may span
multiple districts.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Box 5. Planning a Population Weekend (continued)
Mobilising traditional authorities
The district planning team reaches out to the traditional authorities to sensitise and mobilise them,
and to include them in planning and implementation. This is necessary to ensure that activities will
be carried out all the way down to the community level.
The district planning team decides on a meeting date with religious leaders from traditional
authorities (TAs). TAs play an important role because they know their areas well and can identify
appropriate churches or other venues for carrying out activities. They can also identify a given
number of traditional religious leaders. These leaders attend the traditional-level planning meeting,
at which district-level activities are rened and the date conrmed. The TA-level group decides
which member churches to visit.
Step 4: Implementation
Tips: Based on our experiences implementing population weekends, we are able to offer the
following suggestions:
• Leave enough time to mobilise your fellow religious leaders (at least one month), particularly
as they may be in remote areas.
• Enact good plans (and follow up to make sure they have been carried out) to distribute IEC
materials to all participating churches, particularly those in remote areas, prior to the
population weekend.
•
Know and engage with local media outlets—this will increase coverage of your events and help
ensure that coverage is accurate.
•
Whenever possible, arrange media interviews ahead of time—this enables religious leaders to
prepare for the media engagement.
•
Make time to sensitise and build the knowledge of targeted leaders before moving ahead with
planning—religious leaders identied to plan population weekends may not have extensive
knowledge and understanding of population and family planning issues. Before moving
forward with planning activities, ensure that the leaders involved understand the information
you hope to share. Otherwise, congregants might receive inaccurate or conicting information,
which would undermine the goals we are trying to achieve.
Key Activity 5—Organise one-off events to mobilise, educate, and raise awareness in
communities about the linkages between population growth, family planning,
and development.
Organising specic awareness-raising and community mobilisation events is central to our engagement
as religious leaders. The planning process for these events is a bit different than the advocacy process,
because they are aimed at inuencing community members rather than decisionmakers.
Step 1: Identify the issue—What problem are you trying to solve? Why is this important?
Overall: There is insufcient awareness and understanding of the linkages between population,
evelopment, and family planning at the community level.
pecic: In my community, there is a widespread belief that the church is opposed to family planning
nd that having as many children as possible is God’s will.
d
S
a
26 v
Advocacy
v 27
Step 2. Develop your goal and objectives
Goal:
Raise awareness and change the attitudes and behaviours of community members regarding
population and family planning issues.
Objectives: Consider what types of mobilisation and awareness-raising events will help you reach
this goal.
Examples
1. Hold “population weekends” in 10 districts between January and December (see Box 5).
2. Hold “open days” in the same 10 districts between January and December (see below).
Step 3. Plan your events
“Population weekends” are one example of a one-off event that we, as religious leaders, have found
effective in raising community awareness about population and family planning issues. In Box 5, we outline
the steps in planning a population weekend to provide a better idea of the steps involved in planning
community mobilisation events.
Tip: Remember that population weekends are a special example. These events are organised starting at
the national level and involve interfaith collaboration. Not all community mobilisation activities require
such elaborate planning. You should brainstorm and think about other one-off activities you can conduct
in your community.
Step 4. Implement
The worksheet on page 32 can help you bring everything together in a detailed action plan.
Step 5. Monitor and evaluate
Think about how you will know whether your efforts have been successful. How will you know that you
have achieved your goal? The more specic your goals and objectives, the easier it will be to monitor
progress to determine if you are on track.
Open Days
Following the implementation of population weekends in 2014, mother bodies came together to plan
“open days.” Whereas population weekend activities are held in churches and mosques by the leadership
and congregation, open days are interfaith events
held at a select location in the district, in which all
community members are welcome to participate.
Open days also link community members with health
services, making FP and HIV testing and counselling
services available to participants.
Key Activity 6—Engage with the media to
increase coverage of population and family
planning issues and ensure that supportive
faith-based perspectives are included in the
national conversation about these issues.
Engaging the media is intended to support and make
transparent faith leaders’ positions on population
and family planning issues, to make their positions
more visible to their congregants,
and to contribute
to the national dialogue on these issues.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
There are two intended audiences for this section: (1) religious leaders as individuals, and (2) religious
institutions. For both audiences, this section offers things to keep in mind when speaking to the media
about population and family planning issues, and tips for coming up with successful media strategies.
Media engagement is a broad topic, and can’t be handled in great detail here. This section provides a few
key tips to help religious leaders and institutions as they engage the media on population, development,
and family planning issues.
