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Anglican Peace and Justice Network Communique

Posted On : March 30, 2010 4:23 PM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/3/30/ACNS4695
Related Categories: ACO  APJN

We, the delegates to the triennial meeting of the Anglican Peace and 
Justice Network in Geneva, Switzerland, have spent the week of 14-20 
March 2010, exploring issues of human rights and examining the role 
of the United Nations, the World Council of Churches (WCC), and other 
faith-based and humanitarian organisations in upholding the rights of 
individuals and communities throughout the world.

Embedding our learning and discussions in a theology of justice as 
right relationship with God, with one another, and with all Creation, 
and in the Anglican Five Marks of Mission, we have focused on 
international laws relating to particular themes, including:

* the right to truth, transitional justice, and non-discrimination;

* the rights of women, and everyone's right to health;

* the rights of children, and the importance of education in emergencies;

* the rights of migrants, minorities, and people in exile.

We express our profound appreciation for the commitment of the 
Anglican Communion and its member provinces which supported the 
participation of approximately 30 persons representing 25 provinces 
or jurisdictions, together with a representative of the Old Catholic 
Church of Switzerland.

> We particularly record our appreciation of:

* the meeting organisers, especially the Anglican UN Office and 
Committee in Geneva, who provided a rich, relevant and successful 
programme; the Anglican Communion Office, and the Anglican Peace and 
Justice Network steering committee;

* the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, who 
challenged us to understand our responsibilities even as he affirmed 
and encouraged us in our ministries;

* the liturgies in local churches, and thematic Bible studies 
each morning, that enriched our time together and ensured that our 
exploration of the themes was grounded in prayer, theology, and the Eucharist;

* the quality and relevance of contributions and dialogue 
provided by key leaders of the World Council of Churches, the United 
Nations, and the non-governmental sector;

* the opportunity to witness deliberations of the UN Human 
Rights Council and tour the Palais des Nations;

* the generosity of welcome, care and hospitality provided by 
the local Anglican congregations of Emmanuel, Holy Trinity, and St. 
Germain, as well as the WCC.

Recognising that there are universal concepts of justice, and humbly 
conscious of our own internal divisions, we encourage our churches to 
be sensitive to peoples' struggles in society, and to be aware of 
what international agencies are doing to protect and care for all 
God's children in our regions. More particularly, we urge our 
churches to incorporate issues of justice into missional work and 
into theological education at every level

Even as we met in Geneva, seemingly insulated from the violence and 
despair prevalent in so many parts of the world, we were reminded of 
the dangerous realities to be faced when news came of the murder 
attempt on Bishop Martin Barahona of El Salvador, Primate of the 
Anglican Province of the Central American Region. We give thanks that 
he escaped injury, and pray for the swift recovery of his driver who 
was wounded. May God bring healing to all victims of violence, and 
may we never forget those who have given their lives in the search 
for peace. We urge our churches to condemn violence whenever and 
wherever it occurs.

During our time together this week we have valued the opportunities 
to complement the global inputs by sharing our local perspectives and 
initiatives in our provinces. We are exploring ways to increase 
communication regarding specific challenges and opportunities for solidarity.

During the meeting, alliances were strengthened and plans were made 
for addressing specific concerns. For example, the representatives 
from the Nippon Sei Ko Kai and the Anglican Church of Korea invited 
colleagues to share their opposition to militarisation in the region 
during the Japan Peace Week and a Peace Conference in Okinawa in June 
2010 (continuing the focus of the TOPIK, or Towards Peace in Korea, 
consultation in Seoul in 2007). The African delegates shared their 
intention to bring APJN matters to the next meeting of the Council of 
Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA).

We hope many of our provinces will be able to send delegates to the 
International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica, 
17-25 May, 2011, a culmination of the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence 
which will seek to strengthen churches' commitment to just peace and 
processes of reconciliation.

We welcome the growing recognition by some of our speakers and other 
contributors to the meeting that faith-based organisations can be 
important partners in tackling some of the issues and situations they 
address, not least because of their grassroots presence and knowledge 
of the local community and context.

We recognise that the Anglican Communion has the potential to engage 
more deeply with many human rights issues and challenges through 
education, pastoral care and advocacy, and through appropriate 
collaboration between the official Networks of the Communion and the 
Anglican United Nations offices in New York and Geneva.

We celebrate the fact that several other official Anglican networks 
sent representatives to be with us for this learning experience in 
Geneva, including the International Anglican Women's Network, 
Anglican Health Network, Anglican Indigenous Network, Anglican 
Francophone Network, International Anglican Family Network, and the 
Anglican Refugee and Migrant Network.

It was clear to us all that many issues of injustice and conflict 
which are of shared concern among the Networks - as well as Anglican 
leaders worldwide - are rooted in the poverty and economic 
disparities that plague our world. Further conversation on this is 
one of several goals lifted up for attention in the next few years. 
Other subjects are a continuing examination of conflict and 
post-conflict situations; the socio-economic impact of unjust or 
irresponsible use of the earth's resources as well as inattention to 
climate justice; human trafficking, and the plight of people on the move.

Recognising the great responsibility placed upon us by our provinces 
and our Communion to serve God's mission by working toward peace and 
abundant life for all God's people, we acknowledge with grateful 
thanks the hard work and visionary leadership of so many persons who 
have sustained the Anglican Peace and Justice Network for the past 25 years.

During the meeting in Geneva, we particularly remembered and 
commemorated the life and witness of Luis Osorio Prado, former bishop 
of Pelotas, dean of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil's 
seminary in Porto Alegre, and founding member of APJN, who died 
21December 2009. May he rest in peace, and may God grant the gift of 
peace to all in our beloved Communion.