wfn.org | Need for Action by Christians Against Economic and Ecological Injustice

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

> News Release
> 11 September 2009

Strong Emphasis on Need for Action by Christians Against Economic and
Ecological Injustice

> Hans Pienaar

Strong emphasis was laid on action by Christians to fight the
injustices of the global economy and to seize the opportunity
presented by the near-collapse of its financial system to change world
institutions, in a message of an ecumenical conference at Willow Park
in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"We are faced with a crisis that is far more than an economic or
financial crisis. It is a spiritual crisis of a civilizational model
that is economically unjust; ecologically unsustainable, structurally
violent and socially degrading of human dignity," said the message
from the Global Dialogue on the Accra Confession: Covenanting for
Justice in the Economy and the Earth released on Friday, 10 September 2009.

The dialogue brought together nearly 60 high-profile theologians and
church officials, mainly from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches,
which represents 214 Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United
churches in 107 countries, and 75 million congregants. For four days
from 3 to 7 September they unpacked the implications of the WARCâ??s
adoption of the Accra Confession at its 24th general council in 2004
in Accra, Ghana.

"We recognized that the present global economic crisis has exposed
the inadequacy of the system to meet the needs of the people across
the globe. The crisis has unmasked the failure of the global economic
system to nurture sustainable Earth communities," said the message
of 28 articles.

It highlights one of the strongest themes throughout the conference,
that of empire, describing it as, among other things, "an
all-encompassing global reality serving, protecting and defending the
interests of powerful corporations, nations, elites and privileged
people, while imperiously excluding even sacrificing humanity and
exploiting creation".

"The call on the churches in the present context is therefore to
resist the life defeating and death dealing blows of the economics of
empire and to present alternative economies that have their basis in
the promise of life in its fullness for all."

Discussion during the four-day consultation held at the Willow Park
conference centre focused on response by WARC member churches to a
declaration known as the Accra Confession which was adopted at the
Allianceâ??s global assembly in Accra, Ghana in 2004. The Confession
urges WARC member churches to accept that seeking alternatives to the
current global economic model is a matter of faith.

WARC's general secretary, Setri Nyomi, affirms the importance to
the Alliance of church action on economic and environmental justice.
Nyomi states that the commitment to justice will remain central to the
work of the Reformed church movement following the merger of WARC and
the Reformed Ecumenical Council in June 2010 to create the World
Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

"We are putting in place a structure that ensures that our
covenanting for justice in the economy and the earth becomes
stronger," says Nyomi.  "We cannot ignore the millions of victims
of injustice and the consequences of human devastation upon the Earth.
I am grateful to all the participants for the forward-looking vision
that came out of the consultation as reflected in the statement".

The group said covenanting for justice had to be a continuous process
and that the Accra Confession had proven to be highly prophetic, and
that it should be the basis for communion between churches in both
rich and poor countries. "On the one hand, we give thanks for the
gift of reconciliation in Christ, and on the other, we understand that
authentic faith cannot be divorced from actions for justice. We come
together in unity for the sake of justice.

"At our best communion is experienced in the struggle as we covenant
for justice in the economy and the earth."

Another conference theme was also captured, that of the complicity of
Christians and churches themselves in economic injustice: "We were
also brought into an acute awareness of the seduction of globalization
and the role that it plays in co-opting even the most radical
movements while at the same time insulating the privileged from the
violence it is based on and generates."

The group said "the answer to the crisis cannot be only economic or
financial. We are in need of a more holistic and integrated strategy,
led by a renewed and deepened spirituality of life."

But it also came with practical suggestions to be pursued: "We
should develop and agree on a set of specific principles of economic
justice that are based on the biblical values of care, compassion,
responsibility and accountability, taking into account the work done
by the ecumenical family.

Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, coordinator of the event and WARC's
senior executive responsible for justice programmes, says: "The Global
Dialogue has provided a way forward for the Accra Confession to be
lived out in every place - from the streets to institutions; from
communities to churches. It was made clear that today more than ever,
it is vital that churches to connect with each other and with peoples'
struggles, as we work together for justice and life sustaining communities."