Religious leaders’ media engagement has two main focuses:
1. Working with mainstream media to ensure that supportive faith-based voices are included in
the national conversation surrounding population and family planning issues.
2. Partnering with faith-based media outlets to encourage them to include conversations about
population and family planning issues in their programming.
Benets of working with the media
Working with the media has multiple benets for religious leaders. It can
•
Counter misperceptions that religious leaders are inherently opposed to family planning.
• Ensure that the media reports accurate information.
•
Demystify information about religious leaders and institutions’ positions for future reference.
•
Enable religious leaders to reach wider audiences.
•
Be cost-effective (media engagement can help you reach more people; sometimes journalists
and media outlets are willing to provide free coverage of important issues).
• Offer space for any views to be heard.
Moreover, keeping track of media coverage (number of stories, attitudes/language/focus) can help you
assess changes in attitudes to see whether your advocacy efforts are having the desired impact.
Tips for working with the media
When engaging the media, it is important to
•
Follow the media protocols of your religious institution.
•
Avoid conicting messages by identifying specic spokespersons at each level to handle
media engagement.
•
Choose the right spokesperson. Is this person at the right level? Do they have the authority
to act as spokesperson? Do they have sufcient knowledge and expertise? Are they able to
answer media questions in an interesting, engaging, and succinct way?
•
Prepare for media engagements. Discuss and agree on talking points ahead of time. Practice
making these points, and staying on point. Remember, you do not have to answer every
question you are asked. If a journalist asks an off-topic question, you can decline to answer and/
or use your response to bring them back to the topic at hand.
•
Use media engagements as an opportunity to clarify misunderstandings about the position of
Christianity on family planning and population growth.
•
Build relationships with individual journalists, editorial boards, and heads of media houses, and
maintain these relationships over time. This can help position you as a trusted source (making it
easier to get your story out) and allow you to increase these journalists’ awareness and
understanding of population and family planning issues, leading to more accurate reporting.
28 v
v 29
• Hold press conferences. This allows you to pick the topic, control the message, and decide who
should be in the room.
When selecting media outlets
•
Think about your audience. Who are you trying to reach? Which media outlets reach this
audience? (You may need to use several outlets to make sure you reach your entire audience.)
•
Consider topical as well as geographic coverage. What issue does this particular journalist,
publication, or programme cover? Make sure your story ts this topic. You may need to
tailor the “angle” to emphasise a particular aspect of your story (such as maternal health or
economic benets).
Cautions about working with the media
•
When speaking with the media, be clear on whose behalf (or what’s behalf) you are speaking
and don’t exceed your authority. For example, you could say, “I am speaking as an individual,
not on behalf of all Christians;” or, “I am speaking on behalf of the MCC.” Otherwise, journalists
may misrepresent your role.
• Do not underrate the media’s power to build and destroy—handle them with respect and care.
Key Activity 7—Spread the word!
The best way to raise awareness about population and family planning and to spread faith-based messages
on these issues is to talk about them. Think “outside the box” and nd your own opportunities to raise
these issues. For example, religious leaders are often asked to speak at weddings, funerals, and other
community events. Other ideas include speaking in minibuses or talking about family planning, population,
and development issues during one-on-one meetings with other religious leaders or congregants.
Every moment could be a “spread the word” moment. What will yours be?
4 CoNCLUSIoN
As Christian leaders, we hold positions of trust and respect, and as shepherds entrusted with the care
and safety of our communities, we have a responsibility to become engaged in addressing population and
family planning issues. Our population is growing so quickly that it is harming the health and well-being
of individuals, communities, and the country as a whole. Responsible parenthood and planning of families
can save lives and improve families’ health and economic situations.At the same time, it can help to slow
population growth, which will have widespread health, economic, social, and environmental benets.
We created this booklet to build on three years of interfaith efforts, and to help make addressing
population and family planning issues part of our everyday work as Christian leaders. In this guide, we
have offered information on the impacts of population growth, as well as the benets of healthy timing
and spacing of families.We have also suggested seven key activities that Christian leaders can use to
address population and family planning issues in our communities and institutions.
The creation of this guide is an important step, but it is only the rst step. Now it is up to us to take the
information and advice offered here off of the page and into the world.
30 v
v 31
worKSHeeT:
AdVoCACY IMPLeMeNTATIoN PLAN
32 v
Step 1—Identify the issue
What issue will you address?
Why is it important?
Step 2—Identify Goals & Objectives
Goal
Objectives (1)
(2)
(3)
Step 3—Develop an Advocacy Strategy
(1) Assess the situation
Key decision-makers: Relevant decision-making process(es)
#1
#2
#3
#4
(2) Identify your target
Level of
awareness
none,low,high
Neutral,
supportive,
or opposed?
