wfn.org | WCC acts on debt relief during assembly's final day

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Dec. 14, 1998	Contact: Tim Tanton((615)742-5470(Nashville, Tenn.
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By Tim Tanton*

HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) - The World Council of Churches has issued a
strong call for the cancellation of debts owed by impoverished countries
"to enable them to enter the new millenium with a fresh start."

"We are called ... to seek new ways to break the stranglehold of debt,
to redress its consequences and ensure that debt crises will not recur,"
the WCC said in a statement approved on Dec. 14.

The call for debt forgiveness was one of several actions taken during
the final days of the WCC's Eighth Assembly, held Dec. 3-14 at the
University of Zimbabwe. The WCC is an ecumenical movement of 339
churches, and it meets in assembly every seven years to review programs
and set goals. More than 4,500 people, including about 980 delegates,
registered for the
gathering.

The United Methodist Church is a major contributor to the WCC and was
represented by a 33-member delegation, along with more than 100 visitors
and observers.

The debt statement has been a primary topic at the assembly,  hammered
on in sermons and underscored in major addresses by South African
President Nelson Mandela and Zimbabwean Executive President Robert
Mugabe.   

United Methodist delegate Courtney Goto of New York helped draft the
debt statement and read part of it to the assembly.

"The whole assembly was feeling strongly about having an unequivocal
statement on debt, and I think we achieved that," she said after the
statement was approved.

For churches, the first step is to urge governments to cancel the debts,
she said. "Churches are in a great position to do that, to be a moral
voice for that." 

If the debts aren't cancelled and sanctions result, the churches would
have a role to play in supporting debtor nations, she said. In debtor
countries themselves, churches also can be involved in deciding how
funds are used to prevent further debt problems, she said.

Edith Jokomo, a United Methodist delegate from Zimbabwe, was pleased
with the WCC's statements on debt and on ministry in Africa. Most
African countries don't have freedom of speech or freedom of expression,
so such topics are not discussed, she said. "It was very good for the
WCC to have an opening for that."

The debt cancellation statement reflected on what happened in the past
and also held hope for the future, she said. 

"I hope it is not going to end here," she said. She would like to see a
videotape of the debt statement session be produced and distributed to
church organizations "so at least they can keep talking about it."

Room for dialogue has been opened for speaking out against corruption
and for human rights. She said she hopes the people and churches in
Zimbabwe and Africa "will speak loudly about it."

Jokomo was involved in the debt discussion during one of the many Padare
hearings held during the assembly. Padare is a Shona term for "meeting
place," and assembly participants focused on a multitude of topics and
issues during the discussion sessions. "I was very impressed by the
brilliant ideas" about the debt situation, she said.

Clear management structures should be established to monitor whatever
happens, she said. The priorities of the borrowing countries, including
Zimbabwe, should be revisited. Much of the money that goes to military
uses, for example, could be directed to social services, she said.

The assembly called upon its member churches to work for debt
cancellation for impoverished countries, debt reduction for some
middle-income countries, participation in deciding how freed-up funds
can be used "to restore social and ecological damage"; and establishment
of ethical lending and borrowing policies to prevent future crises. The
WCC also said its churches should urge governments to act against
corruption and be prepared to help poor nations that suffer sanctions
because of their debts.

The WCC made parallel appeals to the leaders of the wealthiest nations,
urging them to cancel the debts of the poorest countries "to enable them
to enter the new millennium with a fresh start." The rich nations should
engage "in a process of global economic reform toward a just
distribution of wealth and preventing new cycles of debt."

On the closing day of the assembly, delegates adopted a statement on
globalization, deciding that challenges related to it should become a
central emphasis of the WCC's work.  

A statement also was adopted recommending follow-up action on the recent
Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity With Women. The
recommendations included having the WCC "prepare guidelines for
inter-gender conduct which incorporate the understanding that any form
of violence against women is a sin." Churches should provide
opportunities for women to speak out about violence and abuse in
settings "where both the victims and the perpetrators of violence can
experience the power of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation." The
WCC also was urged to denounce sexual exploitation of women and children
and to support "just economic systems and structures in church and
society."

