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November 19, 2008

Water for the thirsty

Consultation told that churches need to step up involvement in international water issues

by Pat Cole
Communications Associate
Presbyterian World Mission

SACRAMENTO, CA — Jesus’ imperative to give drink to the thirsty is largely neglected by churches today, according to the head of two organizations dedicated to clean water access in the developing world.

David Douglas, founder of Waterlines and Water Advocates, addresses the Mission Consultation on Water.

“I’ve been hoping for this consultation for the past 20 years,” David Douglas told a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mission Consultation on Water Nov. 13–15 at Westminster Presbyterian Church here.  Douglas founded Waterlines, a group involved in clean water projects in 12 countries, and Water Advocates, an organization that seeks more government and private funding for access to clean water and basic sanitation.

“Water will be one of the three most important issues in the 21st century, along with food and energy,” Douglas told about 40 consultation participants, adding that positive efforts by Presbyterians on the water issue could influence other denominations.

At the end of the consultation the group decided to form the PC(USA)’s 34th mission network. Participants at the meeting included representatives from congregations, middle governing bodies, country mission networks and Presbyterian groups focused on water projects as well as General Assembly Council staff and international mission personnel.

Douglas mentioned several factors that hinder church involvement in international water issues.

First, he said most churches are not aware that 1.1 billion people lack clean drinking water and another 2.6 billion do not have adequate sanitation.  Though water-related diseases claim between 2 million and 5 million lives each year, Douglas noted that the issue has received scant media attention. 

Churches are also concerned with other pressing issues such as homelessness, AIDS and hunger.  However, he asked, “If we want to address hunger, can you do this without addressing water?”

Douglas said other factors contributing to inaction by churches are a focus on domestic water issues and a preoccupation with the debate on the ethics of private ownership of water.

He did not address the public/private debate in depth, but he said the primary concern should be bringing water to people that is “safe, affordable and sustainable.”

Acknowledging that the complexity of the problem often stymies church involvement, Douglas offered some suggestions for action at the congregational level:

• Participate in water projects in a region of the world where the congregation has an interest and an existing mission relationship.
• Advocate for legislation intended to provide more access to clean water and sanitation. He suggested they could join with Church World Service and other groups involved in public policy issues.
• Urge the denomination to hire a staff member to work on international water issues.  “Despite significant work of people in the faith community," Douglas said, “I think it is fair to say that no denomination in the United States has grasped at the highest level for a sustained time the importance of clean drinking water and sanitation.”
• Address clean water and sanitation issues from the pulpit. “This is the last taboo subject,” he said. “You hear ministers preach on AIDS, but not diarrhea (one of the most prevalent water-related diseases).”
• Get youth groups engaged in international water issues.  Many schools in the developing world lack clean water and students in the United States can link with a project that helps their peers in a developing country.

Douglas recommended that congregations seek assistance from faith-based groups with expertise in water projects, but he also noted that joint ventures with secular groups can be successful.

The Rev. David Dolan (left) of Los Ranchos Presbytery visits with PC(USA) Congo missionary Larry Sthreshley. Los Ranchos is involved in a number of water projects in Africa. Photos by Gail Bingham

He pointed out that the United States government has been increasing funding that organizations, including faith-based groups, can leverage for water projects around the world. He said that in 2008 $300 million was available for these projects, with $125 million designated for work in Africa.

Rajyashri Waghray of Church World Service gave the group an overview of that relief and development agency’s Water for Everyone program, particularly its efforts to network people with an interest in water issues. Those networks include global networks that link denominations and other groups across international boundaries to work on access to clean water, a network of U.S.-based constituencies that seek to influence their government’s policies on water, and networks that connect people who live in communities where clean water is scarce.

“Most Americans understand the word ‘citizen,’ but Global South citizens struggle to hold their government accountable,” she said. Yet Waghray, CWS’ director of education and advocacy for international justice and human rights, said she’s seeing more people in the developing world speak up.  She said she was especially encouraged that an increasing number of women are exercising their rights as citizens.

“Women are beginning to talk to local officials, and they are listening,” Waghray said.

The Mission Consultation on Water was sponsored by the PC(USA)’s  International Health Ministries Office and the Presbyterian Hunger Program.  Its organizers also included grassroots Presbyterians involved in water projects around the world.

To read more about the mission network formed, click here.