wfn.org | ALC Noticias May 23 2004 Argentina Chile Brasil Dominican

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

ALC NEWS SERVICE
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ALC HEADLINES:
ARGENTINA: Expert presents Christian position regarding environmental
problems
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Evangelicals reject having received exonerations from 
the State
CHILE: From a small happy people to a Church concerned about growth
CHILE: Meeting of confessional families ended with a call to unity
BRAZIL: Lutherans from the Southern Cone analyze problems facing young women

ARGENTINA
Expert presents Christian position regarding environmental problems

BUENOS AIRES, May 17, 2004 (alc). We are convinced that all ecological 
problems have a known technical solution, however, these solutions will be 
absolutely insufficient if they are not accompanied by political will 
marked by social justice, which is why we participate in the Global 
Environmental Citizenship Program, said Alfredo Salibian.

The Latin American Council of Churches representative made this statement 
at the official launch of the mentioned program in Argentina on May 13 in 
the Senate.

The event was attended by a Latin American Parliament delegation, the 
general project coordinator, Lorena San Roman, authorities from Argentinas 
Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat as well as the CLAI 
regional secretary for the River Plate Juan Gattinoni, and the CLAI 
representative to the Environmental Citizenship Program , Ernesto Sinka.

Saliban noted that Latin American Churches and Christian organizations, and 
Argentine in particular, agreed to join the program because of their clear 
Biblical commitment to be stewards of creation and the conviction that 
individual action should be social in its effect and impact.

Individualism leads the human being to construct an unsustainable 
dichotomy: in order to ensure their existence they abuse others and the 
environment where they live.

The commitment of the Latin American Christian Church was adopted and 
strengthened based on the observation of concrete organizations, as a 
consequence, among other factors, of the imposition of economic models and 
neo-liberal policies which, for being brutal, unfair and anti-democratic, 
have threatened the survival of a high percentage of our compatriots, he said

As a consequence of this process, 225 million Latin Americans are poor, 100 
million are indigent and the 10 richest percent receive 30 times more 
income than the 10 poorest percent.

We are experiencing a complex process of deterioration and appropriation of 
our natural resources that are gradually passing over to the management of 
transnational corporations and interests, some of which have sad histories 
and extensive anti-environmental trajectories, he warned.

One example is the virtual imposition of soy crops in Argentina and the 
surrounding area, with their adverse effects on the structure and 
biodiversity of the ecosystems. In the south of the country, the joint 
effects of the climate change and the thinning of the ozone layer, affect 
the structure, productivity and dynamic of the eco-systems and scientists 
anticipate possible damaging effects on the health of many compatriots, 
said Salibian.

A program like this could provide a window through which we have the hope 
of a new harmonious relationship with the environment. We believe that the 
hour to ecologize the economy has arrived, the time to invest the current 
economic pro-consumer rationality, placing it at the service of life, he
said.

Economic efficiency comes before environmental efficiency and only harvests 
contamination, deteriorating living conditions, dependency and greater debt.

Argentines or human beings from other countries, for example, do not 
consume soy. Rather it is food for cattle, fish, and used to produce 
adhesives, plastic, soap, etc. They take the nutrients from our soils and 
leave us pollution and deterioration, he said.

For CLAI, the Program fits into a Fullness of Life Project. A new person is 
possible and will survive when and if they are integrated into nature. Our 
theology is not a theology of prosperity. We have opted for theology that 
promotes the integral liberation of the human being and their health link 
to the environment.

People from Churches are not alienated, concerned about otherworldly 
things. To the contrary, in line with the teaches of Jesus Christ, we lived 
immersed in the great society of our peoples and cities, it is there where 
we want to participate and contribute. This is why I agreed to join this 
Program, concluded Salibian.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Evangelicals reject having received exonerations from the State

SANTO DOMINGO, May 17, 2004 (alc). The president of the Evangelical Unity 
Confederation Reynaldo Franco Aquino rejected news reports in El Nacional 
that stated that State security organizations are investigating the use of 
special facilities to import tax-free vehicles granted religious 
congregations and Evangelical pastors by the government.

The same publication affirmed that some congregations and Evangelical 
Church pastors benefited with up to 20 tax breaks to bring cars and busses 
into the country that were later sold.

Franco Aquino denied that this institution, which represents Evangelical 
Churches, has received exonerations and added that members of CODUE have 
also not benefited. He called on State intelligence bodies that, according 
to El Nacional, provided the information, to clarify if it is correct.

The CODUE president told the daily Hoy that he would contact the National 
Investigations Department, together with a commission of pastors, to 
request that the issue be clarified.

He said that CODUE receives around $17 million from donations from Europe, 
the United States and other parts of the world and therefore does not need 
tax breaks and has not received them.