A plan of action for churches is being developed for churches in
preparation for the WARC/REC 2010 Uniting General Council.

> The full statement follows.

> Contact:

> Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth

Executive Secretary, Church Renewal, Justice and Partnership

> psb@warc.ch

> tel. +41 (0)22 791 6156

> WORLD ALLIANCE OF REFORMED CHURCHES (WARC)

Message from the Global Dialogue on the Accra Confession

Johannesburg, South Africa, 3 ? 7 September 2009

> Introduction

1.      In response to the urgent call to the common witness of a
faith commitment in the Accra Confession: Covenanting for Justice in
the Economy and the Earth adopted at the WARC 24th General Council,
and in the continuing recognition of the urgency of the economic
crisis and ecological destruction of our time, we write to reaffirm
that the struggle for global economic justice and sustainable Earth
communities is essential to the integrity of our faith in God and our
discipleship as Christians. [Psalms 24:1]

2.      In our continuing journey as a people of faith with the God of
life - toward the June 2010 Uniting General Council, under the theme
Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace [Ephesians 4:3], we are
reminded of the reign of God who calls us into hope for justice,
peace, wellness, harmony and unity [Titus 3:13-14]. Covenanting for
justice in the economy and the earth is a testimony to just communion
with God and God's creation.

3.      From the 3rd to the 8th of September 2009, 58 church leaders,
activists, pastors and theologians, who share a deep commitment to
justice for the economy and the earth, representing churches of the
Reformed tradition and global ecumenical institutions from Africa,
Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and the
Middle East met in Johannesburg to reflect and dialogue on the Accra
Confession.

4.      The communication praxis of Jesus was to speak truth to power
in word [Mark 7: 5, 6] and symbolic action [Mark 6: 30-44]. But Jesus
not only spoke and acted; he also listened to the voices of those who
were forced into silence by the violence of the system [John 4: 1- 26].

5.      We, the participants of this Global Dialogue listened to the
voices of people who struggle to come to terms with neo-liberal
economic realities of post-apartheid South Africa. We heard from the
people of Soweto about their collective action to resist the unjust
system to find new ways of reclaiming their humanity. We learnt of
ways in which people are reclaiming the economy to serve their
interests - through political action directed against the state and
its collusion with corporations. We also learnt of concrete action
taken by people in making the state accountable to them as well as the
church providing alternatives in places where the state has failed.
Some of us also witnessed violence of the poor against the poor
created by an economic system that pits them against each other in the
struggle for life.

6.      We were also brought into an acute awareness of the seduction
of globalization and the role that it plays in co-opting even the most
radical movements while at the same time insulating the privileged
from the violence it is based on and generates.

7.      We recognized that the present global economic crisis has
exposed the inadequacy of the system to meet the needs of the people
across the globe. The crisis has unmasked the failure of the global
economic system to nurture sustainable Earth communities. The
"idol" has been revealed as mammon. People are losing jobs, homes
and access to public services. The growing awareness and acceptance of
the ecological crisis and its rootedness in anti-people growth
economies has further exacerbated the need for organized political
action for global transformation. The need for churches and peopleâ??s
movements then is to use this crisis as an opportunity to initiate a
paradigm shift in the economic system ensuring deeper democratic
institutions enhances life giving economies. The call on the churches
in the present context is therefore to resist the life defeating and
death dealing blows of the economics of empire and to present
alternative economies that have their basis in the promise of life in
its fullness for all. (John 10.10)

> Reading the Signs of the Times

8.      The Accra Confession continues to be a prophetic response to
the state of the world. This is due to the dramatic effects of the
global financial crisis and the unprecedented level of ecological
destruction and on-going climate change. We discerned a large
consensus that the neoliberal economic paradigm, leading to a culture
of greed, to unlimited growth and irresponsible consumption, is bankrupt.

