WCC News: What can churches do to prevent modern slavery?

Jackline Makena Mutuma is clergy with the Methodist Church in Kenya and a student at the Ecumenical Institute at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, where her current research is related to the intersection of modern day slavery and global warming. She was also recently elected as one of the vice moderators of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order. In a WCC interview, she reflects on the urgent issue of preventing modern slavery. 20 February 2024 Her insights feed into the current campaign, “True Freedom,” developed by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with the Clewer Initiative.  In the interview, she especially speaks to the roots of modern slavery in her home country of Kenya. “The issue of climate change has affected children,” she says. “First of all, it begins with food insecurity. Due to climate change, people are unable to get food because farms are not producing food.” She describes how food insecurity leads families and children to make a horrific choice: either die of hunger or be victims of human trafficking. Mutuma also points out that, even before children become victims of human trafficking, they are denied access to education in Kenya, which makes them vulnerable.  “Right now, we are struggling with the economy,” she says. “Everything is very expensive in Kenya, including education.” Churches can make a tremendous difference in ensuring children don’t become victims of human trafficking, Mutuma says, including being a prophetic voice in advocating for societal change. She also urges pastors to develop sermons that address the issue. “Another role of the church is advocacy,” she says, which, she adds, churches should not leave to the rest of civil society advocates.  “How do we contribute as the church in policymaking?” she asks. “How do we influence the laws that are being made by the government?” She urges churches to go beyond producing statements—and act. “How many people read our statements?” she asks. “How many people even listen?” It is time for practical actions, she adds. “I’m a believer that words without action will never change the world,” she says. Download the True Freedom resource here Watch the True Freedom launch webinar here Churches and partners unite against modern slavery through new global Lent resource (News Release, 4 December 2023) WCC Churches' Commitment to Children See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland