11.08.2004
Work for peace, WARC urges church members around the world
With a reminder that God comes before country, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) has called on its member churches around the world to become active peacemakers, particularly in the face of religious and ethnic conflicts.
“As Christians our allegiance is first to the reign of God and then to our respective countries. We are called to do the will of God in our private and public lives. In a time of so much violence around the world, we are called to a ministry of just peacemaking,” a public issues committee reported to WARC’s 24th general council.
“Such a ministry rejects the domination of some over others. It builds just relationships for life and institutions that support those relationships. Just peace includes respect for basic human rights, provides means of resolving conflicts without violence and promotes human security, freedom and joy.”
The committee stated that there are a variety of causes to the conflicts happening around the world, but that globalization is often at the root of these causes. “Globalization has, among other things, produced increased religious fundamentalism, terrorism and the response to terrorism, and the new US doctrine of full spectrum dominance and preventive war.”
Council agreed to ask WARC member churches to advocate for a reduction in military spending and for arms control and disarmament agreements and has asked churches to engage in “prophetic witness against injustice and promote lifestyles that are consistent with such witness.”
A statement adopted on economic and environmental justice calls for congregations in the churches of the Alliance to “share the cry of the poor” by praying, teaching, preaching and performing acts of solidarity. It urges governments of nations with strong economies to respect the needs of nations with weaker economies in trade negotiations.
It called on governments around the world to increase efforts to reduce or cancel debt and urged them to fulfill their environmental obligations under the Kyoto protocol and other agreements.
A call for the promotion of economic growth that would create jobs was softened slightly after delegate Stewart Graham of Scotland reminded council that not all job growth should be seen in such a positive light. He was particularly concerned about sweatshops. “I’m just not convinced that all efforts for growth are good without regulation.”
The report to council called HIV/Aids “a grave threat to life” that the church can no longer ignore. “There are human faces in the numbing statistics,” it stated. Council agreed to call on its member churches to address the systemic causes of poverty in order to alleviate the threat of HIV/Aids.
Council also agreed to communicate to member churches its belief that women should be ordained, supported a woman’s right to control her own body and said the use of contraceptives is not a sin.
The public issues committee presented council with dozens of recommendations on peace, economic and environmental justice, gender justice and HIV/Aids. While there was broad support for the recommendations, at least one delegate thought the Alliance should thank its member churches for all the good prayers and words of love they have offered.
“We can’t only criticize and warn all the time,” said Peter Bukowsky of Germany.
John Asling, August 11, 2004
