wfn.org | WCC - Call to churches: Resist economic globalization!

["Sheila Mesa" <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Update, Up-01-26
For Immediate Use
16 August 2001

Call to churches:  Resist economic globalization!

cf. WCC Press Feature, Feat-01-11, of 16 August 2001
cf. WCC Press Release, PR-01-27, of 9 August 2001

Today, a vision of the unity of humankind and the whole
inhabited earth is competing with a vision of economic
globalization, said representatives from churches in 29 countries
at an international consultation in Fiji organized by the World
Council of Churches (WCC) in cooperation with the Pacific
Conference of Churches (PCC).  

The 12-16 August consultation called on churches to be more
prophetic in their opposition to economic globalization. It
challenged the churches to search for viable alternatives to the
current economic system that has produced increased human
suffering and poverty, the exploitation of labour and widespread
environmental devastation.  

A presentation from the Pacific churches on what they called the
"Island of Hope" was central to the meeting. "Island of Hope" is
a metaphor for the wholeness of life, of which generosity,
reciprocity and the sharing of communal resources are essential
features - in stark contrast to the prevailing features of
globalization. The Pacific churches presented real and viable
alternatives to globalization that have sustained Pacific
societies for generations.  

Participants from other regions of the world were able to
identify with this Pacific concept. African representatives spoke
of an African renaissance and reconstruction process (ubuntu)
that calls Africans to look to themselves, in solidarity with
others, for solutions to globalization. Asians spoke of gatong 
(togetherness) in Indonesia, bayanihan (collective living) in the
Philippines, panchasila in India and daedong yundae (great
solidarity) in Korea.  

Western European and North American participants talked about
the importance of sharing and interdependence; Central and
Eastern Europeans spoke of protecting the spiritual heritage of
their countries, caring for the family as a basic unit of society
and encouraging the values of sharing. The Latin American and
Caribbean representatives referred to communal values shared by
their Indigenous cultures which have created solidarity between
the poor and unemployed.  

The Pacific representatives contrasted Western economic patterns
that focus on profits and economic growth with their own
traditional economies, which are concerned with the holistic
quality of people's lives. They described land, sea and people as
being integral parts of one's identity, and called for a vision
of solidarity in defence of creation.  

"The specific role of the church is to provide insights into
ethics and values of life. We must create places of sharing;
spaces where God's people, with their diverse gifts, resources
and experiences, can come to give and receive. A place where they
begin a journey together," said Dr Agnes Abuom of Kenya, one of
the presidents of the WCC. "That is what we began here in Fiji. A
journey of affirming an alternative global family. Economic
globalization has separated people and fragmented communities.
The people of God are called to walk together," she said. "The
Island of Hope concept we heard here can be the anchor for that
journey."  

The international meeting in Fiji was preceded by regional
meetings in Budapest and Bangkok, one in the Pacific in May and a
consultation at which international youth representatives met
with their Pacific counterparts. The WCC is planning further
international and regional meetings in Latin America, the
Caribbean, North America and Africa. This international meeting
was held in the Pacific so that the "Island of Hope" concept
could help inform and be further developed at the later
consultations.  

This article from the Fiji meeting is accompanied by three
interviews with participants. The interviews are available in
English only. Those interested in receiving the interviews should
contact the WCC Media Relations Office (see e-mail address
below).

For further information, please contact Media Relations Office,
Tel:  (+41.22) 791.61.53, E-mail:  ses@wcc-coe.org 

**********
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches,
now 342, in more than 100 countries in all continents from
virtually all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is
not a member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The
highest governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately
every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in
Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general
secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
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