We continue to believe that the Evangelical Church constitutes a major 
part of the nations moral reserve and we call on State security bodies to 
provide a public and clear report as a result of these investigations, 
said Franco Aquino.

The Dominican Confederation of Evangelical Unity has not signed, in the 
present government period, a single tax exemption request, he added. He 
did not rule out the possibility that government officials have granted tax 
exemptions to individuals without the due institutional representation, as 
was the case in previous governments.

We cannot evaluate the situation because we do not have any control over 
those cases, he said.

In his statements to Hoy, Franco also did not rule out that there are 
groups that want to hurt the evangelical Church after it signed the social 
pact, although he said he could not accuse anyone directly.

CHILE
 From a small happy people to a Church concerned about growth

By Manuel Quintero
SANTIAGO , May 19, 2004 (alc). What does growth mean? Should the emphasis 
be on quality or quantity? Why and how to grow? These questions were 
debated on the third and final day of the Second Meeting of Latin American 
Confessional Families that brought together 65 bishops and Church 
moderators from 15 countries in the Chilean capital.

This is an issue that demonstrates fundamental changes in Churches that, up 
until recently,  sang we are a small, happy people with great conviction 
and today are committed to Evangelical efforts that do not neglect 
numerical growth.

According to Pastor Hector Petreca, one of the panelists and president of 
the Christian Biblical Church of Argentina, some answers are more or less 
obvious. Strong Churches are not built on programs, personalities or 
tricks, but on the Salvationist purposes of God, he said.

In his own Churches these aims focus on five fundamental areas: adoration, 
ministry, evangelism, communion and discipleship, Evangelism is to simply 
go and make disciples, said Petreca, whose Church, founded in 1973, has 
extended across the nation and now has a membership of more than 25,000.

He added, The Church exists to make Gods word known. If someone discovers 
how to cure cancer, undoubtedly they will make it public. We know what the 
solution is for man and societys problems and we must communicate it.

The emphasis on growth has also been present in the Brazilian Methodist 
Church under the leadership of Bishop Pablo Lockmann. The result is 
visible: a qualitative leap that essentially doubled its membership from 
83,000 in 1989 to 164,000 in 2004.

In the Rio de Janeiro region, the number of Churches grew from 132 in 1989 
to 285 in 2004, as well as 183 missionary points that will likely become 
Churches in a short period of time, he said.

Some strategies and actions have been key for these results. We have 
recovered two fundamental elements of our legacy: the Wesleyan emphasis on 
preaching and the principle of the universal priesthood of believers, one 
of the cornerstones of the Reform, said Lockmann, who is also president of 
CIEMAL.

In the Rio de Janeiro region this means 487 lay Evangelists, many trained 
in different courses, who not only preach and hand out tracts with Biblical 
verses but offer specific ministries for alcoholics, the sick and children 
who break the law

The changes in liturgy have also played an important role in the revival 
and growth of Brazilian Methodism.

Twenty years ago, all the worship services in our Churches followed the 
same model, they did not last more than an hour with a 15-minutes sermon 
and the organ was the only musical instrument to accompany the liturgy. It 
was a service that was carried out in the United States or England. This 
has been transformed and today we have a Brazilian Methodist worship, he 
said.

In contrast, according to the Rev. Eileen Lindner, in the United States, 
major historic Protestant Churches are losing members while the Catholic 
Church is growing; to a great extent due to significant Latin American 
migration, as are Evangelical churches.

However, this is also leading to two interesting phenomena. On the one 
hand, a significant number of Pentecostal Churches begin to involve 
themselves in social justice, in the battle against hunger and poverty, for 
example.

Secondly, these denominations that are losing members now have a renewed 
interest in studying their roots and legacy, whether that is from Wesley, 
Calvin or Luther.

These Churches are struggling and are looking to be faithful to their 
tradition and identity in a difficult environment, said the Rev. Lindner, 
who has been associate secretary general of the National Council of 
Churches for Christ in the United States for nearly 20 years.

She also warned about developments that threaten to convert Christian faith 
into another merchandise and said that these religious experiences do not 
seek Gods glory but personal welfare and comfort.

CHILE
Meeting of confessional families ended with a call to unity

SANTIAGO , May 20, 2004 (alc). The Second Meeting of Latin American 
Confessional Families called on Latin American Churches to grow together in 
communities of faith and justice, non-violence, equality, peace and to work 
with the poor and toward the transformation of society.

The meeting, which took place May 17-19 congregated 65 bishops and 
presidents in the Chilean capital together with other Church leaders from 
15 Latin American countries. The event was convened by the Latin American 
Council of Churches (CLAI) to advance, under the discernment of the Holy 
Spirit, in the process of edifying the Church of the Lord.

