wfn.org | ALC News Service April 27, 2003

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ALC NEWS SERVICE
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HEADLINES

ARGENTINA: Evangelical Churches call on faithful to vote Sunday with common 
good in
BRAZIL: Young Methodist prepare pre-continental assembly
ECUADOR: CLAI expresses concern about repression of opposition members in
Cuba
NICARAGUA: Evangelicals reject tax reform
PERU: Union of Evangelical Christian Churches created in Peru

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ARGENTINA
Evangelical Churches call on faithful to vote Sunday with common good in

BUENOS AIRES, April 23, 2003 (alc). Ten Argentina Evangelical Churches 
called on citizens to vote next Sunday in presidential elections with 
common good in mind as opposed to just individual or sector interests.

On April 27 25 million Argentines will elect President Eduardo Duhalde's 
successor from 19 candidates.

Duhalde was named by Congress in December 2001 to replace Fernando de la 
Rua, who resigned when he was unable to face Argentina's social and 
economic crisis. Duhalde was to complete de la Rua's mandate, which was up 
in December 2003, but decided to hold presidential elections early.

Evangelical Churches invite citizens to vote thinking about both the 
immediate and long term common good so that present and future generations 
can life with dignity and happiness.

They warn that some people will not vote because they believe that the 
electoral system and the behavior of many party leaders do not provide 
sufficient guarantees to ensure that the results will be peacefully accepted.

Others may decide not to vote because they believe that the people and 
proposals are not capable to carrying out the profound changes the country 
needs.

  However, according to the Evangelicals these elections continue to be an 
opportunity to elect a government and to bring about change, even though 
the possibilities may be limited.

Evangelical Church members of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) 
called on citizens and leaders and members of political parties, movements 
and social institutions in general to assume wise and non violent attitudes 
regarding the different options.

Finally, Churches affirm that only through the daily, honest exercise of 
citizenship marked by solidarity will it be possible to envision a better 
future. To the contrary the injustice and corruption will overthrow dignity 
and life that resists being annihilated.

The statement is signed by the Waldesian Evangelical Church of the River 
Plate, the Evangelical Methodist Church, United Lutheran, Disciples of 
Christ, Reform, Church of God, Evangelical Church of the River Plate, 
Congregational Church, the Christian Biblical Church and the Anglican 
Diocese of Argentina.

Among the plethora of candidates none are expected to obtain the necessary 
45 percent to win in the first round of voting The two leading candidates 
will face each other in a run off May 18. The new president will take 
office May 25.

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BRAZIL
Young Methodist prepare pre-continental assembly

SAO PAULO, April 23, 2003 (alc). Under the theme "The Kingdom of God and 
His Justice, our celebration and commitment" more than 40 young people from 
Latin America and the Caribbean will meet May 13 - 16 in the Methodist 
Youth Pre-Assembly.

  The meeting on the Taquaral Campus of the Methodist University of 
Piracicaba (Unimep) constitutes the pre-youth assembly prior to the VIII 
General Assembly of the Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America and 
the Caribbean Council (CIEMAL) that will meet on the same site from May
17-22.

Young people from the World Committee of Methodist Youth (WMCYC), 
Methodists United to Represent the Cause of Hispanic Americans, (Marcha), 
the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA), the Latin 
American Council of Churches (CLAI) and the Student Christian Movement 
(FUMEC), have been invited to attend the pre-Assembly.

Delegates will meet with the Executive Secretary for Youth from the Global 
Ministries Board of the United Methodist Church of the United States, 
Tamara Walker and with the executive secretary of CIEMAL, Aldo Etchegoyen.

Methodist youth will address mission and will develop strategies, they will 
evaluate the social, political, economic, cultural and religious context of 
Latin America, to be presented by Anivaldo Padilha. He will talk about 
globalization and its effects on faith, economics and society.

The Rev. Sergio Gama will focus on the Methodist identity and the legacy of 
Wesley and Pastor Paulo Garcia will address the issue "The Kingdom of God 
and His Justice, our faith and commitment." Young people will draft a 
continental and world action plan and a manifest that will be taken to the 
CIEMAL assembly.