During the Dec. 12 business session, the WCC delegates approved a report
from one of its two policy reference committees  that included earlier
reports by the moderator and general secretary, as well as the "Towards
a Common Understanding and Vision" statement and some constitutional
amendments.

That report spelled out many of the problems facing Africa and affirmed
the assembly's support for the continent. The WCC resolved to place "a
special focus on Africa during the beginning of the 21st century" and
for its Central Committee to continue the work of its "Reconstructing
Africa" program.

The assembly rejected a proposal to have its Central Committee elect the
WCC's eight regional presidents. Several delegates, including two United
Methodists, said it would be a bad idea to take the election of the
presidents out of the hands of the assembly.

"Members of this assembly, the amendment contradicts the very essence of
our constitution," said Edgar Raymond DeJesus, a United Methodist
delegate from the Philippines. "This amendment seeks to reduce the
authority vested on this great assembly." The assembly's democratic
process is a model for other organizations all over the world, he said.

If the presidents are elected by the Central Committee, only about
one-third of the member churches would be involved in the elections,
said the Rev. Bruce Robbins, a newly elected Central Committee member
and general secretary of the United Methodist Commission on Christian
Unity and Interreligious Concerns. "I believe it more important that
they be elected by all of the member churches."

At the Canberra, Australia, assembly in 1991, much was said about the
pain over the election procedure, he noted. "But I would much prefer the
pain shared among 980 people (the delegates) rather than the pain shared
among 150 in Central Committee. It would simply be too much for us." 

The delegates received the Finance Committee's report Dec. 11. The
report described the financial challenges facing the WCC, which received
81.76 percent of its support from Western Europe, 15.83 percent from the
United States and Canada, and 2.41 percent from the rest of the world in
1997. 

The WCC depends heavily on 10 member churches, including the United
Methodist Church, and the organization receives membership contributions
from only half - 52 percent - of its members. Along with the lack of
support from many members, the WCC faces other financial challenges,
including reduced resources among some of its churches, increasing
competition with other church needs and other ecumenical bodies,
exchange rate fluctuations and volatility in investment portfolios,
according to the finance report.

With a "significant operating deficit" in 1990, the WCC restructured
twice and decreased its staff from 340 to 270.
. 
In its recommendations, the committee suggested that member churches be
encouraged to observe Ecumenical Commitment Sunday with an offering for
the World Council of Churches; that the minimum contributions remain low
- at 1,000 Swiss francs -- to encourage all members to contribute; and
that a consultation be held on new ways to raise money. The committee
also recommended a goal of reaching 10 million Swiss francs in
membership contributions in five years.

In other business, the WCC:

* Decided to set up a commission to study the participation of Orthodox
churches in the council. The commission members, half of whom will be
named by the Orthodox, will look into Orthodox complaints about what
they regard as a lack of influence in the organization.
 
* Sent a letter of protest to the Sudanese government over the bombing
raid in Southern Sudan, which killed at least six people. Roman Catholic
Bishop Paride Taban had addressed the assembly Dec. 5 and pleaded for
international intervention to stop the government's attacks in his
region. The letter condemned the recent attack "apparently directed at
Bishop Paride."
 
* Heard a report from General Secretary Konrad Raiser that a membership
application from the Celestial Church of Christ in Nigeria had been
referred by the Business Committee to the Central Committee for
consultation. Delegates voted on Dec. 10 not to accept the application
because some older members of the church's clergy continue to practice
polygamy. That vote later was ruled invalid. The assembly applauded
following the vote, and Raiser expressed regret on Dec. 12 at the lack
of sensitivity toward a church that had "sought our fellowship."  The
Celestial Church of Christ in Nigeria formally disapproved of polygamy
in 1968.

* Approved encouraging the Central Committee to continue exploring
establishment a forum of Christian churches and ecumenical
organizations.  Such a forum, which would not be sponsored by the WCC,
would create a setting for dialogue involving WCC member churches as
well as churches and organizations that are not members of the council.

# # #

*Tanton is news editor of United Methodist News Service. 

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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