WARC/Global Dialogue on the Accra Confession

''We are faced with a crisis that is far more than an economic or financial crisis. It is a spiritual crisis of a civilizational model that is economically unjust; ecologically unsustainable, structurally violent and socially degrading of human dignity,'' said the message from the Global Dialogue on the Accra Confession: Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth released on Friday, 10 September 2009 at Willow Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The dialogue brought together nearly 60 high-profile theologians and church officials, mainly from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which represents 214 Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United churches in 107 countries, and 75 million congregants. For four days from 3 to 7 September they unpacked the implications of the WARC’s adoption of the Accra Confession at its 24th general council in 2004 in Accra, Ghana.

“We recognized that the present global economic crisis has exposed the inadequacy of the system to meet the needs of the people across the globe. The crisis has unmasked the failure of the global economic system to nurture sustainable Earth communities,” said the message of 28 articles.

It highlights one of the strongest themes throughout the conference, that of empire, describing it as, among other things, “an all-encompassing global reality serving, protecting and defending the interests of powerful corporations, nations, elites and privileged people, while imperiously excluding even sacrificing humanity and exploiting creation”.

“The call on the churches in the present context is therefore to resist the life defeating and death dealing blows of the economics of empire and to present alternative economies that have their basis in the promise of life in its fullness for all.”

Discussion during the four-day consultation held at the Willow Park conference centre focused on response by WARC member churches to a declaration known as the Accra Confession which was adopted at the Alliance’s global assembly in Accra, Ghana in 2004. The Confession urges WARC member churches to accept that seeking alternatives to the current global economic model is a matter of faith.

WARC’s general secretary, Setri Nyomi, affirms the importance to the Alliance of church action on economic and environmental justice. Nyomi states that the commitment to justice will remain central to the work of the Reformed church movement following the merger of WARC and the Reformed Ecumenical Council in June 2010 to create the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

“We are putting in place a structure that ensures that our covenanting for justice in the economy and the earth becomes stronger,” says Nyomi. “We cannot ignore the millions of victims of injustice and the consequences of human devastation upon the Earth. I am grateful to all the participants for the forward-looking vision that came out of the consultation as reflected in the statement".

The group said covenanting for justice had to be a continuous process and that the Accra Confession had proven to be highly prophetic, and that it should be the basis for communion between churches in both rich and poor countries. “On the one hand, we give thanks for the gift of reconciliation in Christ, and on the other, we understand that authentic faith cannot be divorced from actions for justice. We come together in unity for the sake of justice.

“At our best communion is experienced in the struggle as we covenant for justice in the economy and the earth.”

Another conference theme was also captured, that of the complicity of Christians and churches themselves in economic injustice: “We were also brought into an acute awareness of the seduction of globalization and the role that it plays in co-opting even the most radical movements while at the same time insulating the privileged from the violence it is based on and generates.”

The group said “the answer to the crisis cannot be only economic or financial. We are in need of a more holistic and integrated strategy, led by a renewed and deepened spirituality of life.”

But it also came with practical suggestions to be pursued: “We should develop and agree on a set of specific principles of economic justice that are based on the biblical values of care, compassion, responsibility and accountability, taking into account the work done by the ecumenical family.

Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, coordinator of the event and WARC’s senior executive responsible for justice programmes, says: "The Global Dialogue has provided a way forward for the Accra Confession to be lived out in every place - from the streets to institutions; from communities to churches. It was made clear that today more than ever, it is vital that churches to connect with each other and with peoples' struggles, as we work together for justice and life sustaining communities.”

A plan of action for churches is being developed for churches in preparation for the WARC/REC 2010 Uniting General Council.

The full statement follows.

Contact:
Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth
Executive Secretary, Church Renewal, Justice and Partnership
psb@warc.ch
tel. +41 (0)22 791 6156

MESSAGE FROM THE GLOBAL DIALOGUE ON THE ACCRA CONFESSION
Johannesburg, South Africa, 3 – 7 September

Introduction
1. In response to the urgent call to the common witness of a faith commitment in the Accra Confession: Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth adopted at the WARC 24th General Council, and in the continuing recognition of the urgency of the economic crisis and ecological destruction of our time, we write to reaffirm that the struggle for global economic justice and sustainable Earth communities is essential to the integrity of our faith in God and our discipleship as Christians. [Psalms 24:1]

2. In our continuing journey as a people of faith with the God of life - toward the June 2010 Uniting General Council, under the theme Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace [Ephesians 4:3], we are reminded of the reign of God who calls us into hope for justice, peace, wellness, harmony and unity [Titus 3:13-14]. Covenanting for justice in the economy and the earth is a testimony to just communion with God and God’s creation.

