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Globalization and violence

WCC's governing body hears warnings of link between globalization and violence 
[8-29-02]

by Peter Kenny
Ecumenical News International

GENEVA -- 26 August 2002 -- Leaders of the main governing body of the world's largest grouping of Christian churches expressed concerns on Monday about how the blind acceptance of market principles can exclude many people in the process of globalization.

The meeting of the central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) began in Geneva as the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development was starting in Johannesburg

By submitting all relationships in society to the logic of the market, globalization can break up communities and exclude large numbers of people from participation, Dr Konrad Raiser the WCC general secretary, said in his opening remarks to the central committee in Geneva.

Events since September 11 last year had shown that international law was being ignored and military force accepted as a legitimate means for political ends, said Raiser.

In his speech Raiser said, "The brutal shock of September 11 has suddenly revealed that in a situation of globalization even the seemingly powerful who are enjoying the benefits of economic globalization are vulnerable."

He continued, "For a short while after the events of September 11 there was the vain hope that the shock might lead to recognizing and acknowledging the fundamental condition of mutual vulnerability and thus might become an incentive for new forms of co-operation and solidarity."

Yet he rued that, "the response on the part of people and governments in the powerful industrialized countries has instead been to demand increased security against the threats of terrorism.

He said the fact that globalization exposed winners and losers to increased vulnerability and the shock of 11 September had sharpened the dynamic of conflict inherent in the process of globalization.

"Where both sides in a conflict consider themselves to be victims of the violence and aggression of the other we enter the vicious circle of violence and counter-violence which justify each other mutually," said Raiser. "The violent confrontation of Israel and Palestine provides the most dramatic evidence of this condition."

He noted that "since the end of last year, numerous high-level inter-religious encounters have taken place, especially involving Christian and Muslim leaders.

"All of them have made solemn declarations rejecting terrorism and violence and affirming their common commitment to peace and reconciliation."

Nonetheless, he continued, "security has now become the central preoccupation of governments and people. In the name of security national and internationally agreed standards of human rights are being put aside."

Raiser said, "It would be an obvious over-simplification to establish a direct and causal link between the impact of economic globalization and the emergence of international terrorism."

Still, he noted, vulnerability as a consequences of poverty, disease, unemployment and violence was condemning more and more people to a "perennial experience of victimization under the domination of powerful forces beyond their control".

"It is this generalized sentiment of being condemned to the status of victims which in turn is being exploited by those who engage in acts of terrorism," noted Raiser.

Concurring with Raiser, Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who is moderator of the central committee in his own remarks said: "Globalization is an irreversible process, we are part of it and are constantly affected by it."

In the process, said Aram, globalization was affecting the way churches think about themselves.

At its 10-day meeting the 158-member central committee will have before it what may be controversial proposals centering on the future decision-making process of the organization and on its dwindling finances during a poor global economic climate.

It is, however, the report of the special commission on Orthodox participation to be presented on Thursday that may be the most controversial item on the agenda.

Many differences remain between the WCC member churches, say some members.

In recent years many Orthodox have been highly critical of the WCC, believing it to be too influenced by what they see as Western liberal Protestant views on inclusive language, the ordination of women and sexuality.

Two Orthodox churches have already left the WCC, and any further moves by Orthodox churches to withdraw from the organization could seriously jeopardize the WCC's endeavour to be an inclusive ecumenical body.

Today the WCC has 342 member churches from around the world from all mainstream traditions - Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox with the exception of the Roman Catholic Church.

But though the Catholic Church has not joined the WCC it has been a full member since 1968 of the WCC's Faith and Order Commission which tries to bring churches into theological dialogue.

The central committee meeting will also grapple with the thorny issue of WCC finances after the disclosure by the WCC that its general reserves are exhausted following a deficit in 2001.

The WCC has reported it is now encountering cash-flow problems and that WCC leaders have decided to take out a mortgage on its headquarters in Geneva to be paid off from investment earnings in future years.

The central committee meets every 12 to 18 months.

 

 
 

A major
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July 28 - August 3, 2008

Paths toward Peace and Justice:

Spirituality, Earth-Care, and the Prophetic Word in a time of Violence

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BECOMING NEIGHBORS:
An Invitation
to Global Discipleship

A Witherspoon conference
on global mission and justice

September 16 - 19, 2007
Louisville, Kentucky

 

Check out our report from the Conference
on
Terror, Torture,
and Security

 

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