What is important to them?
#1
#2
#3
#4
(3) Advocacy messages
Evidence needed?
#1
#2
#3
#4
(4) Avenues of inuence/entry points
#1
#2
#3
(5) Supporters and allies
How can they help? How will you engage them?
#1
#2
#3
#4
(6) Opposition and challenges
Arguments?
How will you engage/respond?
#1
#2
#3
#4
Step 4—Implementation
Key events / meetings
Dates
Notes
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#4
Activity planned
Resources needed
Responsible Person(s) Timeframe
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
Additional notes/information
v 33
ANNeX 1: INSTITUTIoNAL STrUCTUreS
To effectively incorporate population and family planning advocacy messages into the activities of religious
institutions, it is important to rst understand the internal structures, processes, and policies that guide
their activities. To assist readers in planning advocacy efforts, these annexes contain basic information on
the institutional structures, policies, and processes of Malawi’s four Christian mother bodies.
Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM)
National level
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) is responsible for the planning, operation, and management of
the Catholic Church’s national-level pastoral and social development activities. The Bishops’ Conference
is composed of two Metropolitan See (archdioceses)—namely, Blantyre and Lilongwe—and six dioceses
(Chikwawa, Dedza, Karonga, Mangochi, Mzuzu, and Zomba). This a total of eight Catholic ecclesiastical
jurisdictions under the leadership of archbishops and bishops.
The chairperson of ECM is elected from among the archbishops and bishops on a rotating basis. The
bishops meet two to three times per year in weeklong plenary sessions, and meet regularly at the Catholic
Secretariat for study sessions, committee meetings, Board of Governors meetings, and ecumenical meetings.
The Catholic Secretariat is the administrative body through which the ECM coordinates and implements its
resolutions and activities—animating the life of the Church at the national level. The Bishops’ Conference
appoints a secretary general to serve as the executive ofcer of ECM. According to the current structure,
the Catholic Secretariat is composed of the secretary general together with the heads of the Finance and
Administration and, Pastoral, and Development directorates, as well as the National Social Development
and Research and Communications commissions.
Currently, there are six active commissions:
•
Catholic Development Commission for Malawi (CADECOM), also referred to as Caritas Malawi
•
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
•
Catholic Education Commission
•
Catholic Health Commission
•
Pastoral Commission
•
Research and Communication Commission
The ECM’s national commissions are constituted by the Bishops’ Conference for a specic mission of the
Church. Each commission is chaired by a bishop, who is responsible for guiding its policies and tasked with
studying, recommending, and implementing its ndings in accordance with its mandate.
Dioceses (Regional) level
The Catholic Church in Malawi is divided into eight Catholic dioceses, including two archdioceses
(Lilongwe and Blantyre), each headed by a bishop or archbishop.
34 v
Figure 1. Catholic Secretariat
Bishops Conference
Director of Pastoral
(Pastoral Secretary)
Director of Finance
(Investment/Administration)
Director
(Social Development)
Internal Audit
Administration
Finance & Investment
Human Resources
Management
Catechetical Desk
Lay Apostolate and
Chaplaincies Desk
Vocations Desk
Interreligious
Diologue Desk
Bible Apostolate Desk
Religious Life Desk
Secretary General
CADEOM
(Caritas Malawi)
Catholic Commission
for Justice & Peace
Catholic Commission
for Education
Catholic Commission
for Social Communication
Catholic Commission
for Health
Monitoring &
Evaluation Desk
Figure 2. Linkages between National Level and Secretariat
Bishop
Finance, Investment &
Administration Committee
Director
(Social Development)
Administration
Finance & Investment
Human Resources
Management
Bishop Secretary’s Office
CADEOM
(Caritas Malawi)
Catholic Commission
for Justice & Peace
Catholic Commission
for Education
Catholic Commission
for Social Communication
Catholic Commission
for Health
Monitoring &
Evaluation Desk
Director of Finance
(Investment/Administration)
Diocesan Social
Development Board
Bishops Conference
Director of Pastoral
(Pastoral Secretary)
Catechetical Desk
Lay Apostolate and
Chaplaincies Desk
Womens Desk/ Youth Desk
Interreligious
Diologue Desk
Bible Apostolate Desk
Religious Life Desk
Secretary General
Pastoral Council
Director of Pastoral
(Pastoral Secretary)
Catechetical Desk
Lay Apostolate and
Chaplaincies Desk
Vocations Desk
Bible Apostolate Desk
Religious Life Desk
Interreligious
Diologue Desk
Administration
Finance & Investment
Human Resources
Management
Director of Finance
(Investment/Administration)
Internal Audit
CADEOM
(Caritas Malawi)