3. From the 3rd to the 8th of September 2009, 58 church leaders, activists, pastors and theologians, who share a deep commitment to justice for the economy and the earth, representing churches of the Reformed tradition and global ecumenical institutions from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and the Middle East met in Johannesburg to reflect and dialogue on the Accra Confession.

4. The communication praxis of Jesus was to speak truth to power in word [Mark 7: 5, 6] and symbolic action [Mark 6: 30-44]. But Jesus not only spoke and acted, he also listened to the voices of those who were forced into silence by the violence of the system [John 4: 1- 26].

5. We, the participants of this Global Dialogue listened to the voices of people who struggle to come to terms with neo-liberal economic realities of post-apartheid South Africa. We heard from the people of Soweto about their collective action to resist the unjust system to find new ways of reclaiming their humanity. We learnt of ways in which people are reclaiming the economy to serve their interests - through political action directed against the state and its collusion with corporations. We also learnt of concrete action taken by people in making the state accountable to them as well as the church providing alternatives in places where the state has failed. Some of us also witnessed violence of the poor against the poor created by an economic system that pits them against each other in the struggle for life.

6. We were also brought into an acute awareness of the seduction of globalization and the role that it plays in co-opting even the most radical movements while at the same time insulating the privileged from the violence it is based on and generates.

7. We recognized that the present global economic crisis has exposed the inadequacy of the system to meet the needs of the people across the globe. The crisis has unmasked the failure of the global economic system to nurture sustainable Earth communities. The “idol” has been revealed as mammon. People are losing jobs, homes and access to public services. The growing awareness and acceptance of the ecological crisis and its rootedness in anti-people growth economies has further exacerbated the need for organized political action for global transformation. The need for churches and people’s movements then is to use this crisis as an opportunity to initiate a paradigm shift in the economic system ensuring deeper democratic institutions enhances life giving economies. The call on the churches in the present context is therefore to resist the life defeating and death dealing blows of the economics of empire and to present alternative economies that have their basis in the promise of life in its fullness for all. (John 10.10)

Reading the Signs of the Times
8. The Accra Confession continues to be a prophetic response to the state of the world. This is due to the dramatic effects of the global financial crisis and the unprecedented level of ecological destruction and on-going climate change. We discerned a large consensus that the neoliberal economic paradigm, leading to a culture of greed, to unlimited growth and irresponsible consumption, is bankrupt.

9. Since Accra, we have deepened our understanding of empire, the system of death, contradicting God’s will for life and justice for all. “We speak of empire, because we discern a coming together of economic, cultural, political and military power in our world today, that constitutes a reality and a spirit of lordless domination, created by humankind yet enslaving simultaneously; an all-encompassing global reality serving, protecting and defending the interests of powerful corporations, nations, elites and privileged people, while imperiously excluding even sacrificing humanity and exploiting creation; a pervasive spirit of destructive self-interest, even greed - the worship of money, goods and possessions; the gospel of consumerism, proclaimed through powerful propaganda and religiously justified, believed and followed; the colonization of consciousness, values and notions of human life by the imperial logic; a spirit lacking in compassionate justice and showing contemptuous disregard for the gifts of creation and the household of life.” (Definition of empire from the Globalisation Project - Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa and Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany.)

10. Our churches, in different forms and to various extents, have not only struggled against empire through continuing reflection, dialogue and actions for justice and peace in the economy and the earth but we have also remained complicit to empire. This complicity remains the greatest threat to our communion, to our search for unity in Christ and is a betrayal of God’s call for compassionate justice.

11. We see new opportunities in this moment of Kairos, in communion with other women and men at a grass-root, a national and an international level, to construct new economies of compassion, care and solidarity beyond empire.

Trinitarian Communion and Christian Justice
12. II Corinthian 13, verse 13 sees Trinitarian Communion as the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the community of the Holy Spirit. More particularly, Trinitarian Communion acknowledges God as the Creator-Sustainer, Jesus Christ as the reconciler between God and humanity, humanity and humanity and humanity and the earth, and the Holy Spirit as the ever-present power, inspiring the activity of the redeemed as doers of Christian Justice. On the one hand, we give thanks for the gift of reconciliation in Christ, and on the other, we understand that authentic faith cannot be divorced from actions for justice. We come together in unity for the sake of justice.

13. Because God is love we are confident in the assertion that God continues to love those who have been told repeatedly that they deserve no love. In obedience to the crucified Christ, we yield to the sovereign God our willing service. And with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we carefully analyse and expose gross systemic subordination as well as microstructures of “naturalness” and patterns of inequality, supposedly sanctioned as the providence of God. In other words, we hold Trinitarian Communion and Christian Justice as indivisible entities in the providential unfolding of God’s purpose for humankind. At our best communion is experienced in the struggle as we covenant for justice in the economy and the earth.

