Revision of the author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2015 under title: From anesthetic to advocacy through Mission as Accompaniment : towards a more effective response from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Global Mission to Mechanistic Dehumanization.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-286) and index.

1. Introduction -- 2. Mechanistic dehumanization -- 3. Mission as accompaniment -- 4. The olive agenda -- 5. Ubuntu -- 6. Toward a response to mechanistic dehumanization -- Conclusion.

Mission as accompaniment emerges from both Latin American theology and a development methodology; it involves "walking together in solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality" and is thus viewed as a suitable foundation to counteract dehumanization. This study argues that mission as accompaniment has not yet offered an adequate response to mechanistic dehumanization. It argues further that two additional elements-the African concept of Ubuntu, and an Olive Agenda-when integrated into mission as accompaniment, will better equip church companions to respond more effectively to mechanistic dehumanization.