WCRC Northeast Asia meeting in Taiwan highlights the importance of ecological preservation

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3128 Edition

February 6-12, 2012

Headline News

WCRC Northeast Asia meeting in Taiwan highlights the importance of ecological 
preservation

Reported by Lin Yi-ying

Written by Lydia Ma

The World Council of Reformed Churches (WCRC) Northeast Asia Area Council 
(NEAAC) biennial meeting was held at Presbyterian Bible College in the city of 
Hsinchu on January 31 to February 2, 2012. This year’s meeting focused on 
ecological preservation and nearly 30 representatives from churches in 
northeast Asia, including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong attended 
the meeting.

WCRC General Secretary Setri Nyomi’s keynote address was based on reflections 
from the Accra Confession signed in 2004 in Ghana. Following his address, 
delegates from other churches also offered their thoughts on some ecological 
issues and theological reflections related to these issues.                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
       

“In the name of development, we have destroyed our natural resources and put in 
their places monuments of human greed. Our lifestyles have often led to 
unnecessary emissions of greenhouse gasses,” Nyomi said, referring to the role 
of industrialized countries in perpetuating climate change and ecological 
destruction. 

In view of recent environmental disasters and economic woes, he urged 
Christians to renew their commitment to fight against ecological and economic 
injustice, including human trafficking and greenhouse effect and other issues 
mentioned in the Accra Confession.

Nyomi underscored that greenhouse effect was destroying the earth’s ecology and 
though everyone is aware of this problem, few are willing to take action and do 
something about it. He added that such an attitude was not only destructive but 
also contrary to God’s command for humans to be good stewards of the 
environment. Hence, Christians must no longer remain silent, but rather, live 
out their God-given calling.  

The council elected new officers for the years 2012 and 2013 at this meeting. 
Yoshi Fujimori of the Church of Christ in Japan was elected to succeed Chen 
Yang-en of the PCT who had just reached his term limit as President of WCRC. 

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