Signs of Hope and Energy
14. We have listened carefully to the experiences of how people are resisting the effects of empire on their communities. We saw how women and men in Soweto are engaged in organising for change and reclaiming their respect and dignity through struggle for clean water and electricity in a context where the political leadership has failed them. These stories of resistance are attested to in many other places as well.

15. We heard of stories of how churches, both in the North and South, are living out the Accra Confession in their contexts. For example Churches in Zambia are involved in engaging in studying and understanding what globalization is and its impact on their daily lives. Some churches in the North have and are developing policies that enable them to set aside resources for the promotion of the Accra Confession and education for justice.

16. We have been encouraged by an emerging dialogue between churches in the North and those in the South, especially on Empire and what it means for both perspectives. The dialogue on globalization between the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) and the Evangelical Reformed Church (ERK) in Germany has served as a signpost of what is possible for us all. This journey of conversations holds potential for South to South dialogue also [Isaiah 1:18]. The growing consensus on empire as a lens from which to read the Accra Confession and to seek after justice is a sign of hope.

17. We listened to the pain of communion in the light of the South African churches experience of apartheid. We search for community in Bible study, prayer, and hearing of the healing word of God in our world with an awareness of the agony of pain that can only be healed by truth, repentance and reconciliation.

18. We look to the future with hope, new energy and the commitment to walk in communion and struggle together seeking justice despite our different social locations.

The Way Forward
19. In John Calvin’s theology, human life is set in relation to the life of God. Life for the honour of God is based on faith in God, who puts God’s own life at stake for the benefit of humankind. Our common journey forward as a people of faith is accompanied by our life giving God [Matthew 1:23].
20. We are faced with a crisis that is far more than an economic or financial crisis. It is a spiritual crisis of a civilizational model that is economically unjust; ecologically unsustainable, structurally violent and socially degrading of human dignity. Therefore the answer to the crisis cannot be only economic or financial. We are in need of a more holistic and integrated strategy, led by a renewed and deepened spirituality of life [John 10:10].
21. We need to recognize that all power is accountable to God. If economic or political structures fail to serve life, they must be changed. Theology of life needs to guide us in our way. Christians cannot accept that humanly constructed structures and systems, as powerful as they might be, are unchangeable. We experience everywhere in the world the struggle of people against an “economy of death” rearing its ugly life threatening head on the poor and marginalized. We need to seek for cooperation and solidarity of the body of Christ with grass-root movements, international groups and civil-society groups. For example the networking for global water justice.

22. In the faces of women, children, people living with disabilities, people living with HIV and AIDS, those discriminated on the basis of gender, race, caste, sexual orientation and sexuality we see the suffering of those most affected by the consequences of neo-liberal globalism. We affirm that all of life, in all its diversity, together is the image of God. The broken body of Christ that is united in the bond of love and with the Spirit of Peace invites us to journey together for justice and peace in the economy and the earth.

23. We need the expertise of Reformed women and feminist theologians, ecumenical leaders, young people, laypersons in economics and international relations to go forward, reflecting on the gender, race, caste and the other implications of empire that the Accra Confession addresses.

24. We found that a change of paradigm needs transforming education. This needs to take place on different levels and in different ways. This requires a mutual learning by exposure, engagement and dialogue and needs to happen on the levels of church-leaders as well as on the level of the local congregations.

25. We should develop and agree on a set of specific principles of economic justice that are based on the biblical values of care, compassion, responsibility and accountability, taking into account the work done by the ecumenical family. It should lead to the following steps:
- To organize a global ecumenical conference (including the Roman Catholic church) to propose a new international financial architecture, that is: a) based on the principles of economic and climate justice, b) serves the real economy, c) accounts for social and environmental risks, and d) sets clear limits to greed;
- To support processes of strengthening regional and local economies in the different social and cultural contexts.

- To make use of the 10 to 15 year time window to reach and implement the necessary goals of climate justice.

- To engage in climate justice with a twofold strategy: a) mitigation in order to slow down global warming to the level agreed in the ecumenical family (WCC Statement on eco-justice and ecological debt and campaigns of churches and ecumenical agencies), and b) adaptation to climate change and support especially of the most affected and vulnerable people.

26. In the Global Dialogue we found the necessity of an increased and sustained dialogue bringing together Reformed sisters and brothers from all ends of the earth. We need to share our experiences from each of our contexts, on the basis of our communion in Christ. This should take place in consultations between churches of the North and South as well as between churches from the same hemisphere. We also recognize that many people in the North live in conditions of the South and that there are elites in every country in the South, who live as those in the North. With commitment to one another in partnership and solidarity we need to engage in an open trustful space for an ongoing discussion and common understanding. In the light of communion and participation we need awareness for the different contexts we are coming from.

