About BDM
About BDM
The Danish Moravian Mission (BDM) is a mission organization with ties to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark and a special relationship with the Moravian Church in Christiansfeld.
Currently, BDM primarily works in Tanzania, D.R. Congo, Burundi, Albania, and the West Bank (Israel/Palestine). The main purpose of BDM is to present the gospel, the Christian faith to human beings and contribute to the improvement of the lives of people living in poverty.
Mission is preaching, teaching and diaconia
It is mission when people – inspired by the Lord of the church, Jesus Christ, – take on responsibility for sharing the gospel.
The power carrying the mission is God, who wants all people to be saved.
Mission implies that God calls and sends, and we are willing to be sent.
BDM focuses on three areas
- Mission is the direct preaching. The Church proclaims through the ministry’s preaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments. The Church proclaims by supporting other churches.
- Teaching the faith is crucial in continuation of the Great command (Math. 28): preaching that those who have heard the gospel should also learn to keep all that Jesus Christ has commanded.
- Jesus showed us that he cares for the whole human being (body and soul). Responsibility for giving hungry food and sick medicine is part of the church’s diaconal effort.
Where do we work?
Tanzania
The Danish Moravian Mission (BDM) has a longstanding presence in Tanzania since its inception in 1922 when the first eight Danish missionaries were sent. BDM continues its work in partnership with the Moravian Church in four provinces: Rukwa Province centered around Sumbawanga and Kipili, Western Tanzania Province around Tabora, Sikonge, and Mwanza, and Lake Tanganyika Province around Kigoma.
The work includes health care initiatives, supporting bible schools and training clergy and evangelists, supporting a children’s home for orphans in Sumbawanga, vocational training and much more.
BDM has three missionary families stationed in Tanzania.
D.R. Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo), BDM works in partnership with the local Moravian church in Eastern Congo on various initiatives to address the challenges faced by the local communities. Operating an orphanage in Uvira, we offer children with disabilities a safe haven, providing essential care, education, and medical treatment. We also work to help the pygmy communities on the Tanganyika-South Kivu border. Additionally, BDM also supports church growth.
Burundi
BDM supports the growth of the Moravian Church in Burundi, where we have sent a Tanzanian missionary pastor.
Albania
From the church’s early beginnings in the early 1990s, BDM has supported the Lutheran Moravian church in Albania. BDM supports the young church with finances, church building, camp center, services, and education.
The West Bank (Israel/Palestine)
The rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, Star Mountain, is located about 25 kilometers north of Jerusalem on the important road from Ramallah, the capital of the Palestinian Territories, to the young university town of Bir Zeit.
BDM collaborates with Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center on projects to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the local community and schools in the Palestinian Territory, so that they can live a life with more dignity.
History of BDM
The story of the Danish Moravian Church began around 1415. That year, the Czech magister and theologian Jan Hus was burned as a heretic at the stake in Konstanz. His followers faced persecution but survived through the centuries. In 1720, and because of continued suppression, a settled at the estate of Count Zinzendorf in Germany, establishing a community that soon was called Herrnhut. In 1727, a spiritual awakening united the diverse believers, marking the founding of the Renewed Moravian Church.
Count Zinzendorf played a key role, and in 1730, his visit to Denmark ignited interest in the Moravian teachings. In Stepping, Denmark, the brethren established a society, contributing to the sharing of the gospel. Eventually, they founded Christiansfeld on land granted by the government, creating a thriving community with exemptions from taxes and military service.
The Danish Moravian Mission (BDM) was founded based on the congregation in Christiansfeld in 1843. At that time, it was known as Nordslesvigsk Missionsforening. In 1921, the name was changed to Danish Moravian Mission, emphasizing the “Danish” aspect in connection with the reunification of Southern Jutland.
Throughout the years, the congregation has supported missions in many countries, either independently or in collaboration with other Moravian congregations worldwide. Foreign mission holds a prominent place in the Moravian Church, and BDM is among the oldest mission societies in Denmark.
Code of conduct
BDM is dedicated to bearing witness to Christ’s love for all humanity and creation. In collaboration with Moravian churches and partners, we actively participate in God’s mission through preaching, education, and diakonia. We believe that our actions, not just our words, convey the gospel, making our preaching a tangible deed.
The realization of BDM’s mission is intrinsically tied to the individuals representing our organization. Therefore, we expect our representatives to lead a moral life that serves as an example to colleagues and the broader community.
At the core of our work is the adherence to a Code of Conduct, which serves as a fundamental guide for our commitment to ethical behaviour and responsible practices. If you wish to review our Code of Conduct, you can find it here.
Complaint handling mechanism
BDM strives to protect and show care for people with whom we come into contact in our work. We acknowledge that despite our best efforts, complaints may arise from time to time.
BDM values and welcomes feedback, including complaints, from the people we serve and serve with. We believe that constructively handling complaints improves the quality of our work and helps us comply with our policies and ethical standards. To ensure that we detect and correct unacceptable behavior and reinforce ethical behavior consistent with our mission and values, we have established a complaint handling mechanism. Read about our complaint handling procedures in our Complaint Handling Policy here.
If you want to submit a complaint to BDM, you can use the following avenues:
- Report a complaint orally or in writing to BDM’s employees in the local area (from where the complaint originates).
- Report a complaint orally or in writing to BDM’s general secretary.
- The general secretary’s contact information can be found here
- Written reports can also be sent to the postal address of the secretariat:
Nørregade 14, 6070 Christiansfeld, Denmark. Att. The General Secretary.
- Report a complaint orally or in writing to BDM’s complaints officer
- The person responsible for complaints and the person’s contact details can be found here
- The following e-mail address can also be used: submitacomplaint@bdm-dk.dk. The email must contain a description of the case or situation.