Conference of European Churches - Office of Communications
Press release No. 09-31/e |
29 May 2009 |
Christians call for a new model of global integration
“The last fifteen years have been characterised by the hegemony of neo-liberal policies focused on the dominance of free market and commerce. This model of integration left serious traces on the quality of life of our people. The weak continue to be weaker and stability is difficult to achieve. Therefore, we look for new models of integration, which allows for not just the integration of markets. This is what we want to discuss internationally. The core of the integration process has to be the person, the human being. We have to put into the centre of the process cooperation and solidarity,” said Rev. Nilton Giese, the general secretary of CLAI characterising the challenge which globalisation puts on the churches.
Sharing of different experiences with impacts of globalisation and a joint work in looking for responses in Latin America and Europe is the main objective of a dialogue between delegations of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), which took place in Buenos Aires from 25 to 29 May 2009. The encounter in Buenos Aires is the first meeting of a longer term process between two regional ecumenical bodies. “It is a sign of a new way of cooperation between CEC and CLAI, which can, along with the joint work on identified topics of common interest, contribute with a positive effect to the discussion of globalisation in a broader ecumenical community,” said Peter Pavlovic, Study Secretary of the Church and Society Commission of CEC.
Along with increasing the level of information about life of the churches in two different continents, the encounter focused on the discussion of themes about different forms of poverty and wealth, the role and responsibility of the state in the shaping of economic policies, indebtedness of countries and ways of overcoming illegitimate debts, as well as the role of civil society and churches in addressing challenges of globalisation and climate change.
The impact of economic and financial crises raises, with an increasing urgency, questions about relations of economy to work and life. Globalisation is not only about economy, it also covers areas of personal and social life, as well as cultural phenomena and areas of ethics and religion.
Specific and sometimes different experiences with globalisation in Europe and Latin America pose a challenge to dialogue. The building of trust on the base of common faith belongs to the main aims of the project.
“Globalisation also requires from the churches new ways of solidarity and mutual respect,” said Bishop Julio Murray, the President of CLAI. “We need to increase our work together among the churches recognising the specificity and the paradoxes of our work in different parts of the world, but at the same time calling us to the unity in our faith. We need visible signs of this solidarity, respect and faith.”
Special attention at the meeting was given to the question of regional integration and sharing of experiences with the processes of European integration and the steps in progressing integration in South America.
The next encounter of the joint project of the Church and Society Commission of CEC and CLAI will take place in Autumn in Europe.
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Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI) is a regional ecumenical organisation with 180 member churches in 20 countries in Latin America. Its mission is to contribute to the work of churches in witness for peace and unity in the region.
Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a regional ecumencial organisation with 120 member churches of Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant traditions.
The Church and Society Commission of CEC works on the witness of churches’ work in the public life, as well as on a dialogue between churches and European political institutions.
For more information:
Church and Society Commission of CEC
Tel: +32 2 230 1732
e-mail: ppt@cec-kek.be