27. As WARC/WCRC looks towards its future, it needs to ask questions about its vision, its membership and their commitment and how it best lives out that vision. This process needs continuing support in organization and administration.

28. This vision of a way forward needs the development of policy and strategy for support, resources and engagement of its member churches to prioritize the urgency of covenanting for justice in the economy and the earth. The new communion needs to pay attention to this reality.

PARTICIPANTS 

1. Rev. Dr Prince Moiseraele Dibeela, United Congregational Church of South Africa
2. Dr Johan Botha, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project, Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa
3. Ms Martina Wasserloos-Strunk, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project, Reformed Alliance, Germany
4. Dr Johann Weusmann, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project, Evangelical Reformed Church, Germany
5. Dr Puleng LenkaBula, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project, Covenanting for Justice network
6. Prof. Dr Allan Boesak, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project, Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa
7. Rev. Dr Ben Du Toit, Dutch Reformed Church, South Africa
8. Prof. Dr Nico N Koopman, URCSA/ERK Globalisation Project, Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa
9. Rev. Basil Manning, United Congregational Church of South Africa
10. Rev. Cheryl Dibeela, United Congregational Church of South Africa
11. Rev. Dr Festus A. Asana, Presbyterian Church in Cameroon
12. Prof. Dr Maake Masango, United Presbyterian Church of South Africa South Africa
13. Rev. Coutinho M. Moma, Evangelical Congregational Church Angola
14. Rt. Rev. Christopher Mkandawire, United Presbyterian Church of South Africa
15. Ms Josephine Muchelemba, United Church of Zambia
16. Rev. Peggy Mulambya Kabonde, WARC executive committee member
17. Prof. Nelus Niemandt, Dutch Reformed Church
18. Rev. Dr Jerry Pillay, Alliance of Reformed Churches in Africa
19. Rev. Hendrick Pillay, United Congregational Church of South Africa
20. Prof. Dr Thias Kgatla, United Reformed Church of South Africa
21. Rev. Jimmy de Wet, Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa
22. Dr Sri Adiningsih, Reformed Ecumenical Council, Indonesia
23. Ms Maritza Anie Boudjikanian, Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches, Lebanon
24. Rev. Charles Norton Jansz, Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka
25. Ms Carmencita Karadag, Peace for Life, Philippines
26. Rev. Decky Kornelius Lolowang, Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa, Indonesia
27. Mr. Philip Peacock, Church of North India
28. Prof. Dr Mammen Varkki, Church of South India
29. Dr Martin Engels, Reformed Alliance in Germany
30. Rev. Matthias Hui, Reformed Church Bern Jura Solothurn, Switzerland
31. Rev. Dr Ulrich Möller, Evangelical Church of Westphalia, Germany
32. Rev. Jane Rowell United Reformed Church, UK
33. Prof. Dr. Christoph Carl Stückelberger, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Switzerland
34. Rev. Dr Sjaak van't Kruis, Protestantse Kerk in Nederland, Netherlands
35. Mr. Helis Barraza Díaz, Moderator, Covenanting for Justice Network, Colombia
36. Rev. Clayton Leal da Silva, AIPRAL, Brazil
37. Ms Omega Bula, United Church of Canada
38. Prof. Dr Katie Geneva Cannon, PC (USA)
39. Rev. Dr Susan Davies, Covenanting for Justice Network
40. Rev. Daniel James Meeter, Reformed Church in America
41. Prof. Dr Oliver Patterson, Covenanting for Justice Network
42. Ms. Sara Pottschmidt, Covenanting for Justice Network
43. Mr. Peter Vander Meulen Covenanting for Justice Network
44. Rev. Robina Winbush Presbyterian Church (USA)
45. Dr Peter Borgdorff, President, Reformed Ecumenical Council, USA
46. Rev. Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick, WARC President, USA
47. Dr. Edwin Makue, South Africa Council of Churches
48. Prof. Dr Tinyiko Maluleke, South Africa Council of Churches
49. Rev. Dr Samuel Ayete Nyampong, Presbyterian Church of Ghana
50. Ms. Athena Peralta, WCC, Philippines
51. Mr. Moatlundhi Mogera, Student, South Africa
52. Rev. Philip Woods Council of World Mission (CWM)
53. Rev. Dr Vuyani Vellem South Africa Council of Churches
54. Mrs. Irma Patterson, USA
55. Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi, WARC General Secretary, Ghana
56. Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, WARC Executive Secretary, Covenanting for Justice, Guyana
57. Rev. Dr Douwe Visser, WARC executive secretary, Theology and Ecumenical Engagement, Netherlands
58. Hans Pienaar, Correspondent, Ecumenical News International, Johannesburg

Quelle: WARC / Reformierter Weltbund >>>