9.      Since Accra, we have deepened our understanding of empire, the
system of death, contradicting God's will for life and justice for
all. "We speak of empire, because we discern a coming together of
economic, cultural, political and military power in our world today,
that constitutes a reality and a spirit of lordless domination,
created by humankind yet enslaving simultaneously; an all-encompassing
global reality serving, protecting and defending the interests of
powerful corporations, nations, elites and privileged people, while
imperiously excluding even sacrificing humanity and exploiting
creation; a pervasive spirit of destructive self-interest, even greed
- the worship of money, goods and possessions; the gospel of
consumerism, proclaimed through powerful propaganda and religiously
justified, believed and followed; the colonization of consciousness,
values and notions of human life by the imperial logic; a spirit
lacking in compassionate justice and showing contemptuous disregard
for the gifts of creation and the household of life." (Definition of
empire from the Globalisation Project - Uniting Reformed Church in
South Africa and Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany.)

10.   Our churches, in different forms and to various extents, have
not only struggled against empire through continuing reflection,
dialogue and actions for justice and peace in the economy and the
earth but we have also remained complicit to empire. This complicity
remains the greatest threat to our communion, to our search for unity
in Christ and is a betrayal of God's call for compassionate justice.

11.   We see new opportunities in this moment of Kairos, in communion
with other women and men at a grass-root, a national and an
international level, to construct new economies of compassion, care
and solidarity beyond empire.

> Trinitarian Communion and Christian Justice

12.   II Corinthian 13, verse 13 sees Trinitarian Communion as the
love of God, the grace of Christ, and the community of the Holy
Spirit. More particularly, Trinitarian Communion acknowledges God as
the Creator-Sustainer, Jesus Christ as the reconciler between God and
humanity, humanity and humanity and humanity and the earth, and the
Holy Spirit as the ever-present power, inspiring the activity of the
redeemed as doers of Christian Justice. On the one hand, we give
thanks for the gift of reconciliation in Christ, and on the other, we
understand that authentic faith cannot be divorced from actions for
justice. We come together in unity for the sake of justice.

13.   Because God is love we are confident in the assertion that God
continues to love those who have been told repeatedly that they
deserve no love. In obedience to the crucified Christ, we yield to the
sovereign God our willing service. And with the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit we carefully analyse and expose gross systemic
subordination as well as microstructures of "naturalness" and
patterns of inequality, supposedly sanctioned as the providence of
God. In other words, we hold Trinitarian Communion and Christian
Justice as indivisible entities in the providential unfolding of
God's purpose for humankind. At our best communion is experienced in
the struggle as we covenant for justice in the economy and the earth.

> Signs of Hope and Energy

14.   We have listened carefully to the experiences of how people are
resisting the effects of empire on their communities. We saw how women
and men in Soweto are engaged in organising for change and reclaiming
their respect and dignity through struggle for clean water and
electricity in a context where the political leadership has failed
them. These stories of resistance are attested to in many other places as  well.

15.   We heard of stories of how churches, both in the North and
South, are living out the Accra Confession in their contexts. For
example Churches in Zambia are involved in engaging in studying and
understanding what globalization is and its impact on their daily
lives. Some churches in the North have and are developing policies
that enable them to set aside resources for the promotion of the Accra
Confession and education for justice.

16.   We have been encouraged by an emerging dialogue between churches
in the North and those in the South, especially on Empire and what it
means for both perspectives. The dialogue on globalization between the
Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) and the Evangelical
Reformed Church (ERK) in Germany has served as a signpost of what is
possible for us all. This journey of conversations holds potential for
South to South dialogue also [Isaiah 1:18]. The growing consensus on
empire as a lens from which to read the Accra Confession and to seek
after justice is a sign of hope.

17.    We listened to the pain of communion in the light of the South
African churches experience of apartheid. We search for community in
Bible study, prayer, and hearing of the healing word of God in our
world with an awareness of the agony of pain that can only be healed
by truth, repentance and reconciliation.

18.   We look to the future with hope, new energy and the commitment
to walk in communion and struggle together seeking justice despite our
different social locations.

> The Way Forward

19.   In John Calvin's theology, human life is set in relation to
the life of God. Life for the honour of God is based on faith in God,
who puts God's own life at stake for the benefit of humankind. Our
common journey forward as a people of faith is accompanied by our life
giving God [Matthew 1:23].