Catholic Commission
for Justice & Peace
Catholic Commission
for Education
Catholic Commission
for Social Communication
Catholic Commission
for Health
Monitoring &
Evaluation Desk
Director
(Social Development)
v 35
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Figure 3. Diocesan Level
Bishop
Director of Pastoral
(Pastoral Secretary)
Finance, Investment &
Administration Committee
Director
(Social Development)
Administration
Finance & Investment
Human Resources
Management
Catechetical Desk
Lay Apostolate and
Chaplaincies Desk
Vocations Desk
Interreligious
Diologue Desk
Bible Apostolate Desk
Religious Life Desk
Bishop Secretary’s Office
CADEOM
(Caritas Malawi)
Catholic Commission
for Justice & Peace
Catholic Commission
for Education
Catholic Commission
for Social Communication
Catholic Commission
for Health
Monitoring &
Evaluation Desk
Director of Finance
(Investment/Administration)
Diocesan Social
Development Board
Youth Desk
Pastoral Council
Parish level
At the parish level, the parish priest is head of the Church.Various committees operate under the parish
priest’s authority, including the Parish Pastoral Team (composed of the parish priest, sisters, and a catechist);
the Parish Pastoral Council (including leaders of various committees); and the committees themselves
(e.g., Christian Family Movement, Catholic Women Organisation, nance, liturgy, counsellors, youth, choir,
and catechist).
Associations / Movements
Several associations and movements are central to Catholic life in Malawi, including the Christian Family
Movement and the Catholic Women Organization. These associations play a vital role in advising the
ECM on issues within their areas of focus, and in implementing activities at all levels. As such, they are
harmonised within the commissions mentioned above.
36 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
List of Key ECM Structures and Individuals Whom You May Need to Engage
National Level Roles and Responsibilities
ECM (Bishops’ Conference) Meets 2–3 times per year, weeklong plenary
Chairman of ECM (one of the bishops or
archbishops, on a rotating basis)
Guides the proceedings of the conference
Vice-chairperson of ECM Acts as the ECM chairperson’s deputy
Catholic Secretariat National administrative body, through which ECM
implements its resolutions and activities
It is important that advocates are aware of the
structure and functions of the Secretariat.The
Secretariat may enable advocates to gain access
to the national decision-making processes of
the ECM. For example, the secretary general is
able to contribute items to the agenda of the
bishops’ plenary meeting; the pastoral secretary
and directors of national commissions can arrange
meetings with bishops about specic issues
outside of the regular plenary meetings.
Secretary General Heads the Secretariat
Director of Finance & Administration
Pastoral Council
Director of pastoral council/pastoral secretary
It is important for advocates to understand the
role of the Pastoral Directorate, as it has the
power to instruct other parts of the Secretariat
to coordinate (see Box 5 above).
The Pastoral Directorate is involved in establishing
and overseeing the educational and pastoral
programmes of the Church.
All of the associations mentioned below are
organized and operate under the Pastoral Council.
The pastoral secretary oversees several “desks”
that are particularly relevant for advocates using
this guide: the women’s desk, interreligious
dialogue desk, religious life desk, and youth desk.
Director of social development The director of social development oversees and
coordinates the Church’s activities regarding its
social engagement with society.
v 37
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
National Level Roles and Responsibilities
National commissions (part of Secretariat) One bishop is assigned the responsibility of
guiding a commission. Each is tasked with studying,
recommending, and implementing its ndings.
Catholic Development Commission for Malawi
(CADECOM)
The CADECOM promotes the livelihoods of
people within the communities served by the
Church and specically focuses on emergency
relief, food security, and gender issues.
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
Head of the Commission
The CCJP promotes the Catholic Social
Teaching (CST) and Church engagement with
socioeconomic and political aspects of Christian life.
Education Commission
Head of the commission
The Education Commission is responsible for
education policy formulation and review, as well
as the management of the Church’s educational
programmes and institutions.
Health Commission
Head of the commission
The Health Commission coordinates the
healthcare services and programmes implemented
by the Church.
Pastoral Commission
Head of the commission
The Pastoral Commission is responsible for
the organisation and coordination of pastoral
activities, lay apostolic activities, and liturgical
activities.
