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The new president of Lutheran World Relief is a man with a diverse background – born in the Caribbean island of Jamaica, raised in the northern city of Toronto, professionally a professor of theology, and now the head of the international relief and development ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
The Rev. John Arthur Nunes spoke to The Christian Post on May 25 - just five days after he was elected by the LWR board of directors to head the organization as its fourth president.
CP: Jamaica is a country that is known for its beautiful resorts but also has a dark side filled with violence, drugs, and poverty. Do you think your early life in Jamaica will help you in your new role?
Nunes: Absolutely. I was born in Jamaica but only spent a few years there and then moved just outside of Toronto. So you are dealing with two very distinct and diverse communities. I was raised by parents who always instilled in us a sense of both sensitivity to that which is different and compassion to those who are in dire situation.
Jamaica is complex. It is the most beautiful in terms of aesthetic and the vacation wonderland, but it is also in dire poverty. Even Toronto … is a very multicultural place in the sense that people from all over planet have chosen to live there.
So my background gives me an innate sensitivity to the global character of Lutheran World Relief.
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CP: Professionally you are both a professor and scholar. What strengths from your educational background will you bring to LWR?
Nunes: Two distinct strengths from my academic background: One is my training in theology. At the root of all Christian humanitarian work is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is our motivation. It is what compels us to both speak words of love and to do works of love. So I think I am trained to look at humanitarian work, works of love, as growing from the root of our faith and that’s what produces this transforming fruit of advocacy, relief and development work.
The second thing is in my doctoral study. I have focused on post-colonialism and that gives me the awareness of the social and historical locations and causes of disparity in terms of people’s livelihood. In other words, post-colonial study really focuses on the consequences of global colonialism and its aftermath, which has been pretty disastrous for the most part economically.
CP: In your opinion, what is the most significant contribution former LWR president Kathryn Wolford has made to the organization?
Nunes: Wow. Kathryn is an amazing leader and I just shiver to think of succeeding her or walking where she walked. She helped the growth in the understanding of the accompaniment model because Kathryn started in the fields in Latin America. She has a great understanding of walking and working with people and living with people before you presume to have the solution to their situation.
The second thing is the sustainability model that Kathryn really implemented. Namely, that our job is not to create dependency but to work with people to create self-sustaining communities and individuals.
CP: What work would you like to build upon from her presidency?
Nunes: The great thing about assuming the presidency at LWR is the fantastically gifted, creative, and committed team. So there is an infrastructure already in place with a high degree of effectiveness and integrity - specifically, to build upon what I said before, the accompaniment and sustainability models.
I’m also very interested in exploring the whole notion of microeconomics and building economic sustainability in developing countries and role that LWR can play in that.
CP: What would you like to see LWR improve on?
Nunes: I’m very animated by the opportunities of working with the youth, and maybe it grows out of my prior experience working with young adults.
I’ve spoken at Lutheran youth gatherings with 40,000 youths and I work with young adults in the college setting. It strikes me that LWR has a strategic objective related to the development of young leaders. I think I can be very helpful in nurturing, grooming, and developing a program that would find ways to employ and deploy young leaders to make a difference in the world.
It would be people here in the U.S. who would be prepared specifically to put their faith into action in international settings for an extended period of time – from like 3-6 months to 2 years. They would engage in a whole sequence of reflection of what they learn and saw. We would develop some kind of college or youth core that would provide opportunities for young people to put their faith into action.
CP: What goals do you want to accomplish during your presidency?
Nunes: I have no idea (laughs). The first thing a president does is listen and he leads with his ears and that is what I intend to do. The team there is really exceptionally tuned in with what is happening around the world. I need to listen to them and I need to be out in the fields and listening to what is happening in local communities and then listen to the Spirit. Then I’m confident that I will have some ideas about this.
