WCC NEWS: Somalia/South Asia: WCC calls for prayer and action

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World Council of Churches - News

WCC CALLS FOR PRAYER AND ACTION IN SOMALIA AND SOUTH ASIA

For immediate release: 21 September 2011

Peace and human security in Somalia and South Asia were key concerns
addressed on Friday 16 September by the Executive Committee of the World
Council of Churches (WCC) at its meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The
Executive Committee, a governing body of the WCC, meets twice per year to
set policy and transact business.

In describing the situation in Somalia and throughout the Horn of Africa,
the Executive Committee noted that the region “has been undergoing a
serious humanitarian crisis for several years” due to drought, famine
and armed conflict.

Among a series of actions recommended by the WCC were appeals to the
international community, the United Nations and African Union, national
governments, churches and relief organizations to provide care for the
suffering and to cooperate in strategies to establish peace.

The statement expresses appreciation to churches, the ACT Alliance and
other ecumenical partners in providing humanitarian aid and invites
additional churches and other religious bodies to join in this effort.

A minute on peace and security in South Asia details the circumstances that
make the subcontinent “one of the most volatile regions of the world”.
Particular concern is shown for inter-religious and inter-cultural
relations in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, as well as for suffering
arising in the context of the so-called war on terror.

The WCC will continue to monitor the misuse of national blasphemy laws,
inter-religious conflict and discrimination against Dalits, Indigenous
Peoples and religious minorities. With member churches and other partners,
the WCC will continue to advocate for justice, reconciliation and peace.

This action by the Executive Committee comes in response to an April 2011
invitation (Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=c05ecb5c42b91fc645af )
from the South Asia Ecumenical Forum on Peace and Security asking that the
WCC and the Christian Conference of Asia to be more deeply “involved in
global ecumenical advocacy on peace security in South Asia”.

The minute expresses support and encouragement to regional churches and
ecumenical organizations “as they work for peace, security,
reconciliation, religious tolerance and justice for all” throughout
South Asia.

The Executive Committee calls on WCC member churches to pray for the people
and churches in South Asia, Somalia and throughout the Horn of Africa.

Statement on a call to promote peace and human security in Somalia
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=e38d388e052a4f157c81 )

Minute on Peace and Security in South Asia (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=694d7a36175bcbecfd30 )

More information on the Executive Committee meeting (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=1e473dff1b5ca59a336e
)


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.



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