Research and Communications commission
Head of the commission
The commission is responsible for disseminating
information, instructing the Christian conscience
on pertinent issues with respect to the media,
guiding the local Church in media-related areas,
and collaborating with lay media professionals and
institutions.
Associations/movements Under the Pastoral Department, associations
and movements (youth, women, laity) play an
important role in the life of the Church.They
are very inuential in decision making and
implementation of Church activities at all levels.
Catholic Family Movement The Catholic Family Movement and Catholic
Marriage Encounter are associations whose
members are married.They give support and
instruction to other married couples on pertinent
issues, and offer guidance to youth and those
preparing for marriage.
Catholic Women’s Organisation The Catholic Women’s Organisation coordinates
the involvement of women in the life of
the Church at all levels.They are key to the
empowerment of women in relevant matters.
38 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
Diocese Level Roles and Responsibilities
Bishop Leader of the local Church
Vicar general Acts as the bishop’s deputy
Diocesan Council The bishop’s council of consultors
Diocesan commissions (Pastoral, CADECOM,
CCJP, Education, Health, and Communication)
Role is the same as at the national-level commissions
mentioned above, but at the diocesan level
Pastoral secretary As at the national level, the pastoral secretary
plays an important role, and is often the entry
point (along with the bishop) into decision-making
processes at the diocese level.
Diocese-level branches of associations/movements See above
Parish Level Roles and Responsibilities
Parish priest Local leader at the parish level
Parish Pastoral Team Advisory body to the parish priest, comprised of all
pastoral agents (parish priest, sisters, and catechist)
Parish Council Decision- and policy-making body composed of
all pastoral agents and leaders of associations in a
parish by representation
Table 2. List of Relevant ECM Discussion Groups, Meetings, and Events
National Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Associations/movements National-level meetings and gatherings of
associations and movements
ECM meetings (Bishops’ Conference) 2–3 times per year, weeklong plenary
Other bishops’ meetings at Catholic Secretariat Periodically throughout the year for study
sessions, committee meetings, Board of Governors
meetings, ecumenical meetings
Pastoral secretaries’ meetings The pastoral secretaries meet to organise pastoral
and liturgical activities in collaboration with priests
and lay associations and movements
Commission meetings See above
Diocese Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Associations/movements Diocese-level meetings and gatherings of
associations and movements
Parish Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Associations/movements Parish-level meetings, gatherings, and activities of
associations and movements
Parish Pastoral Team meetings Organise and coordinate pastoral activities at the
parish level
Parish Pastoral Council meetings Consultative body comprised of Church leaders
that advises the parish pastoral team and assists with
grassroots implementation of pastoral activities
v 39
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Table 3. List of Relevant ECM Policies / Plans and Educational Programmes / Materials
(a) Already include
population and family
planning issues, or
(b) May be suitable for
integrating population/FP
issues
Level Includes pop/FP? Notes
Policies / Plans
Sexual and reproductive health National Ye s Ye s The ECM Sexual and
Reproductive Health Policy
brings about a necessary
understanding of what the
Catholic Church believes
in and teaches regarding
human sexuality, marriage,
responsible procreation,
birth regulation, and family
planning
Child Protection National Ye s Ye s
Pastoral letters/Statements National Ye s Ye s
Humanae Vitae National Ye s Yes
Compendium of Catholic Social
Teachings (CST)
National Ye s Ye s
Family Planning Booklet for
Catholic Counselors (in process)
National Ye s Ye s
Educational Programmes / Materials
Catholic catechism National Ye s Ye s Compendium of all
Catholic teaching regarding
both faith and morals
Family Planning Booklet for
Catholic Counselors (in process)
National Ye s Ye s
40 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
v 41
Policy Development Process
Step 1: Bishops receive and discuss reports from commissions, associations/movements, and
other pastoral departments in their council meetings.
Step 2: If an issue is worth pursuing, a task force is constituted to conduct research.
Step 3:A study session on the issue is convened by the bishops.
Step 4: Decisions are made.
Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM)
National level
The Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) is an umbrella body for 108 churches and Christian
organisations (58 evangelical churches and 50 Christian organisations). At the national level,the EAM is led
by the Executive Board, under a chair and vice chair; the Secretariat operates under the Executive Board.
Members of the Executive Board are nominated by a general assembly of EAM’s 108 member churches.
The EAM Secretariat is headed by a general secretary and is divided into several departments.
Regional level
At the regional level, the EAM is led by three regional executive committees: (i) Northern (Mzuzu regional
ofce); (ii) Central (Lilongwe regional ofce); and (iii) Southern (Blantyre regional ofce)—each headed by
a regional coordinator.
