BREAK THE CHAINS OF OPPRESION AND THE YOKE OF ...

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were being seen – because of this – of not standing behind the commitment to justice. The above-mentioned factors played a role in the relation between the WARC and its European member churches. However in the reception of the Accra confession and the involvement in the covenanting for justice work there are other problematic factors directly linked to the European context: n Europe is for many of its countries part of the global North from the perspective of economic wealth. As such Europe is directly profiting from the global economic situation that causes economic injustice for many of the poor countries. n Looking at the global ecological situation, Europe as a whole has a very large so-called ecological footprint and is as such most probably the cause of pollution and climate change. n European countries have played a dominant role in colonising countries in the global South and still play a role in neo-colonial situations. n Also European churches and especially many of its members are directly profiting from the lack of balance of global economic wealth. n European theology has often played a role and still plays a role in justifying situations of economic and ecological injustice. n European churches have often played, not the least by using their financial powers, a dominant role in the ecumenical movement hindering equal global involvement. These factors do cause uneasiness in the European context when, like with the covenanting for justice work and the Accra confession, only a self-critical process can be the right answer. If the global South really gets a voice, and that was the case in Accra 2004, �then �there �is no easy message � to �digest in e.g. the European family of churches. No wonder many feel tempted to put the blame only on procedural mistakes and one-sided critique. Perspectives Discus sion The long list of problems could lead to the conclusion that the position of the European member churches within the WARC is of a critical nature and that due to this plus the European economic context the involvement of the European Churches in the covenanting for justice work is merely problematic. This however would be a totally wrong conclusion. Looking at the years since Accra 2004 many things have happened that give a positive perspective. First of all there has been an open ear from the side of WARC’s governing body and its secretariat in Geneva to look with a critical eye at the decision making process in Accra 2004. There has been careful listening to critical voices also from the European member churches. For this it has been helpful that there has been explicit critique. �� – EUROPE’S DISCUSSION ABOUT JUSTICE – 31
In general the European member churches have not let themselves be dominated by frustration but have seen the importance of the commitment to justice. Many also within the churches, ministers in congregations and others were only inspired by what happened in Accra and church leaders in general were wise enough to look at what is in fact only important: Gods justice for the world! The covenanting for justice work played a great role in new bilateral relations, e.g. between German and South-African WARC member churches. Discussions about the language used in the covenanting for justice work have lead to more understanding and more acceptance of some of the definitions being used, e.g. the word ‘empire’. A lot of work has been done to make it clear that being committed to justice is something of the heart of (Reformed) theology. It is the call to God which justifies us and sanctifies us to do justice in the world. The Calvin anniversary year 2009 yet again made clear how deeply rooted this commitment is in the Reformed tradition and as such – it is believed – in the Word of God itself. The credit crisis, due to its often catastrophic impact, made it clear that the global economy has many sinful aspects that can only be condemned. In 2009 the WARC organised eight regional consultations on Communion and Justice, the first one in Europe. Nowhere, most certainly also not in Europe, was there any movement of putting the commitment to justice in the background. With all regional variety the passion for this commitment is dominant everywhere. In Europe it also gave room to seeking clearer understanding. The same is valid for the global consultation on the Accra confession and the covenanting for justice work organised in Johannesburg September 2009: the discussion was open, honest and helpful for strengthening commitment. The merger between the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) and the WARC � � � � � that will lead to the formation of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in June 2010 makes it very clear as to what the mission of the organisation is: “Called to be a Communion of Churches, committed to justice”! In no way can it be feared that European member churches will be an obstacle to obey that call, on the contrary! Visions Discus sion Europe is one of the most secularised parts of today’s world. In all countries mainline churches are declining. In most societies church attendance has gone down very much over the past decades. The position in society is often marginal. Still in many ways the Church has a financial position that reminds us much of the past when the Church had a more prominent position in society. In Germany and many parts of Switzerland Churches are financed through state tax benefits (Kirchensteuer). In Scandinavian countries, except for Sweden, the Lutheran Church is still a State Church. In a country like the Netherlands �� 32 – EUROPE’S DISCUSSION ABOUT JUSTICE –
Page 1 and 2: eak the chains of oppresion and the
Page 4 and 5: BREAK THE CHAINS OF OPRESSION AND T
Page 6 and 7: PContents REAChing Preface There is
Page 8 and 9: PREFA ce There is No Unjust Communi
Page 10 and 11: PREFA ce Let us remember: there sho
Page 12 and 13: PREFA ce ed, stripped bare, when th
Page 14 and 15: PREAChing 1 Preaching on Justice: T
Page 16 and 17: PREAChing message of the free grace
Page 18 and 19: PREAChing come aware of how abundan
Page 20 and 21: PREAChing I draw attention again to
Page 22 and 23: PREAChing who believe that “those
Page 24 and 25: EnGAGEMEnT 2 Commitment after Accra
Page 26 and 27: EnGAGEMEnT which has become spiritu
Page 28 and 29: EnGAGEMEnT worries more, is more ea
