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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 11.03.2003 |
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| Asian Lutheran Churches Urge LWF to Use 'All Avenues' to Pre-empt US-Led War in Iraq |
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Participants in Asia Pre-Assembly Say Region's Stability Is at Stake
MEDAN, Indonesia/GENEVA, 11 March 2003 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches in Asia have urged the LWF and its member churches to use all avenues and methods to avert a war in Iraq "for the sake of justice and global peace."
In a statement issued at the end of the March 2-6 Asia Church Leadership Conference (ACLC) jointly held with the Asian Pre-assembly Consultation (PAC), representatives of the LWF member churches in the region said they were "deeply concerned about the possible war against Iraq." They condemned any military strike or aggression against the country, stressing that its future and the region's stability was at stake in the event of a United States-led war.
"We reject the use of war and violence as a political tool and affirm the essential role of the United Nations in the process of solving problems and restoring peace. Any military action [against Iraq] outside the established UN framework will further weaken global peace and encourage the law of the jungle," said the delegates drawn from 15 countries.
War can never be seen as an instrument of peace, the LWF delegates from Asia stressed, and affirmed their stance "against violence and against countries who seek to use their power over the small, powerless and vulnerable countries." Pleading for dialogue instead of a military option, the church representatives from Asia condemned all forms of terrorism including extremists who seek to provoke "a clash of civilizations," and noted that violence only "begets more violence."
They pointed out that the humanitarian consequences of war - the killing and maiming of innocent people, food shortages and the related consequences, will only lead to more deaths in Iraq and other parts of the world. "The manufacturing of millions of refugees," the Asia church leaders said, stands in direct contradiction of the image of God in all people.
The Asian PAC/ACLC participants criticized some world leaders who have repeatedly set up frameworks whereby the rest of the world is either for or against them, "thereby appropriating for themselves a certain world order, legitimized only by themselves and their allies." They condemned a "just war theory" as a means to destroy weapons of mass destruction and wipe out international terrorism, saying such an approach will sap the world, particularly the poor countries, of much needed resources.
The representatives of LWF member churches in Asia said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a serious case of concern for the Lutheran communion in the region. They cited the killing of innocent people and atrocities committed by the Israeli military against the Palestinian community, and called for the implementation of a just peace as prescribed in the relevant UN resolutions. They called for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories; a two-state solution respecting that Palestinians and Israelis live side by side peacefully, "with justice, equality and reconciliation"; the sharing of Jerusalem between both peoples with respect accorded to the three monotheistic religions - Christianity, Islam and Judaism; just resolution of the plight of refugees and a solution to the illegal settlements on Arab land.
They encouraged the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ) - serving in Israel, Jordan and Palestine - to work with other churches in the search for justice and reconciliation. The 3,000-member ELCJ, was represented at the regional meeting by Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan. It joined the LWF in 1974.
Churches Reject all Forms of Patriarchy, Affirm Gender Inclusiveness
In their final message the representatives of LWF churches in Asia declared they had heard the cries of the region's women. Affirming that the church is called to "constantly" proclaim God's justice, they stated their rejection of "all forms of patriarchy and affirmed gender inclusiveness in church and society." The church structures, they said, should not only ensure women's presence and participation in meetings alone, but also their rightful involvement in designing policies, administration and leadership.
In a report following the women's regional meeting, held prior to the Asian PAC, around 30 women and youth representatives urged theologians and pastors "of our member churches to preach and teach from the Scriptures with a fully human hermeneutic in the example of Jesus, which encompasses the experiences of all believers - children, youth, women and men."
The Asian churches' statement included a call to all churches to break the silence and taboos regarding sex and sexuality, particularly in their HIV/AIDS awareness-raising activities. Churches, the Asian PAC noted, should continue to struggle for gender justice, equal opportunities and saying 'No' to violence against women in church and society. In their report, the women had noted that the natural act of care giving had increasingly become a commodity in their region through sex tourism, trafficking of women and children, and the exploitation of domestic helpers and migrant workers. They urged the churches to form congregation-based social action groups to address such issues and related human rights concerns.
The Asian women noted that the environment was being placed under serious threat by deforestation, pollution and turning natural resources such as water into commodities. They called for a recycling campaign practicing the three 'Rs', - reuse, reduce and recycle - and a tree-planting and education campaign in all the member churches.
Call for Adequate Representation of Youth, Openness to Young People's Needs
The Asian PAC and ACLC affirmed their commitment to ensure adequate youth participation "in our churches." In a message from the Asian youth at the meeting, youth representatives urged the LWF to aim towards having "at least (and not maximum) 20 percent of the total Assembly delegates to consist of young people with a good balance of both genders." They noted that out of over 100 participants in the regional PAC only nine delegates, all female, were youth.
The young people stressed their desire to play an active role in the building of the future of the Lutheran church in Asia. In their message, they urged LWF member churches in the region to be more open to the youths' need for a more lively expression of their faith and worship. "Traditional hymns can still be sung, but it is proposed that more lively praise and worship songs and music can be incorporated as well." They urged their churches to reach out to young adults - confronted with myriad issues including peer pressure, drugs, premarital sex, unemployment, gangsterism, identity, worries about war, terrorism and uncertainty about the future. Sermons and messages, the Asian youth said, should be made more relevant, and take the youth context into consideration.
The Asian PAC and Church Leadership Conference brought together some 120 representatives of the 46 LWF member churches in the region. Gathered around the LWF Tenth Assembly theme, "For the Healing of the World," they shared in Bible study presentations, group discussions, sub-regional meetings, worship and the fellowship of the host Indonesian churches. It was the third such consultation in preparation for the July 2003 LWF Tenth Assembly that will take place in Winnipeg, Canada. A pre-Assembly Consultation for North America took place January 23-26 in Denver, Colorado in the USA, while Europe's was held February 23-26 in Vienna, Austria. Representatives from the Africa region will meet March 23-26 in Nairobi, Kenya, while the Latin America and Caribbean consultation will be held April 7-10 in San Salvador, El Salvador. An international Women's Pre-Assembly Gathering took place 14-17 November 2002 in Montreux, Switzerland, and a global youth conference will be held prior to the Assembly.
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