District/Zonal level
At the district level, the EAM is led by the District Executive Committee, composed of pastors fraternal
from various churches.The committee supervises the activities of district-level forums/gatherings, including
Pastors Fraternal, Wives of Pastors Fraternal, and the Youth Forum. The committee also supervises the
implementation of social and development projects (specic to each district).
Church/community level
At the local church/community level, structures vary depending on the particular institutional arrangements
of EAM partner churches and organisations.
Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Figure 1. EAM Institutional Structure
The General Assembly:
Comprises of Member Churches
and Christian Organization
The Board:
Elected from the
General Assembly
The EAM Secretariat
Central Regional Executive
Committee: LL Regional Office
Southern Regional Executive
Committee: BT Regional Office
Northern Regional Executive
Committee: MZ Regional Office
EAM District Executive
Committees
Pastors Fraternals
Pastors Wives Fraternals
Youth Forum
Social and Developmental Projects
different in each district
Table 1. List of Key Players Whom You May Need to Engage
National Level Roles and Responsibilities
Executive Board National oversight (supervises regional
executive committees)
Policy and decision making
Decisions regarding interfaith collaborations
(such as population weekends)
Chair Leads the committee
Vice chair Leads the committee in the absence of the chair
Secretary and treasurer Administration and nance
Board members (elected by national assembly) Board supervision ensures that actions are in
accordance with policies of member associations
Regional coordinators (3) Serve as link between national and regional
levels—bringing concerns from regional to
national level and conveying national-level
guidance to regions
42 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
National Level Roles and Responsibilities
EAM Secretariat Divided into several departments; issues are
brought to the Secretariat by the commissions;
the Secretariat then brings the issues before the
board.
Population issues fall under the supervision of the
Ethics, Peace and Justice commission.The health
commission handles FP issues.
Departments/commissions (Health; Education;
Ethics, Peace, and Justice)
Pastors fraternal bring issues to the commissions,
which brings them to the Secretariat
General secretary Heads the Secretariat, sits on the Executive Board
National Assembly (of 108 member churches) Nominates members of the Executive Board
Regional Level Roles and Responsibilities
Regional executive committees (Mzuzu, Lilongwe,
and Blantyre)
Regional oversight and policy supervision
Conveying/implementing guidance from
Executive Board
Supervising district executive committees
Gathering information from district and
regional levels to convey to the national
executive committee
Regional coordinators (3) See above
Vice chairs (3) Lead committees in absence of the chair
Secretary and treasurer Administration and nance
District/Zonal Level Roles and Responsibilities
District Executive Committee Supervise activities of district-level
forums/gatherings
Supervise implementation of social and
development projects for the district (based on
guidance from Regional Executive Committee)
Chairman
Pastors fraternal Pastors fraternal are implementers who meet on
a monthly basis to discuss emerging issues and
encourage each other in spiritual life.They will be
central to implementation of this guide.
Secretary and treasurer Administration and nance
Parish Level Roles and Responsibilities
Pastors wives fraternals A fellowship group where issues of gender
are discussed, including those related to
family planning
Youth Forum A commission for youth and children that
conducts activities to foster Christian life of youth;
FP issues could be integrated into this forum
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Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Table 2. List of Relevant EAM Discussion Groups, Meetings and Events
National Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Executive Board consultations Brieng on population issues
Seeking mandate
General Assembly meetings
Regional Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Regional Executive Committee meetings
Regional training workshops and advocacy Periodic events, including awareness raising and
training of trainers
Parish Level Schedule / Responsibilities
District Executive Committee meetings
Workshops and trainings Campaigns and trainings for pastors, youth leaders,
spouses, and traditional leaders
Zonal trainings
Pastors fraternal meetings Monthly meetings
Pastors wives fraternals meetings
Youth Forum meetings
44 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
Table 3. List of Relevant EAM Policies/Plans
(a) Already include
population and family
planning issues, or
(b) May be suitable
for integrating
population/FP issues
Level Includes pop/FP? Supportive? Notes
Health Policy Guide National
and
regional
Y Y Slow progress—there are
many levels, so it can take time
to work through the policy
process.The policies will be
completed, but other pressing
challenges sometimes interrupt
the process, as attention is
pulled elsewhere (e.g., to the
oods in early 2015).
Environment Policy
(Disaster Management
Policy) (in progress)
National
and
regional
Y Y
Ethics, Peace, and Justice
Policy (in progress)
National
Within EAM, many policies and plans relevant to population and family planning issues are established at the
member church level.Advocates working to integrate these issues into the policies/plans of a particular member
church should start by consulting with other leaders about what policies and plans already exist within that
church, and how these could be improved to better address population and family planning issues.
