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

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Europe’s Road to Justice –
The Project: �
„Europe Covenanting for Justice“
� �
Martin Engels, Wuppertal-Ronsdorf, Germany
Since the very beginning Christianity and economical structures have been intertwined
in a seemingly inseparable way. Beginning with Paul who followed
trading routes of the Roman Empire later being followed by missionaries accompanying
merchants who traveled by wagons and ships across continents and
oceans the gospel was spread globally. Finally even the roots of the ecumenical
movement a hundred years ago are unthinkable without the economic internationalization
in the middle of the 19th century. A decade after the new millennium
has begun, the ambivalence of this relationship between Christianity and
economy has become clearer than ever before. For parts of the world the internationalization
of the economy has lead to an unforeseen growth of prosperity and
wealth whereas for others the mechanisms of this economy have lead to a massive
threat of life. Amidst this development we find our churches on the one side
as well as on the other side of this massive change, sharing their faith in the triune
god, the creator, redeemer and sustainer of life. The cries raised by the sisters
and brothers of the churches heavily suffering under injustice deriving straightly
from the mechanisms of the economy have been heard in Europe. The undeniable
devastating results � for �life �have sparked vivid �discussions � and broad action
throughout the majority of the European member churches of WARC.
In the aftermath of �the General � �Council in Accra �the Reformed � Alliance in Germany
in cooperation with the steering committee of WARC-Europe began to
collect reactions and projects connected and related with the Accra-Confession
and the ongoing “Covenanting for Justice”-process. The focus of this joint project
was to bring the common struggle for justice within the diversity of the European
churches to light. The work on the project started amidst the utmost severe
global economic and financial crises underlining the issues of social and ecological
justice voiced in Accra in 2004. Within the context of a sudden transformation
of society, orientation seemed to be lost and the voices of the church
were not only heard but also listened to. The need for orientation in the light of
the Gospel at this time of crisis was seen more clearly inside the churches and
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– EUROPE’S ROAD TO JUSTICE – 51