Members of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the European Council of the 
Churches and the US National Council of Churches also attended.

The final declaration asked, in the midst of the difficulties, problems and 
suffering of the people, for special prayers for the very delicate 
situations in countries like Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba that face the 
danger of foreign military interventions; and countries like Bolivia, 
Ecuador and Peru, racked by profound social and economic crisis that 
threaten their political stability.

This reality calls on us to search for alternatives, solutions, healing and 
salvation. Either we open the doors and hearts of our Churches to give an 
answer or they will be knocked down, said the document. It added that the 
Lord has given us a magnificent opportunity at this time in history.

We recognize that our Church structures are very fragile, that our 
congregations have grown on the margins of power in our country and have 
ministered from economic poverty and weakness, the document stated.

However, it added, This is our strength, therein lies our wealth, our 
contribution. The fact that we have never been installed in secular power 
and we do not possess it allows us to carry out Jesus mission in Jesus 
way. For this reason we must depend on the strength and actions of the Holy 
Spirit rather than depending our money, intelligence or prestige.

We depend on the strength of Gods and our own non violent love and not on 
the power of weapons, on community and human solidarity rather than 
competitive, dehumanizing, solitary individualism, on adoration, 
cooperation and support among Christians at an inter-Church, 
inter-denominational or ecumenical level and at a national, regional or 
international level, and not on the isolation and sectarianism that world 
wants us to depend on.

We encourage you to grow in an integral spirituality and to exercise a 
mission aimed at the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical 
dimension of being human in society, avoiding polarizations between the 
spiritual and the material, between Churches with different emphasis, 
stated the Latin American Christians.

With the help of God we will build our Churches characterized by unity, 
love and justice, it concluded.

BRAZIL
Lutherans from the Southern Cone analyze problems facing young women

By Edelberto Behs
SAO LEOPOLDO, May 20, 2004 (alc). Women in search of fullness of life, 
with a special emphasis on young women, is the theme being debated by 45 
representatives from Lutheran Churches affiliated with the Lutheran World 
Federation meeting in this city from May 18-21.

We want to discus who is this young woman in the Church and in Society. We 
know that she works, studies, has children, maintains a family, but also 
seeks spirituality. But, what spaces does the Church open for this new type 
of woman, asked the coordinator of Lutheran women for the Southern Cone, 
Vera Roth.

Fullness of life finds space and meaning in the reason for being in 
community life, said the executive secretary of the Women in Church and 
Society sector (WICAS) of the LWF, Priscilla Singh, during the opening 
conference. Lutherans from Argentina, Brazil and Chile analyzed the 
document Churches say No to violence against women, elaborated by the LWF.

The document states that this is not only a problem that affects women. If 
the feminist movement demands a new model for women, in which she is 
responsible for her destiny and is not a victim, there is also a need for 
new models of masculinity that do not depend on dominating women.

Domestic violence, according to the LWF workbook is the most common type of 
violence against women: Studies carried out in 35 countries show that 25 to 
50 percent of women who are attacked suffer aggression at the hands of 
their current or former partner.

Regarding the sexual abuse of children under the age of 16, in 40 to 58 
percent of cases the perpetrator is a family member or someone the child 
knows. A UN report states that each year 2 million girls and adolescents 
are mutilated: 75% of cases take place in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, 
Somalia and Sudan. Genital mutilation rituals, considered religious, are 
carried out under the argument that they are a cultural rite and initiation 
ceremony into adult life.

The LWF document also focuses on the effects of modernization and 
globalization in peoples economic and personal lives The globalization of 
production increased the feminization of work, in particular in sectors 
such as elaborating food, clothing and assembly lines for goods and 
services. However, this does not equip women to acquire a skill but rather 
submit her to mass, routine production with no creativity, according to 
the study.

The document demands reflection and change, beginning the process with a 
provocative question: Is there violence within the Church? The same text, 
in its chapter entitled Name the sinner by name answers the question. 
The most important thing is to confess that there is also violence within 
the Churches, due to some policies and practices that impede womens access 
to leadership.

The Churches, the document continued, must analyze whether preaching the 
Gospel for centuries in some way contributed to mans predisposition to 
violence, to the impotence of women and girls and to the social tolerance 
of family violence  In many parts of the world, the text adds, the Church 
tends to marginalize separated and divorced women as well as single women 
and single mothers. The condemnation is more intensive if women are 
prostitutes or the victims of rape, without making any effort to understand 
the system that lead to these situations.

Meanwhile, the men are not even judged, not even when they have created or 
contributed to the emergence of these situations. Sexism perpetuates the 
belief that some people are superior or inferior to others based on 
biology, said the text, emphasizing that the law imposes changes while 
structures continue to remain the same.

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