wfn.org | South Asian church leaders to discuss regional peace and security

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release 03-26
For Immediate Use
28 July 2003

South Asian church leaders to discuss regional peace and security

In a climate of mounting enthusiasm about the possibility of reopened peace
talks between India and Pakistan, South Asian church leaders are planning to
get together to determine how churches can help build peace and stability in
the region.  

About 15 church representatives will participate in a 2-4 August, 2003
consultation on Peace and Security concerns in South Asia. Organized by the
World Council of Churches (WCC), the consultation will take place in Colombo,
Sri Lanka.  

It will attempt to develop a plan of action for the churches that puts into
practice recommendations made by the WCC Central Committee at its August 2002
meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. A statement on South Asia, adopted by the
Committee (see below), refers to Kashmir, nuclear arms and the role of
religion in conflict, among others.  

The general and executive secretaries of the National Council of Churches in
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and of the Christian Conference of
Asia, together with members of the WCC Central Committee and experts on peace
and security will be among the participants.   

"This is the first meeting of its kind to bring South Asian church leaders
together to discuss peace and security issues, particularly in relation to
India and Pakistan," says Clement John, programme executive in the WCC's team
on International Affairs, Peace and Human Security.   

"Being a minority in both countries, the churches of India and Pakistan have
chosen to remain very much quiet on this issue for fear of provoking a
backlash from small hard-line religious groups. But, given the present mood
of the people, this is the right time for the churches to get involved in
efforts for peace," he explains.   

The role of religion in conflicts will be a major focus of the consultation.
"During the last decade, religious intolerance has been growing in the entire
region. As a result, there have been attacks against religious minorities.
Churches, hospitals and educational institutions have been attacked and
burned," John reports.	 

"That is why it is crucial to address the question of how to inculcate
tolerance in South Asian societies in order to overcome hatred and violence,"
he adds.  

The WCC Central Committee statement on South Asia is available at:
http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments.nsf/index/pub-3-en.html 

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office,  
tel: +41 (0)22 791 6421 /6153

Need more advance warning? Check the WCC Media Calendar at: 
www.wcc-coe.org  > Press Corner  > Media Calendar  
or directly at http://www2.wcc-coe.org/wcccalendar.nsf 

**********

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
Media Relations Office
Tel: (41 22) 791 6153 / 791 6421
Fax: (41 22) 798 1346
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