Advocates seeking to affect the policies of all member churches need to work through EAM structures
at the national level, including the Secretariat and EAM leadership. These efforts would determine what
policies could be adopted, and how (within its mandate and mission) the EAM could encourage member
churches to do more to address population and family planning issues. For example, could EAM require or
encourage member churches to adopt policies on population and family planning, or integrate these issues into
existing policies?
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Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Policy development process
Religious leaders bring issues to the attention of the pastors fraternal, who take them to the appropriate
commission. The commissions are responsible for bringing issues to the Secretariat, which feeds them up
to the Executive Board. Some decisions require ratication by a vote of the General Assembly.
When a policy is completed, the EAM implements it by consulting with local members who use the policy
as they implement their own activities. Meetings are held with the pastors fraternal (at zonal level) and
consortiums implementing activities that incorporate FP issues into their projects.
Malawi Council of Churches (MCC)
National level
The Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) is an umbrella organisation for 25 Christian churches and 20 para-
church organisations in Malawi. At the national level, the MCC is led by a Secretariat, which is headed by
the general secretary. Responsibilities of the MCC include the following:
•
Promote the extension of the Kingdom of God by fostering closer cooperation and sponsoring
united action between churches.
•
Serve as a medium for united consideration of problems common to the churches, and act on
their behalf.
•
Act as a mouthpiece for members on matters of public importance.
•
Promote and
facilitate united action and cooperation with other churches and bodies outside of
membership in matters of common concern.
•
Serve as a communication link with other ecumenical organisations approved by the Council.
•
Foster theological dialogue among members to promote transparency, accountability, mutual
understanding, and (eventually) unity in obedience to God.
Regional level
The MCC has no formal subnational structures.
Instead,
MCC member churches have their own subnational
structures and organisations.
These include synods and secretariats for the Church of Central Africa
Presbyterian (CCAP).
The Anglican Church has dioceses, which also have levels of leadership extending
down to congregations.
Various other member churches have leadership structures for national, regional,
district, and community and congregation levels.
It is important to understand that, although these structures are individual to member churches, the
general setup for each body includes top-level leadership made up of the national executive, regional
executives, district executives, etc.
46 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
Table 1. List of Key Players Whom You May Need to Engage
National Level Roles and Responsibilities
General Synod Policy formulation—the role at the national level
is guidance/direction
Anglican Council of Malawi Policy formulation (for Synods)
Regional/Conference Level Roles and Responsibilities
Synod Policy formulation and enforcement of policy
Diocese
Presbytery
Arch-deaconry
Parish Level Roles and Responsibilities
Congregation/parish Implementation body
Prayer house/outstation Enhancement of implementation
Fraternity Interchurch district interfacing platform
Ward Enhancement of implementation at
community level
Groups (women’s, youth, choir, etc.) Specialised services
Table 2. List of Relevant MCC Discussion Groups, Meetings, and Events
National Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Indabas Top-level leaders meet to discuss and resolve
national-level issues. Indabas also occur at the
SADC regional level.
General Assembly Bi-annual meetings
Committees Various committees are established by the
General Assembly to handle issues as needed. It
is important for advocates to be aware of this,
as implementation of some activities described
in this guide could require the formation of
committees or subcommittees.
Seminars, workshops, etc. Varies
Regional/Diocese Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Presbytery (annual meetings) Annual meetings—identify issues for top or
bottom consideration
Dioceses Bi-annual meetings
Congregation/Parish Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Congregations/parishes (quarterly meetings) Establish and run development and other sector
meetings
Prayer house (weekly meetings every Wednesday
and/or Thursday)
Day-to-day running of the church
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Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
Congregation/Parish Level Schedule / Responsibilities
Home cells, teachings, preaching, weddings,
funerals
Each prayer house has several “home cells”—
groups of 5–10 people who meet weekly, led by a
church elder
Fraternity meetings, workshops, seminars, etc.
Wards Family meetings, publication of Sunday Periodical
Festivals, meetings, competitions, performances Planned from time to time (e.g., choir festivals,
fundraising, and development meetings to support
building churches)
Table 3. List of Relevant MCC Policies/Plans and Educational Programmes/Materials
(a) Already include
population and family
planning issues, or
(b) May be suitable
for integrating
population/FP issues
Level Includes pop/FP? Supportive? Notes
Policies/Plans
Pastoral letters National Pastoral letters are an
inuential tool for policy
making within MCC
Within MCC, many policies and plans relevant to population and family planning issues are established
at the member church level. Advocates working to integrate these issues into the policies/plans of a
particular member church need to start by consulting with other leaders about what policies and plans
already exist within that church.They should then determine how these policies/plans could be improved
to better address population and family planning issues.
