wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Pakistan: Ecumenical delegation to support churches amidst conflict

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World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 20/11/2008 14:33:28

PAKISTAN: ECUMENICAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT CHURCHES AMIDST CONFLICT

Religious freedom and interreligious dialogue will be on the agenda of an  international ecumenical delegation visiting Pakistan from 24 November to  1 December. The group will discuss how churches can help ease political  and religions tensions with representatives from churches, the Muslim  community and government officials.

The international ecumenical delegation sponsored by the World Council of  Churches (WCC) will learn about the work of the churches in interreligious  relations, how Christians deal with situations of tension and conflict and  the contributions made by civil society organizations. Returning back home  they will share their experience with their churches.

After almost a decade of military dictatorship, the Islamic Republic of  Pakistan returned to democratically elected civilian rule in February this  year. Fighting in the tribal areas along the Pakistan-Afghan border has  recently intensified with cross border attacks from US forces based in  Afghanistan creating tensions between the Pakistani and US governments.  Militant groups have sometimes targeted local Christians by kidnappings  and killings, presuming them to be US proxies or sympathizers. They have  also targeted foreigners in other parts of the country.

In February 2008 the WCC central committee hailed interfaith initiatives  of the Church of Pakistan that "mobilize non-violent responses to acts of  terrorism by building a culture of peace and interfaith harmony in the  country". It also noted that Pakistani churches and faith communities have  condemned "violence, terrorism and all other forms of dehumanizing  measures".

The visit of the international ecumenical delegation, hosted by the Church  of Pakistan and the National Council of Churches of Pakistan, is part of  the WCC "Living Letters" initiative. Several Living Letters visits take  place each year throughout the world in the context of the WCC's Decade to  Overcome Violence in order to prepare for the International Ecumenical  Peace Convocation in 2011.

Members of the Ecumenical delegation: 

- Prof. Charles Amjad-Ali, Church of Pakistan, Pakistan/United States
- Deacon Michael Barseghyan, Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Etchmiadzin)
- Ms. Monisha Smith, Presbyterian Church in United States
- Rev. Dr. Aart Verburg, Protestant Church in Netherlands

WCC staff: 

- Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, Director of WCC Inter-religious dialogue  and cooperation
- Mr. Henrik Hansson, Intern, WCC Communications

Living Letters to Pakistan blog: http://overcomingviolence.org/?id=6410

>WCC member churches in Pakistan:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4678

Additional information:

Juan Michel +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness  and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of  churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant,  Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million  Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman  Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from  the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.