wfn.org | Methodist schools called to be centers of justice

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Aug. 20, 2001 News media contact: Linda Green7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{356}
  
By Duane Ewers*

BELFAST, Ireland (UMNS) - Methodist-related educational institutions must
instill in their students and communities a sense of justice, reconciliation
and service.

That was the opening message given at an international gathering of school
representatives this summer by the Rev. James T. Laney, former U.S
ambassador to South Korea and retired professor of Emory University in
Atlanta.

The July 16-20 event was sponsored by the International Association of
Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities, representing 705 institutions
in more than 67 nations.   

As sporadic violence was occurring in North and East Belfast, 140
participants from 27 countries gathered to explore themes of peace, justice,
gender, human rights, economic justice and education. The association
regularly brings together college presidents, administrators, faculty,
trustees and students from around the world. The organization's purpose is
to join together academic institutions in the Methodist family to promote
quality and value-centered education and to develop cooperative programs. 

Addressing the theme "Education for Human Responsibility for the 21st
Century," Laney opened the conference with a challenge for educators to
"discuss and put before students and faculty moral issues to encourage
pondering and increase commitment." He expressed hope that the event would
encourage educators to accomplish tasks related to justice, reconciliation
and service.  

Northern Ireland's minister for higher education shared with conference
participants his personal reflections on the fragile peace process in his
country. Sean Farren told participants that their presence in Belfast was a
signal of what is achievable and of the normality that is within reach of
the people of Northern Ireland as a result of recent political progress. He
reported on positive advances that have been made, including the priority to
invest in education and skills with equal access to all. 

"I believe very strongly that government has a direct role to play in
achieving social inclusion and eliminating poverty, disadvantage and
injustice," he said. The choice faced by Northern Ireland is a simple one,
he concluded. "It is a choice between the past and the future."

Hisako Kinukawa, co-director of the Center for Feminist Theology and
Ministry in Japan, addressed issues of justice, gender and human rights. She
invited participants to listen to the voices of "comfort women" who are
seeking justice from the Japanese government for their treatment during
World War II. 

"As the courageous voices of these comfort women survivors ... echoed all
through the world, a larger movement for women's human rights emerged to end
impunity for such crimes and to repudiate the notion that sexual abuse of
women is an inevitable consequence of war and conflicts," she said.

She called on educators to teach in ways that "nurture individuals not to
look down upon anyone." In conclusion, she reminded participants that
"education is a process to use our reason so that we may distinguish justice
from injustice in the world ... and to discipline ourselves so that we may
commit ourselves to caring for others."

Ely Eser Barreto Cesar, professor of education in the graduate school of
Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba in Brazil, asked participants what
contributions from Wesleyan traditions they bring to education. "One of the
fundamental objectives of [Methodism's founder John] Wesley was that of
'reforming the nation' and 'spreading the biblical sanctity all over the
world'," he said. Such a tradition compels Methodist institutions to educate
for justice, freedom and peace, he said. 

Vivian A. Bull, president of Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., spoke
about economic justice and reminded the participants that poverty is one of
the most vexing problems related to economics. "Extending the theory of
distributive justice directly to the economic challenge of poverty requires
us to deal with ... value, process of distribution, wage base and recipients
of aid," she said.

The conference included a visit to the parliament buildings and a dinner at
City Hall hosted by the lord mayor of Belfast and the Belfast City Council.

The association's next conference will be in Hong Kong in 2004.
# # #
*Ewers is the director of the Office of Interpretation for the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

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United Methodist News Service
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