wfn.org | Asian Indigenous Theologians Express Desire to Reclaim Cultural

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank_Imhoff@elca.org>]

Asian Indigenous Theologians Express Desire to Reclaim Cultural Heritage

LWF Study Seminar: In dialogue with Indigenous Peoples - Spirits and
Healing

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah, Malaysia/GENEVA, 30 September 2004 (LWI) -
Indigenous Asian theologians and pastors attending a Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) study seminar in Malaysia, expressed the desire to
reclaim some of their cultural traditions and heritage. They requested
the LWF to help develop guidelines on how to deal with Asian
spiritualities and spiritualistic movements.

Presentations at the September 15-19 LWF Department for Theology and
Studies (DTS) seminar held at the Sabah Theological Seminary, included
topics ranging from the exclusiveness and inclusiveness of the gospel,
blood sacrifice, spirits in the Bible, the nature and role of spirits in
indigenous traditions, and the veneration of ancestors, to healing in
traditional beliefs and in Lutheran church ministry. 

Dr Solomon Rajah, teaching at the Malaysian Theological Seminary in
Sermban, noted that while Christian pastors were frequently called to
drive out evil spirits, members of indigenous congregations also
consulted the spiritual healer Bobolizan, in times of crisis. 

Mainstream churches gave little space to alternative forms of
spirituality, yet it was common for people to look elsewhere for
spiritual nourishment, noted Dr Monica Melanchthon, Gurukul Lutheran
Theological College and Research Institute in Chennai, India. While
first generation Christian converts were inclined to distance themselves
from or even reject their traditions, she argued, those in the next
generations often felt the need to reaffirm their identities. She
challenged the participants to reflect on whether the time had not come
for the church to be more open toward integrating alternative
spiritualities. 

Dr Suneel Bhanu Busi, also teaching at the Gurukul institute, said
religions "possess the resources and potential for socio-economic and
political reform, empowerment and liberation." Indonesian theologian,
Rev. Nelly Hutahaean from the theological seminary of the Protestant
Christian Batak Church in North Sumatra, stressed the need to speak out
more openly and critically about the understanding of spirituality in
the Lutheran church.

Speaking from the native American perspective, Methodist pastor Alan
Cogswell presented creative and appropriate ways of entering into
dialogue with indigenous communities. Stressing the importance of a
"dialogue for life" approach he and sister Rosario Battung, a Roman
Catholic nun from the Philippines, involved participants in indigenous
celebrations of God's creation. 

"Dialogue constitutes a celebration of humanity and serves as a means
of mutual empowerment and reconciliation," stressed Dr Wilfred John, a
lecturer at the Sabah Theological Seminary.

Pastor Petoh Selamat of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia remarked
that the study seminar had encouraged him to pursue discussion with
colleagues and congregation members on how to understand and discern
supernatural phenomena.

The LWF/DTS Study Secretary for the Church and People of Other Faiths,
Rev. Dr Ingo Wulfhorst described the seminar as a very "fruitful
dialogue meeting." Discussions from the ten study papers shared
beforehand were compiled into a document, "In Dialogue with Indigenous
Peoples in Asia on Spirits and Healing," also the theme of the five-day
gathering. It will be translated into Chinese, Indonesian and Malay, and
sent to congregations and theological institutions in Asia for feedback.
A revised version in light of comments received will be part of similar
regional outcomes to be discussed at a global consultation in 2005. The
final study document, "Spiritualism as a Global Challenge to the Church:
Theses and Guidelines," will be shared with all LWF member churches.

The DTS study program on spiritualistic movements is among other
things, aimed at probing the implications of spiritualistic movements
for Lutheran identity, interfaith dialogue and mission, with the
objective of developing guidelines for global work in the church's
ministry. (599 words)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of
nearly 65 million Lutherans. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be
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