Debate, Borg diocese | The People’s Church’s comprehensive care service

“Without the conversations with the church’s deacon, I would not have been able to stand on my feet in grief. The deacon had time, she listened and she helped me start to get out. Now I regularly participate in the walking group that the church runs together with the Volunteer Centre. Life smiles a little again.”

The quote above tells of a person who has received support from the church in a difficult life situation. Perhaps you are not aware that the church has extensive social work called diaconia? Diakonia is about how the Christian values ​​of humanity, human dignity and justice are shown in actions. The church’s diaconal work addresses all people, regardless of faith and outlook on life.

Diakonie is Greek and means to serve. Diakonia is about serving/serving or supporting and helping people. The church’s employed deacons have university education in health and social studies and have great professional expertise in assisting people in grief, crises and various life challenges. The deacons have a very varied work day; they work with bereavement support, integration and work for refugees, substance abuse and mental health, inclusion, meeting places and conversations for young people, they work with elderly care, food distribution and work for people with disabilities.

Creates meeting places and prevents alienation
The diaconal survey Borg diocese does every year shows a wide range of diaconal offers that are aimed at both individuals and groups of people of different ages. The measures are run by professional deacons together with voluntary staff, and often in collaboration with other civil society actors and municipalities. Based on knowledge from public health surveys and other relevant sources of information, new diaconal measures are constantly being developed to contribute to a good society where it is good to live for more and more people. Language cafes, meetings for the elderly, walking groups, knitting cafes and much more are run to contribute to good meeting places that prevent alienation. Currently, we have a particular focus on contributing to safe meeting places for young people. In this context, deacons and volunteers are present where young people meet outside in the spring, to make Russian meetings and other youth events safer for everyone.

Life mastery
The number of people in today’s society who experience loneliness and alienation is increasing and many express a need to have someone to talk to. This need is also shown in the increase in the number of conversations and grief groups in 2023. This is not only about grief work from the priest in connection with funerals, but is a free conversation offer for everyone regardless of faith and outlook on life. The call offer In Borg diocese has had an increase of 46% from 2022-2023, 8,380 calls in 2023 compared to 5,724 in 2022. There are also offers for bereavement groups throughout the diocese, in 2023 there were 203 bereavement groups. These discussion arenas function as a good supplement to the municipalities’ discussion services through health nurses, psychologists and other services. The church’s offer is open to everyone, no referral is required and it is free. Deacons and priests can talk to people about anything that is on the heart of those who need a conversation.

Work for human dignity and human rights
But diakonia is about more than helping and supporting people in vulnerable situations. Diakonia also has a fighting side, which fights for justice. Diakonia has a warm heart, but also a clenched fist that is raised when people’s and nature’s rights are violated. The Folkekirken in Norway will contribute to a society where everyone treats each other as real equals, regardless of functional variation, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, age. The church will contribute to strong democratic resilience in the people, so that together we expose degrading and destructive attitudes and actions. We work to strengthen freedom of belief and outlook, for justice for refugees, and support the natural part of indigenous peoples and other minorities in Norwegian society.

The Norwegian Church’s diaconal community mission takes our 7,000 volunteers, 650 council members and 950 employees in 102 parishes in 29 municipalities very seriously. We create more heaven on earth for young and old, on Sundays and weekdays throughout the year. There is room for more in this important work. Everyone can contribute. Everyone can receive.