wfn.org | WARC welcomes statements made at the World Social Forum in Brazil

["Franziska Surber" <Franziska.Surber@warc.ch>]

>World Alliance of Reformed Churches
>News Release
>30 January 2009

WARC welcomes statements made at the World Social Forum in
Brazil

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) has issued a
statement of support in response to a declaration by a
representative of the World Council of Churches (WCC) that the
global economic crisis offers an opportunity to create a more
just financial system.

“WARC has made repeated calls over the years for a just world
economic order that respects the rights and dignity of all
peoples and that cares for the earth’s natural resources,” the
organisation’s general secretary, Setri Nyomi said.  “In this
time of global crisis, we have the chance to make our voices
heard. But it will take intensive and persistent pressure from
church groups to ensure that global decision-making groups and
financial institutions act on our calls for a new world economic
order that is based on ethics and fairness.”

Nyomi was responding to comments by Rogate Mshana, WCC programme
executive for poverty, wealth and ecology, at the World Social
Forum (WSF) in Belem, Brazil this week. In his remarks at the
global gathering addressing exploitative globalisation Mshana
said, “The market is a gift from God because people cannot live
without a market.  But that relationship must be just."

"The pundits of free market capitalism have not given up," warns
Mshana, a Tanzanian economist. "They are simply trying in one way
or another to defend it. So I think we should not be naive." The
approach Mshana recommends is to examine the extent to which
issues of finance and trade can be placed under the auspices of
the United Nations.

"We need a contribution of faith based groups, civil society and
also other groups from around the world to be participating in
this," said Mshana. 

In supporting Mshana’s comments, Nyomi pointed to WARC’s
document the ACCRA Confession which is based on the theological
conviction that the economic and environmental injustices of
today’s global economy require the members of the worldwide
organisation of Reformed churches to respond to them as a matter
of faith. Adopted by the organisation in 2004, the Confession
calls on Reformed Christians around the world to work to overcome
unjust economic practices as an integral part of their churches’
mission.

“The challenges posed by the ACCRA confession are significant,”
Nyomi acknowledges.  “It is for that reason that we must be
strongly united at the global level in order to work together to
meet those challenges. We need the strength of our collective
voices in order to be heard in the world’s financial centers.”

>***

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:

>Kristine Greenaway 
>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 ( http://www.warc.ch/ ) 
>e-mail: kgr@warc.ch