World Alliance of Reformed Churches News Release 25 October 2007
WARC Executive Committee: Trinidad and Tobago, 18-28 October 2007
Rainbow of religions are an opportunity for church
Pluralistic societies offer the church both opportunity and challenge, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago told leaders of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) Wednesday.
Elvis Elahie was addressing the Executive Committee of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) on a day when his church threw a party with singing, dancing and local food in the community of San Fernando on the island of Trinidad.
The multicultural nature of both the county and the church were evident at the dinner and cultural extravaganza put on by the Central and South Presbyteries, with Hindi hymns, steel drums, African, Indian and Chinese dancing, calypso music.
The Executive Committee was greeted at Susamachar Presbyterian Church by drumming and Moco Jumbies, young men performing the â??dance of the spirit,â?? draped in colourful costumes and dancing on stilts.
â??More than any other place in the world, we in Trinidad and Tobago do not only live side by side as people of different faiths, but there is an actual fusion of religion brought through the growing of interfaith marriages and true religious dialogues,â?? Elahie said.
â??Our plural society is a blessing which, if embraced, brings the opportunity for solidarity, the position from which many social issues can be addressed. Our plural society opens a door to what is different but differences should complement each other or sometimes be transcended as we aim towards oneness.â??
He added that a plural society such as the one in Trinidad and Tobago also offers a challenge to the church.
â??Our multifaith context challenges us to transcend our exclusivist position and adopt a pluralist view where there is mutual recognition of one anotherâ??s truths and values in order for truth itself to come into proper focus.â??
And he added: â??A community with a rainbow of religions calls for its own liberation theology.â??
The church has 40,000 members, representing just three per cent of the population of 1.2 million in Trinidad. It has 108 congregations, operates five secondary schools and 72 primary schools and is involved in a number of justice issues.
Meanwhile justice issues are high on the list of priorities for the Caribbean Council of Churches, general secretary Gerard Granado told the Executive Committee Thursday. HIV/AIDS, development and drugs and related issues are critical agenda items for the churches.
Granado said crime, gangs and weapons are key issues in the Caribbean, but they are all related to drugs. The churches are seeking help from other regions of the world.
â??Crime has not just happened like that. A few people did not wake up yesterday morning and decide they would be criminals. It is drug related,â?? Granado said. â??The same is true for the proliferation of small weapons in the Caribbean.
â??We donâ??t manufacture arms here. But do you know that criminals here have more sophisticated weapons than the police? Letâ??s get serious, there is no arms manufacturer in Trinidad.â??
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The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together 75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries - united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled world. The WARC general secretary is Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. WARC's secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Contact: John P. Asling Executive Secretary, Communications World Alliance of Reformed Churches 150 Route de Ferney P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland tel. +41.22 791 6243 fax: +41.22 791 6505 web: www.warc.ch
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