Advocates seeking to affect the policies of all member churches should work through national-level
MCC structures, including the General Synod and the Anglican Council of Malawi.These efforts would
determine what policies could be adopted, and how (within its mandate and mission) the MCC could
encourage member churches to do more to address population and family planning issues. For example,
could the MCC encourage joint programmes and initiatives, urge member churches to adopt policies on
population and family planning, or integrate these issues into existing policies?
48 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
Educational Programmes / Materials
Buku la Chilangizo
(counselling booklet)
Regional Y—Indirectly:
mentions women
should space
their pregnancies,
but does not
specically discuss
family planning or
population
Y In need of updating
Programmes on
HIV/AIDS
(national level)
National N Similar programmes for
sexual and reproductive
health could be
established
Policy development process
Each member church has its own policy development process, dependent on issues core to its doctrines
and larger policy.
Church synod conferences are an important part of policy making. Synods meet to discuss a particular
issue (for example:What does the Bible tell us? What should we do?). Once a course of action is agreed
upon, implementation is carried out at lower levels.After a period of one or two years, the synods meet
again to report back.What is working? What needs to be changed?
The roles of the national level include compilation and direction, while regions/dioceses and parishes/
congregations (and still lower levels) mainly focus on implementation.
Seventh Day Adventists (SDA)
National level
At the national level, the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church is led by the Malawi Union. The Union is
headed by a president, selected by regional and external delegates during a session conducted every ve
years. The session is normally held at the world church headquarters in the United States of America.
Overall, the top priority of the church is evangelism (introducing someone to Christ).
Regional/conference level
At the regional level, the SDA is led by three regional conferences (central, southern, and northern), each
headed by a president.These regional conferences are responsible for all activities within the region.
Church/“district” level
Within the SDA, this “church/community” level is referred to as a “district.” Here, each SDA church is
headed by a pastor, who is responsible for implementing all church activities outlined by the regional and
national leaders, with support from the church elders.
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Faithful Voices: Christian Leaders’ Advocacy Guide on Population and Family Planning
National Level Roles and Responsibilities
Responsible for all activities and policies of
the SDA in Malawi, under the supervision
of the SDA’s Southern Africa-Indian Ocean
Division; supervises departmental directors;
the president chairs all meetings at both the
national and regional level, but may delegate
someone else for this purpose
Responsible for planning activities at the
national level, under the supervision of the
national president
Composed of all regional presidents and their
ofcers, as well as delegates (church members
selected at the regional level)
Roles and Responsibilities
Responsible for all church activities at the
regional level; reports to national president
Responsible for planning activities at the
regional level, under the supervision of the
regional president
Roles and Responsibilities
Responsible for all church activities within his
territory; church programmes and policies
are generally planned at higher levels, and the
pastors’ role is implementation
Elected on a yearly basis; report to pastors;
responsible for assisting pastors with
implementation of programmes/policies
National president
Departmental directors (national)
Executive Committee
Executive secretary
Chief nancial ofcer and administrators
Regional/Conference Level
Regional president
Departmental directors (regional)
Church/“District” Level
Pastor
Church elders
Table 1. List of Key Players Whom You May Need to Engage
Relevant SDA Discussion Groups, Meetings and Events
National level
• Executive Committee meetings (quarterly)
Regional level
• Regional presidents’ meetings (quarterly)
Church/“district” level
• Church retreats
•
Youth camping
• Camp meetings
• Men’s meetings
•
Women’s meetings
• Pastors’ meetings
50 v
Annex 1: Institutional Structures
Table 3. List of Relevant SDA Educational Programmes / Materials
Educational programmes/
materials that …
(a) Address population/FP
issues, or
(b) May be suitable for
integrating population/FP
issues
Level Includes
pop/FP?
Supportive? Notes
Youth counselling programme All levels Y Y
Women’s programme All levels Y Y
Health programmes All levels Y Y
Church retreats All levels Y Y
Family planning programme All levels Y Y
Family Life Programme
(updates planned)
All levels N - The church already has a
department that deals with
family life. SDA plans to
mainstream its activities to
include population growth
and development, which
were not original emphases
of the programme.
v 51
Futures Group (Health Policy Project)
Amina House, Unit 8
Off Paul Kagame Road — Opposite Cash Build
Lilongwe, Malawi
