wfn.org | Seek spirituality that energizes and sustains justice movements

["Franziska Surber" <Franziska.Surber@warc.ch>]

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>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>News Release
>26 May 2008

Seek spirituality that energizes and sustains justice movements

A wide array of justice movements around the world are
challenging churches to create new kinds of spirituality that
will sustain them as they struggle against empire.

That is the finding of a an interfaith group of theologians,
activists, pastors and educators from around the world who held a
workshop 15 to 20 May in Cuba.

â??Spirituality of Resistance, Liberation and Transformation,â??
which was held at the Protestant Theological Seminary at
Matanzas, was sponsored by the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches (WARC), the Council for World Mission (CWM) and the
World Council of Churches (WCC).

â??We affirm that the problems of empire, amid which justice
movements struggle, are not only political problems but spiritual
challenges. Empire spawns its own destructive spiritualities,
such as the â??religious right,â?? and thus it seeks always to
co-opt the powers of religion for imperial aims.

â??New spiritualities are coming forth to oppose imperial
spiritualities, and these should be supported,â?? the group said
in a communiqué released 26 May in Geneva.

â??All organized religions have a special challenge of resisting
the tactics of division, such as forms of denominationalism and
fundamentalism, which often fuel ethnic, racial, nationalist and
regional strife, and so strengthen the powers of empire.

â??Justice movements require a new solidarity among religious
groups and all peoples of conscience (secular and religious) and
thus we affirm and honour the full multiplicity of spiritualities
that enliven such movements.â??

The participants from the three ecumenical organizations met in
response to the initiative of the Oikotree movement, an
ecumenical project that attempts to identify and live out
spiritualities that put justice at the heart of faith. In
addition there were participants of the Muslim and Hindu faiths
at the Matanzas workshop.

They called for a recognition of the leading role that
indigenous peoples are playing in ecological justice efforts,
with their earth-centred spirituality, which focuses on the
interdependence of body, mind, land, community and spirit. And
they affirmed the struggle of first nations for their land and
self-determination.

The theologians also warned that the so-called â??war on
terrorâ?? has created a virulent form of Islamophobia that
exacerbates other kinds of racism and therefore they called for
new spiritualities that will stand with Muslims and work with
them for justice.

The meeting was originally to be held in Beirut, Lebanon, but
was moved to Cuba because of the ongoing Middle East conflict.   

â??The (Cuban) peopleâ??s suffering is acute because of the
United States-imposed blockade and the general forces of empire.
By â??empireâ?? we mean the complex and dynamic international
regime of power anchored by the United States, with its military
power, neoliberal globalization, racist and patriarchal
ideologies and policies of environmental degradation.

â??In spite of these forces of empire and Cubansâ?? relentless
suffering, isolation and impoverization, we have been inspired by
the ways Cubans persevere in struggle, embodying joy and
resistance, dignity and self-esteem.â??

Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, executive secretary of WARCâ??s
Office for Church Renewal, Justice and Partnership, said the
crisis of the times calls for a radical spirituality to energize
the covenanting for justice movement.

â??Connecting with the struggle, resilience and vision of the
Cuban people and the spiritualities of aboriginal peoples and
various faith traditions brings fresh impetus in our struggle for
justice,â?? she concluded. 

>Full text attached

>***

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together
75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries -
united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled
world. The WARC general secretary is Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. WARC's secretariat is
based in Geneva, Switzerland.

>Contact:
>John P. Asling
>Executive Secretary, Communications
>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>150 Route de Ferney
>P.O. Box 2100
>1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
>tel.  +41.22 791 6243
>fax: +41.22 791 6505
>web: www.warc.ch 

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