The manifest, said the continental coordinator of the Youth in Mission 
Program of CIEMAL, Joyce Torres Placa, will express their expectations and 
the mission of young people in the face of the challenges presented by 
society. It will constitute the voice of young people at the VIII CIEMAL 
assembly, she said.

The new Youth Team will be elected at the pre-assembly and will assume the 
coordination of the Youth in Missions Program for the next five years.

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ECUADOR
CLAI expresses concern about repression of opposition members in Cuba

QUITO, April 23, 2003 (alc).  In an open letter to the government of Cuba, 
he Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) Board of Directors expressed 
concern about the use of force and repression against those who politically 
oppose the Fidel Castro regime.

The document, disseminated Tuesday, said that CLAI "feels legitimately 
satisfied for raising the flag of human rights where these rights have been 
violated, both within and outside of Latin America."

"This position is coherent with the values that we consider essential in 
the Biblical message: dignity, solidarity, mercy and our conviction that 
human beings are made in the image and likeness of God," it added.

"We are profoundly concerned that in recent times governments and power 
groups are turning to hegemonic and unilateral force to impose their will, 
breaking international law," it said.

"The war against Iraq, economic adjustment policies imposed on our people, 
repression against political opponents, acts of terrorism, are examples of 
a growing violence that is imposed in relations between groups of people 
and between nations," it said.

"The use of force is not a sign of strength, but of weakness and turning to 
force frequently expresses an inability to dialogue and use reason," the 
document stated.

"We are concerned about the force and repression used in recent weeks by 
the Government of Cuba against those who politically oppose them, including 
extremely high sentences and death by firing squad, after a summary 
judicial trial, imposed on three people who hijacked a plane," said the 
Latin American ecumenical body.

"We know that the people of Cuba have been the victims of terrorist acts, 
some particularly repugnant such as placing a bomb in a commercial flight, 
and that many of those responsible continue to enjoy impunity given the 
illegal and arbitrary protection they have found in countries on the 
continent."

"We also know that illegal emigration and its tragic consequences in the 
loss of innumerable human lives as well as the generation of illegal acts 
such as hijacking planes and ships, is the result of a migratory policy 
implemented by successive US administrations."

"We recognize that the inclusion of Cuba among countries that constitute 
the so-called "axis of evil", the continuation of the unjust economic 
blockade that has been declared illegal by the United Nations provokes a 
natural defense mechanism," it added.

It added that,"provocative action on the part of foreign diplomats on their 
soil are factors that contribute to creating a climate of harassment."

"However, we do not believe or accept that this justifies the use 
of  excessive force against people who peacefully protest or the violation 
of the human rights of their citizens. For this reason we call on the 
Government of Cuba to respect universally sanctioned human rights," the 
letter states.

Cuba "has the right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, 
but there is a need to distinguish between national security and the right 
to dissent."

It stated that the right to freedom of opinion and expression, to 
investigate and receive information and to disseminate it, by any means of 
expressions as well as the right to hold and freely manifest different 
opinions are rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
and other international bodies, of which the government of Cuba is a
signatory.

  Finally, CLAI declared that it holds Cuban prisoners and their families 
in its prayers, the Government of Cuba so that the wisdom of God inspires 
and guides its actions, groups of opposition members inside and outside of 
the country so that, in a framework of strict respect for legality, they 
seek dialogue.

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NICARAGUA
Evangelicals reject tax reform

By Trinidad Vasquez
MANAGUA, April 24, 2003 (alc). Evangelical Churches, non-government 
rganizations and grassroots sectors raised a voice of alarm about a tax 
reform project under which even medicine and used clothing donations will 
apparently be subject to taxation.

The Pro-Denominational Alliance Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD) 
called on its pastoral committees and member Churches to protest and to 
demand a clarification about the negative impact of this tax reform.

CEPAD invited the second vice president of the National Assembly Orlando 
Tardencilla to a meeting Tuesday and former Congresswoman Dora Maria Tillez 
in order to analyze the socio-political crisis in Nicaragua.

Tardencilla told the CEPAD Assembly that up until April 22 there was no 
information about the so-called tax equity project as the executive branch 
was keeping it under wraps. He added that extra-officially he has been told 
that it includes hidden taxes that hit hardest at the poor and the Churches 
will be affected.

