wfn.org | LWF considers dialogue, mission - Delegates join in discussion

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LWF considers dialogue, mission
Delegates join in discussion

HONG KONG, July 25, 1997 (lwi) - Confucianism is not a religion in the
sense of being a set of doctrines such as might be found in Christian
churches, but questions posed by Christian theology have caused Confucians
to begin to recognize and articulate their own sense of religious
dimension, said Eva K. W. Man, professor of religion and philosophy at Hong
Kong Baptist University.

"It seems to me that, given the social and spiritual challenges both
traditions face today, there is the need to expand our notion of what it
means to be a religious person in the contemporary context," said Man, a
Lutheran scholar on Confucianism.

Man joined several speakers July 14 during the Lutheran World Federation
Assembly session "Mission and dialogue: Witnessing in a multifaith and
multicultural setting."

"Dialogue and mission are so closely interwoven that you cannot separate
them." David L. Windibiziri, Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in
Nigeria, said in introducing the session.

Tensions between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria underscore the need for
dialogue, he said. Relationships among Christians and Muslims were
reflected in Assembly discussion.
The Rev. Mounib Younan, bishop-elect of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Jordan and Palestine, said Christianity and Islam share common values. He
expressed concern that "Christians take different approaches to people of
other faiths, some mission and some dialogue." Younan said there is a
particular witness of a Christian minority: "You witness by the way you
live."

Bishop Joseph Paul Bvumbwe of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi
said, "Christians promote dialogue. We need to analyze and evaluate whether
this dialogue is something Muslims regard the same way we do," he said.

"Dialogue isn't the only way. We should consider seriously other
alternatives," Bvumbwe said. "We are in the region where Christianity is
minority, and we must be mindful," he said.

"When you meet in dialogue, you exchange views on the issues that concern
all of us as human beings, and you cannot do that without also showing how
your faith influences all that you are doing," Windibiziri said.

In his area there had been no problems between Christians and Muslims for
centuries, Windibiziri told the Assembly. "Now, since the 1980s, we have
problems," he said. Islam has an influence on Christianity. "We call God
'Allah' because it brings us closer together with
Muslims, gives us something in common. Allah is the God I worship in
Christ."

The Rev. Wesley W. Kigasung of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New
Guinea said the "relationship" component of Christianity should be
developed. "What about relationship with the world, with creation, with
nature?" Relationship requires transformation. Kigasung asked, "What is the
mission of this assembly beyond Hong Kong? How do we do about accomplishing
the relationship between human beings?"

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