wfn.org | Lutherans Should Speak Out for Human Rights

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 2, 1998

LUTHERANS SHOULD SPEAK OUT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
97-12-074-AH

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America should express concern for human rights violations in Nigeria,
according to an action taken by the church's Division for Global Mission
board at its meeting here March 20-22.  The board pointed to the Nigerian
military government's execution of political activists in 1995.
     ELCA members should urge the U.S. government to "exercise leadership
concerning human rights issues" and "press the Nigerian military government
to free political prisoners," the board said.
     Advocacy efforts in the 5.2-million-member ELCA are carried out
through its Division for Church in Society.  Much of the global mission
board's action is addressed to that unit.
     "These decisions come in the wake of the recent visit to Nigeria by
Pope John Paul II who also called upon the Nigerian government to release
political prisoners," said the Rev. Winston D. Persaud, Dubuque, Iowa.
Persaud, who chairs the board, teaches systematic theology at Wartburg
Theological Seminary.
     The board also encouraged churches in Nigeria "in their ministry to
promote justice, reconciliation and human rights" and asked the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) to promote dialogue about the situation among
Lutheran churches.  In 1996 the LWF expressed concern "about the impact of
long-standing military rule on Nigerian society."  The LWF is a communion
of 124 member churches including the ELCA.
     In a similar vein the board addressed human rights abuses and the
economic situation in Colombia. "More than 25,000 non-combatant civilians
have been murdered or have disappeared" since 1987, the resolution says.
     The board called upon ELCA members to pray for an end to human rights
abuses and encouraged the church to raise awareness among its members of
the situation in Colombia and to increase its advocacy efforts around the
conflict and related economic issues.
     The ELCA's 1990 Blueprint for Action on Central America and Caribbean
Concerns supports regional initiatives for negotiated solutions  to
conflict and "public policies that encourage dialogue."
     The LWF, World Council of Churches, Latin American Council of
Churches and National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. should be
commended for their pursuit of peace and reconciliation together with the
churches of Colombia, the board said.
     Persaud said, "These actions reflect a deep awareness that sisters
and brothers in Christ and people of other faiths are suffering, and we are
committed to lifting up their circumstances so that people become aware of
these situations and take some action to address them."
     Citing again the Blueprint for Action the board requested that the
ELCA inform its members of "issues concerning the closure of the military
education and training facility known as the United States Army School of
the Americas at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia."
     The board asserted, "The School of the Americas continues to train
military personnel from Latin America and the Caribbean in terror tactics,
torture techniques and the intimidation of their own people."
     The ELCA's statement, "For Peace in God's World," affirms that the
church will "give priority to opposing grievous violations of human rights,
including torture, and to prohibit U.S. military assistance which is used
by other governments to oppress their own citizens."
     In an action related to Cuba the board urged ELCA members to advocate
for an end to the embargo and to further this goal by relaxing restrictions
against humanitarian goods.  The Rev. Richard J. Meier, Rockford, Ill.,
called the embargo "a sin that needs to be rectified."
     In 1995 the ELCA voted to "work actively toward the goal of ending
the U.S. embargo against Cuba" as part of ongoing efforts to seek
reconciliation and normal relations between the United States and Cuba.
     Two international guests addressed the board -- the Rt. Rev. Gideon
Chang, bishop of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore, and Urszula
Bujnicka, vice president of the Consistory of the Evangelical Church of the
Augsburg Confession in Poland.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html