The G20 brings together the world’s major economies to shape global decisions on finance, development, and growth, decisions that have far-reaching consequences for people and the planet. While these spaces are often dominated by political and economic interests, faith communities continue to play an important role in offering moral guidance, grounding debates in justice, dignity, and care for the most vulnerable.
It was in this spirit that faith-based organisations engaged around the People’s Summit, held alongside the South Africa G20 in November last year. Rooted in themes of climate justice, economic justice, and debt and Jubilee.
Faith actors then came together for a virtual Interfaith Liturgy on Global Inequality, intentionally timed to coincide with the World Economic Forum in Davos, where global political and economic elites convene. While decisions affecting billions were being discussed behind closed doors, faith leaders and communities gathered online to raise a prophetic voice for justice, dignity, and care for our common home
Through further collaboration and reflection, partners agreed to convene a virtual Interfaith Liturgy on Global Inequality, intentionally timed to coincide with the World Economic Forum in Davos, when global political and economic leaders gather. While those leaders met behind closed doors, faith leaders and communities came together online to raise moral and prophetic voices for justice. The webinar brought together 108 participants, with active participation from LSM South Africa Co-Leader, S’ifiso Ndwandwe.
Jubilee as a Call to Ecological Conversion: Hearing the Cry of the Poor and the Cry of the Earth
“In this interfaith gathering, the Jubilee story resonated as a living call to hear both the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth as one inseparable plea. Prayers, scriptures, and testimonies from across continents revealed how debt, inequality, and ecological breakdown are intertwined wounds in our common home, demanding not only policy change but ecological conversion of heart, mind, and system.
The liturgy moved us beyond words into a shared recognition that caring for creation and defending human dignity are the same spiritual task. As we proclaimed release, restoration, and justice, we were invited to rediscover Jubilee as a pathway to restore the right relationship—with God, with one another, and with the Earth itself—so that our faith may be expressed through advocacy, solidarity, and concrete action for a more just and sustainable world.” – S’ifiso Ndwandwe LSM South Africa Chapter leader and Executive Director of Shared Futures NPC.
Njoki Njehu from the Fight Inequality Alliance, who serves as Principal Political Advisor for Movement Building, reflected powerfully on the People’s Summit and the role of the liturgy within it. She described the Summit as an inspired space that allowed for deep conversation, shared learning, and collective imagination. “The Summit inspired imaginations in the planning. What is the world we dream of?” she noted, highlighting how music, art, culture, food, joy, struggle, solidarity, and alternatives were celebrated and interrogated together. She emphasised that the liturgy was a crucial presence of faith voices at a time when the world’s economic elites gathered in Davos, offering a prophetic call for justice and dignity. “We gathered to affirm our commitment to the struggles for justice and dignity for all,” she said, “and to declare Jubilee for People and the Planet.”
For the Laudato Si’ Movement, participation in this liturgy was a clear expression of our mission to place faith at the heart of movements for climate, economic, and social justice.
At moments when decisions affecting billions are made far from those most impacted, LSM Africa seeks to ensure that the voices of people of faith, especially from the Global South, are present, visible, and morally grounded. The purpose of this event was not only to pray together, but to witness together to connect faith with action, and to affirm that justice for people and care for our common home are inseparable.
If you would like to watch the Interfaith Liturgy on Global Inequality, you can view the recording here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq6SylqcF0k