Page 30 and 31: Europe’s Discussion about Justice
Page 34 and 35: Discus sion Church and State are fu
Page 36: The Reformed tradition with the ope
Page 39 and 40: DEMoc rAcy However democracy is sti
Page 41 and 42: DEMoc rAcy of the homo politicus -
Page 43 and 44: viewers, the programme is “cut to
Page 45 and 46: DEMoc rAcy Finally it would natural
Page 47 and 48: point modern democracies are open t
Page 49 and 50: DEMoc rAcy Naturally, in many cases
Page 52 and 53: cove nanTi ng 59 Europe’s Road to
Page 54 and 55: cove nanTi ng Western neighbor coun
Page 56 and 57: cove nanTi ng focused on. On the on
Page 58 and 59: 5 pE o H 6 Theology of hope in time
Page 60 and 61: At the bottom of these enormous ent
Page 62 and 63: The question has to be raised wheth
Page 64 and 65: in the communio with Christ. In thi
Page 66 and 67: anity has been closely related to e
Page 68 and 69: world: the oppressed, the poor, the
Page 70 and 71: 8 p EM ire 7 Empire - Provocation w
Page 72 and 73: EMpire thors also supply an ambitio
Page 74 and 75: EMpire Aspects of a difficult relat
Page 76 and 77: governments in southern countries e
Page 78 and 79: EMpire Talk of empire, as this exam
Page 80: EMpire hand, and realpolitik talk a
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Ethics two? Globethics.net proposes
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Ethics 2. Performance-related justi
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Ethics difficult to implement all o
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Ethics instrument, which correspond
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Ethics tice. In some cases it may s
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Ethics 6. The Principle of Transpar
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Ethics to others what we ourselves
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Litur gy 49 The Liturgy of Holy Com
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Litur gy chosen was that one of the
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Litur gy stronger weighting towards
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Litur gy It may be argued that few
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Litur gy but here particularly so.
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Litur gy turn out to be. For if we
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For the shaping of the liturgy the
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PRojec ts The scope of the children
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DiaLo g ic analyses which already e
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DiaLo g suppression as a power-alli
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DiaLo g Dreaming a Different World
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DiaLo g We remember together the in
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The Further Development of the Conc
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DiaLo g come to stand: do they belo
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DiaLo g dividuals who come into vie
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EXPLoita Tion formation and counsel
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there is emerging here a specific i
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EXPLoita Tion wealthier lands in No
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study 5 of children’s attitudes t
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EXPLoita Tion Christian understandi
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EXPLoita Tion gal prosecution of cr
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these questions. An approach that r
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of governments for the regular fina
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We recommend EXPLoita Tion The orga
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Hope in God’s Future: Christian D
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FuturE I Approaching God in the con
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FuturE All of these changes will ha
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FuturE ship; God’s sacrifice in C
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FuturE between rich and poor becomi
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FuturE Reflection 5 Low-lying count
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gry and those now first finding the
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FuturE Even to sinners like us, God
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FuturE UK Government Committee on C
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FuturE Reflection 11 “A commitmen
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FuturE Alertness to disproportionat
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FuturE set out on a journey of free
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seeking 2. It has become much more
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seeking tions and in the Synod, was
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LEArnin G Praying for growth Food,
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we, with 20% of world-population, a
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LEArnin G hunger, but sooner from a
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LEArnin G And they wonder: what doe
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LEArnin G The richer the USA and Eu
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A Globalance - Christian Perspectiv
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A GLoB LAncE uence on political and
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Recommendations The position paper
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Pov y ert 17 „Don’t Leave Us Ha
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Group Children’s Summit 2006” r
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Pov erty our doorstep as relatively
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Pov erty This well-founded option f
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All these rights could be provided
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Pov erty The action “Hiding is no
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