He added that the priority of the Assembly will be the approval of the law 
that will ensure equal opportunities for women One business sector is 
opposed to the project, affirming that it promotes abortion or same-sex 
marriages.

Tardencilla also affirmed that he will request reforms for the most polemic 
articles that have sparked opposition from both Catholics and Churches 
affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance.

The congressman also said that of 25,000 professionals in Nicaragua only 
4,000 pay taxes and that there are private universities sheltered in 
foundations or NGOs that do not pay taxes but charge students US$200 or 
more each month. There are also public officials who earn US$5,000 - $8,000 
each month as advisors and only pay taxes as state employees.

Dora Marma Tillez, former health minister under the Sandinista government 
said that even rice will face a higher taxes under the tax reform project 
and that cooperatives and Churches will be affected as they will have to 
pay taxes on donations for rural communities.

There is a need for political will so that the richest pay more and the 
poor are not affected, he said. There are business sectors that do not pay 
taxes and others that only pay a fixed amount, she said.

Rufino Lucas, CEPAD delegate in the Northern Atlantic region said that 
legislators always forget this region where the basic family food basket 
costs twice as much as it does on the Pacific because of the high price of 
fuel.

Professor Gilberto Aguirre, director of the CEPAD program denounced that 
the majority of green, red, black and other politicians have destroyed the 
country, increasing poverty and usurping goods for their own benefit.

Pastor Roberto Rojas, president of the Evangelical Alliance of Nicaragua 
also rejected the tax reform project and announced an energetic statement 
from Churches because the project will clearly have a negative impact on 
Nicaragua's poorest communities.

Finally, Pastor Adolfo Sequeira, president of the Inter-Church Center of 
Theological and Social Studies (CITES) rejected all reform that seeks to 
increase taxes for people and the Churches.

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PERU
Union of Evangelical Christian Churches created in Peru

LIMA, April 24, 2003 (alc).  Leaders from several Evangelical Churches and 
communities legally constituted an entity called the Union of Evangelical 
Christian Churches of Peru (UNICEP) last Tuesday.

  UNICEP, according to the approved statutes, is a religious, fraternal 
association, representing Evangelical Churches, missions and para-Church 
ministries in Peru.

The new organization seeks to represent its members before the State and to 
Promote Evangelism, culture and values; to offer its opinion about ethical 
and moral aspects that affect the nation and to contribute to upholding the 
testimony of the Churches and their ministers before society.

  The April 22 meeting was attended by leaders from the Biblical Emmanuel 
Church, the World Missionary Movement, the Way of Life Church, the Living 
Christian Center, the Biblical Christian Center, among other Churches and 
Christian communities A temporary board of directors was elected for one 
year and mandated with determining the mechanisms to join and participate 
in UNICEP, promoting the incorporation of new members and convening a 
constitutive assembly in March 2004.

The Board includes Pastor Robert Barriger, of the Way of Life Church as 
president and Otoniel Pardo of the Jesus is Lord Christian Community as 
vice president. Alicia Estremadoyro of the Christian Biblical Community is 
secretary and Pastor Miguel Bardales of the Biblical Emmanuel Church is 
treasurer. Pastors Humberto Lay and Hernan Paredes are also board members.

Leaders of UNICEP clarified that the new organization was not created to 
oppose the National Evangelical Council of Peru (CONEP) but rather is open 
to dialogue with that body and all Evangelical sectors.

The initiative to create this new organization emerged last month after a 
congressional debate about Constitutional reform and the approval of an 
article about the relationship between Churches and the State.

The Inter-Confessional Committee, that includes the participation of the 
Bishops' Conference and CONEP, Evangelical Churches and the Jewish 
Community, put forward a text that states "within a regime of independence 
and autonomy, the State recognizes the Catholic Church as an important 
element in the historic, cultural and moral formation of Peru and offers 
its collaboration."

It then added that the "State recognizes and respects all religious 
confessions and establishes collaboration agreements with them through 
their representative bodies, with a criteria of equity."  These texts were 
approved by congressmen and form part of the Constitutional reform project.

Evangelical Churches, who do not form part of CONEP, said the text was a 
concession to the Catholic Church and a betrayal of the demand for full 
religious equality. The different Churches agreed to form a new body and to 
elect a committee that elaborated the statutes that were approved last
Tuesday.

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