20.   We are faced with a crisis that is far more than an economic or
financial crisis. It is a spiritual crisis of a civilizational model
that is economically unjust; ecologically unsustainable, structurally
violent and socially degrading of human dignity. Therefore the answer
to the crisis cannot be only economic or financial. We are in need of
a more holistic and integrated strategy, led by a renewed and deepened
spirituality of life [John 10:10].

21.   We need to recognize that all power is accountable to God. If
economic or political structures fail to serve life, they must be
changed. Theology of life needs to guide us in our way. Christians
cannot accept that humanly constructed structures and systems, as
powerful as they might be, are unchangeable. We experience everywhere
in the world the struggle of people against an "economy of death"
rearing its ugly life threatening head on the poor and marginalized.
We need to seek for cooperation and solidarity of the body of Christ
with grass-root movements, international groups and civil-society
groups. For example the networking for global water justice.

22.   In the faces of women, children, people living with
disabilities, people living with HIV and AIDS, those discriminated on
the basis of gender, race, caste, sexual orientation and sexuality we
see the suffering of those most affected by the consequences of
neo-liberal globalism. We affirm that all of life, in all its
diversity, together is the image of God. The broken body of Christ
that is united in the bond of love and with the Spirit of Peace
invites us to journey together for justice and peace in the economy
and the earth.

23.   We need the expertise of Reformed women and feminist
theologians, ecumenical leaders, young people, lay persons in economics
and international relations to go forward, reflecting on the gender,
race, caste and the other implications of empire that the Accra
Confession addresses.

24.   We found that a change of paradigm needs transforming education.
This needs to take place on different levels and in different ways.
This requires a mutual learning by exposure, engagement and dialogue
and needs to happen on the levels of church-leaders as well as on the
level of the local congregations.

25.   We should develop and agree on a set of specific principles of
economic justice that are based on the biblical values of care,
compassion, responsibility and accountability, taking into account the
work done by the ecumenical family. It should lead to the following steps:

-        To organize a global ecumenical conference (including the
Roman Catholic church) to propose a new international financial
architecture, that is: a) based on the principles of economic and
climate justice, b) serves the real economy, c) accounts for social
and environmental risks, and d) sets clear limits to greed;

-        To support processes of strengthening regional and local
economies in the different social and cultural contexts.

-        To make use of the 10 to 15 year time window to reach and
implement the necessary goals of climate justice.

-        To engage in climate justice with a twofold strategy: a)
mitigation in order to slow down global warming to the level agreed in
the ecumenical family (WCC Statement on eco-justice and ecological
debt and campaigns of churches and ecumenical agencies), and b)
adaptation to climate change and support especially of the most
affected and vulnerable people.

26.   In the Global Dialogue we found the necessity of an increased
and sustained dialogue bringing together Reformed sisters and brothers
from all ends of the earth. We need to share our experiences from each
of our contexts, on the basis of our communion in Christ. This should
take place in consultations between churches of the North and South as
well as between churches from the same hemisphere. We also recognize
that many people in the North live in conditions of the South and that
there are elites in every country in the South, who live as those in
the North. With commitment to one another in partnership and
solidarity we need to engage in an open trustful space for an ongoing
discussion and common understanding. In the light of communion and
participation we need awareness for the different contexts we are coming  from.

27.    As WARC/WCRC looks towards its future, it needs to ask
questions about its vision, its membership and their commitment and
how it best lives out that vision. This process needs continuing
support in organization and administration.

28.   This vision of a way forward needs the development of policy and
strategy for support, resources and engagement of its member churches
to prioritize the urgency of covenanting for justice in the economy
and the earth. The new communion needs to pay attention to this reality.

