|
|
|
The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
|
| 10.09.2002 |
|
| Council Press Release No. 4 - LWF General Secretary Ishmael Noko: Consequences of Globalization Have Affected Churches in “Very Specific Ways” |
| |
Marginalization A Challenge to the Church Nationally and Globally
WITTENBERG, Germany/GENEVA, 10 September 2002 (LWI) – In his Report to the 2002 Council Meeting of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), General Secretary Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko described globalization as “a process of complex processes” that means many things to many people but remains “one of the defining phenomena of this century.”
Globalization has accelerated growth in commercial transactions, across national borders and it has opened new market opportunities for local and national producers, thereby increasing wealth for some. But since the distribution of these benefits favors the powerful economic actors, the process has also generated many social problems. It is ambiguous because it has a tendency to simultaneously include and exclude people, regions and economic sectors, Noko told the LWF governing body, meeting in the Luther city of Wittenberg, Germany, September10-17.
Economic restructuring, another consequence of globalization, has resulted in higher unemployment, increased insecurity and inequality. Many people today find themselves in a situation where “unemployment undermines the dignity of work.” Yet work is an experience and activity shared by all and through which “we all contribute to our communities and define our own identities and that of our societies. It is this marginalization that constitutes a challenge to the church nationally and worldwide,” Noko stressed.
From a biblical perspective work is a gift and a source of dignity, and therefore has both material and spiritual dimensions, Noko said. Martin Luther’s perspective about work provides some valuable insights. He lived and worked in Wittenberg at a time of economic changes that transformed Germany from a nation of peasant agriculturalists into a society with at least the beginnings of a capitalistic economy. “For Luther, the value of economic activity was in serving the well being of the neighbor,” Noko said.
Globalization Lacks Accountability Structures
Noko also pointed to globalization’s lack of structures that regulate and ensure accountability. He cited the annual meetings of the so-called G8 group – comprising the world’s most powerful economic nations – where decisions that “affect the lives of every person on the planet” are routinely taken. The general secretary wondered how eight nations could decide “on the future of the entire world in a century where ‘transparency’ and ‘participation’ are held up high as very important marks of democracy.”
The LWF general secretary argued that since the present economic system was not devised by God then handed to human beings, there must be a possibility to change it and make it more humane than it currently is. “Globalization will make sense only when it provides opportunities for the reduction of poverty and permits people to lead a dignified life,” he said.
Noko cited the effects of globalization especially on many of the churches in developing countries. Diminishing financial resources have resulted in ever-tighter limitations of the churches’ capacity to provide for their pastors and other church workers. “Many churches are already in a permanent state of financial crisis,” he said. He drew the Council’s attention to the difficult economic situation in countries such as Argentina, Nicaragua, Palestine and Liberia. The crisis goes beyond material shortage. It has an ecclesiological and spiritual dimension that puts to question what it means ‘to be church’ in a globalized “world that is connected, yet disconnected, cured but not healed [of] memories.”
During the Council meeting, a hearing is planned on a study process on globalization undertaken by the LWF Department for Theology and Studies.
Global Tensions and Conflicts
Turning to global tensions and conflicts, currently present in nearly every sub-region and continent, Noko noted that the United Nations - an organ conceived to improve international understanding is constantly undermined and ignored by the member states. He also cited the current difficult political and social situation in his home country, Zimbabwe, which has resulted in tension between the Zimbabwean and British governments. The beginnings of such tension can be traced back to a painful history of what happened over a century ago. It involves much more than the quarrel over land re-distribution, and points to a problem that was left unresolved at the time of the 1989 of the Lancaster House Agreement transforming Rhodesia into Zimbabwe. “To be ‘church’ for the churches” in the two nations would, according to Noko, require unprecedented initiatives that help each move from a stage of political cure to healing.”
On the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D. C. on 11 September 2001, Noko noted that the events around that day have become the most influential ones on the international scene. When United States President, George Bush declared war on terrorism without defining what terrorism is, “it opened opportunity for despotic leaders around the world to suppress political opponents under the banners of war against terrorism,” Noko said. But various religious leaders have stated their position on the war against terrorism. In January, the LWF general secretary and Jerusalem bishop, Dr. Munib A.Younan represented the LWF in Assisi, Italy upon the invitation of Pope John Paul II, joining other religious leaders to pray for peace in the world. The testimonies on that day gave no religious bases and justification for the post-September 11 events.
The tragic situation in Israel and Palestine remains a major concern for the LWF. Noko said the Executive Committee at its June meeting witnessed both desperate and hopeful situations. The desperate side continues to be the destruction of human lives, communities, property and a sense of loss of a common future between the Israeli and Palestinian people. The hopeful side was the irrepressible hope and faith within small groups and individuals in both communities, he told the Council.
Churches Encouraged to Contribute to Worldwide Ecumencial Response to HIV-AIDS Pandemic
Noko’s report also highlighted major issues to be discussed in the following days during the Council business sessions. These include documentation for the 2003 LWF Tenth Assembly namely, the Report of the General Secretary on Behalf of the Council, The Study Book: For the Healing of the World, and the Final Report of the Assembly Planning Committee. Also to be brought before the program and standing committees are reports by two task forces, one called to study the place of communication in the LWF, the other, focusing on the nature and future of the LWF as a communion of churches.
Noko commended to Council participants the communiqué Breaking the Silence that contains commitments in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, resulting from a Pan-African Lutheran Church Leadership Consultation last May. The commitments and an LWF action plan on HIV/AIDS have been sent to the member churches. It was the general secretary’s hope that these documents would become part of the churches’ agenda to promote an effective contribution to the worldwide ecumenical response to the pandemic.
Noko also reported on a first meeting, 30 July to 1 August 2002, between representatives of the LWF and International Lutheran Council (ILC) – mainly representing the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and churches affiliated to it. He noted that information shared about the history, confessional/doctrinal basis, self-understanding, organizational structure, types of membership, and the nature, functions and objectives of the two organizations considerably improved the knowledge about each other. Common ground as well as differences were identified in the area of theology, with particular reference to confessional and ecumenical issues. The next ILC-LWF meeting will take place 29-31 October 2003.
Situation of Some LWF Member Churches
The general secretary also raised concern about the situation of Baltic churches abroad namely, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Lutheran churches in exile. Their request for allocation of a Council seat during the coming period will be reviewed.
Staff of the LWF Office for Communication Services at the Council meeting can be contacted at German mobile telephone No., +49-(0) 170-8345 177.
|
If you want to edit this article yourself and adapt it to a given format, follow our editing information
|
|
|
|
|
|
