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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 17.02.2004 |
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| 'Churches Holding Governments Accountable' But Who is Holding the Churches Accountable? |
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LWF Consultation Seeks New Strategies for Mutual Responsibility of Church and State
GENEVA, 17 February 2004 (LWI) - Participants in a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) consultation “Churches Holding Governments Accountable” made an appeal for transparency and for the holders of political office to work for the benefit of civil society.
The LWF Department for Theology and Studies (DTS) organized the January 22-25 meeting in Geneva, attended by around 20 international participants. DTS Director Rev. Dr Karen Bloomquist noted, “We have to develop a Lutheran social ethic which proceeds from the idea that all churches are communio and incorporates the concept of mutual responsibility.”
Bloomquist stressed that the primarily theoretical and ethical discussion of the last few years about the relationship between church and government has often failed to take into account the political realities and the actual relationship between church and state in many countries. She noted that the time had come to take a global look at this basic approach within the context of economic globalization and to consider how close it comes to reality. Bloomquist said the consultation’s aim was to build on previous DTS publications and seminars on economic globalization, specifically by picking up where previous work left off and by identifying areas that require additional work.
The core issue in the participants’ discussion was the concept of advocacy, or working to defend the rights of the disadvantaged. The consultation underscored the need for churches to engage in advocacy vis-a-vis governments. It appeared particularly important to identify content-specific focal points within advocacy to ensure appropriateness to the relevant context, country and level (local, national or international). But there is still debate as to who should select the focal points, where this should occur, and the criteria that should be used.
Rev. Dr Molefe Tsele, general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, said a lot still needs to be done with respect to advocacy work, particularly at the local level. He pointed out, “If we want to have advocacy at the local level, we have to create the awareness in our congregations that advocacy is part of the church’s prophetic role.” He added, however, that this awareness is inextricably linked to the questions of the concept of self, church identity and the church’s role in the world. Tsele stated that examples of the integration of political and social issues into the congregation’s life and into theological training as they relate to the world are, unfortunately, more often the exception than the rule.
Criticizing Governments Poses Difficulties
Rev. Dr Fidon Mwombeki, general secretary of the Northwestern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania said the personal nature of the close relationship between church and politics in some countries posed difficulties. This link often restricts the church’s ability to critically examine its own policies. Mwombeki described the situation thus: “There are so many Lutherans in the government and they are very helpful to the church. Consequently, it is difficult to turn around and criticize them the day after they just lent you a helping hand.” Particularly in such cases, the church faces the heightened challenge of preventing the instrumentalization of its prophetic voice.
Responding to these remarks, Tsele appealed for a kind of “critical solidarity” with the governments, saying he considered it the churches’ responsibility to continually remind the government of its election promises, as well as to evaluate the government based on its success in implementing such pledges.
Churches’ Political Participation Essential
Susanne Buchweitz, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, said that in view of the previous decades of military dictatorship and the new government and head of state, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the churches in Brazil are maintaining a “wait-and-see” attitude. Buchweitz noted that one still feels the remnants of the military dictatorship in the churches’ lack of trust in the political leadership and in their fear of political interference. Stated the Brazilian journalist: “The church members are still afraid to go out onto the street and speak out their minds freely.” The prevailing opinion, she noted, is often that political issues are not part of the churches’ tasks.
Sasi Prabha, a social activist from India, was also critical of the church’s non-participation in political and social issues. She believes that self-protection and fear lie at the heart of the problem. Prabha said, “The church is one of the largest networks of people in the world. Unfortunately, we have not even attempted to make the most of this enormous strength. The church should view the concept of mission as a citizens’ movement.”
The relationship between church and state was not the only problem identified. Others included the church’s relationship to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to the economy, international politics and media. Concerning cooperation with NGOs, participants were agreed on the need to show solidarity as civil society groups that share the same interests while simultaneously emphasizing the church’s own identity and pointing out the differences between NGOs and churches. Furthermore, the partners should be closely reviewed with respect to their credibility, representation and interests.
Churches Have an Obligation to Assist the Needy
Prabha cited the presence of many economic actors as another reason why the church is called to help those who have been disenfranchised and dispossessed as a consequence of the neo-liberal globalization. In her work assisting the Indigenous population in Orissa (India), she experienced firsthand why taking up political action is important in the people’s daily lives.
She knew many people who had been driven from their properties because the government had sold the land to large international companies that would exploit its resources and use it for industrial purposes. The church has a particularly important role in such matters, Prabha said. She urged the church to review the treaties and agreements made between governments and international financial institutions, document the related negative effects of globalization, and raise awareness in the congregations and among the population.
At the close of the LWF consultation, a paper dealing with the role and the calling of the state was drafted with the working title, “Reclaiming the Vocation of the Government.” The document sets out the discussion’s results and determines new ways and strategies for churches to demand greater responsibility on the part of governments. The paper however notes that before the state, NGOs and the economy can be held accountable, churches must identify and acknowledge their own problems and inadequacies and be willing to work to improve themselves. (1,103 words)
(A contribution by Anne-Christin Sievers, youth intern in the LWF Office for Communication Services.)
Please click here for the statement "Reclaiming The Vocation Of Government" from a consultation held in Geneva in January 2004. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
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