> PARTICIPANTS

1.      Rev. Dr Prince Moiseraele Dibeela, United Congregational
Church of South Africa

2.      Dr Johan Botha, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project, Uniting
Reformed Church in South Africa

3.      Ms Martina Wasserloos-Strunk, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project,
Reformed Alliance, Germany

4.      Dr Johann Weusmann, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project,
Evangelical Reformed Church, Germany

5.      Dr Puleng LenkaBula, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project,
Covenanting for Justice network

6.      Prof. Dr Allan Boesak, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project,
Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa

7.      Rev. Dr Ben Du Toit, Dutch Reformed Church, South Africa

8.      Prof. Dr Nico N Koopman, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project,
Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa

9.      Rev. Basil Manning, United Congregational Church of South Africa

10.   Rev. Cheryl Dibeela, United Congregational Church of South Africa

11.   Rev. Dr Festus A. Asana, Presbyterian Church in Cameroon

12.   Prof. Dr Maake Masango, United Presbyterian Church of South
Africa South Africa

13.   Rev. Coutinho M. Moma, Evangelical Congregational Church Angola

14.   Rt. Rev. Christopher Mkandawire, United Presbyterian Church of
South Africa

15.   Ms Josephine Muchelemba, United Church of Zambia

16.   Rev. Peggy Mulambya Kabonde, WARC executive committee member

17.   Prof. Nelus Niemandt, Dutch Reformed Church

18.   Rev. Dr Jerry Pillay, Alliance of Reformed Churches in Africa

19.   Rev. Hendrick Pillay, United Congregational Church of South Africa

20.   Prof. Dr Thias Kgatla, United Reformed Church of South Africa

21.   Rev. Jimmy de Wet, Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa

22.   Dr Sri Adiningsih, Reformed Ecumenical Council, Indonesia

23.   Ms Maritza Anie Boudjikanian, Union of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches, Lebanon

24.   Rev. Charles Norton Jansz, Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka

25.   Ms Carmencita Karadag, Peace for Life, Philippines

26.   Rev. Decky Kornelius Lolowang, Christian Evangelical Church in
Minahasa, Indonesia

27.   Mr. Philip Peacock, Church of North India

28.   Prof. Dr Mammen Varkki, Church of South India

29.   Dr Martin Engels, Reformed Alliance in Germany

30.   Rev. Matthias Hui, Reformed Church Bern Jura Solothurn, Switzerland

31.   Rev. Dr Ulrich Möller, Evangelical Church of Westphalia, Germany

32.   Rev. Jane Rowell United Reformed Church, UK

33.   Prof. Dr. Christoph Carl Stückelberger, Federation of Swiss
Protestant Churches, Switzerland

34.   Rev. Dr Sjaak van't Kruis, Protestantse Kerk in Nederland, Netherlands

35.   Mr. Helis Barraza Díaz, Moderator, Covenanting for Justice
Network, Colombia

36.   Rev. Clayton Leal da Silva, AIPRAL, Brazil

> 37.   Ms Omega Bula, United Church of Canada

> 38.   Prof. Dr Katie Geneva Cannon, PC (USA)

39.   Rev. Dr Susan Davies, Covenanting for Justice Network

40.   Rev. Daniel James Meeter, Reformed Church in America

41.   Prof. Dr Oliver Patterson, Covenanting for Justice Network

42.   Ms. Sara Pottschmidt, Covenanting for Justice Network

43.   Mr. Peter Vander Meulen Covenanting for Justice Network

44.   Rev. Robina Winbush Presbyterian Church (USA)

45.   Dr Peter Borgdorff, President, Reformed Ecumenical Council, USA

46.   Rev. Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick, WARC President, USA

47.   Dr. Edwin Makue, South Africa Council of Churches

48.   Prof. Dr Tinyiko Maluleke, South Africa Council of Churches

49.   Rev. Dr Samuel Ayete Nyampong, Presbyterian Church of Ghana

> 50.   Ms. Athena Peralta, WCC, Philippines

51.   Mr. Moatlundhi Mogera, Student, South Africa

52.   Rev. Philip Woods Council of World Mission (CWM)

53.   Rev. Dr Vuyani Vellem South Africa Council of Churches

> 54.   Mrs. Irma Patterson, USA

55.   Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, WARC General Secretary, Ghana

56.   Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, WARC Executive Secretary,
Covenanting for Justice, Guyana

57.   Rev. Dr Douwe Visser, WARC executive secretary, Theology and
Ecumenical Engagement, Netherlands

58.   Hans Pienaar, Correspondent, Ecumenical News International,  Johannesburg