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Christian Conference of Asia
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Faith and Order commission plenary
Dr Ahn Jae Woong addressing the Faith and Order plenary commission in Kuala Lumpur (Photo: WCC/Manuel Lopez) CCA general secretary calls for people centred ecumenism KUALA LUMPUR -- An Asian ecumenical leader has called for seeking the true meaning of ecumenism in the context of non-Christian and non-ecumenical realities in the world. Speaking on the first day of the World Council of Churches� (WCC) Faith and Order plenary commission here, Dr Ahn Jae Woong, general secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) said that the �ecumenical movement should capture frontier spirit in exploring God�s plans in the whole of God�s creation.� He was of the view that �moving away from the people or people�s movement� was one of �the weaknesses of the ecumenical movement.� Ahn Jae Woong suggested working towards an Asian people�s Pax Asiana as a way to revitalise the people centred ecumenism. He told the plenary on 28 July that building a People�s Pax Asiana, by gathering Asian people�s wisdom, traditions, customs and experience, is an ecumenical task in Asia, which has a rich tradition of respect for life and for communitarian and egalitarian life.� The general secretary recommended the Buddhist way of the Sangh as an option for building people�s Pax Asiana. He described the Sangha as a spiritual community where all members shared their understanding of life and stability of community, shared their sorrows and joys and all were connected with each other. People�s struggle against racism, classism, sexism, militarism and all kinds of discrimination and domination should be the constant ecumenical task of all peace loving people for building peace in the world, the CCA general secretary told the 28 July � 6 August plenary. He urged the participants to work together with people of other faiths and no faiths and civil society groups to achieve peace with justice. He termed peace not only as �the absence of war or conflicts, but also shalom, righteousness or wholeness and liberation or salvation.� �The awareness of violence, non-violence and the struggle of justpeace are the ultimate biblical teachings for generation after generation �without resolving the tension, hatred and hostilities in human hearts and minds, any attempt for peace making efforts will be futile,� he noted. Ahn wanted the participants to go through Metanoia, for becoming new beings and children of God so as to become peacemakers in this world. �Peace making is God�s ordained ecumenical task,� Ahn told the commission�s first meeting in the 21st century. Earlier, welcoming more than 150 participants from different parts of the world, the ecumenical leader said that poverty, diversity, religiosity, and lack of dignity and security were some of the characteristics of the region. He also mentioned degradation of environment as a serious threat for the people. The ecumenical leader expressed the view that religious teachings and Christian life are important for achieving people�s aspiration in Asia. He called on the Faith and Order Commission to offer new theological framework for fullness of life for building communities of peace for all. Referring to Asian churches, Ahn Jae Woong said that even though many of them have cooperated with the colonial powers and authoritarian governments in the past, there are also churches in different countries that have deeply associated with independent and democratic movements. He also mentioned about Asian theologians articulating their contextual theologies like Minjung theology in Korea, Homeland theology in Taiwan, People�s theology in the Philippines, Water Buffalo theology in Thailand, Dalit theology in India, and Buraku liberation theology in Japan. He cited the examples of the Church of South India, the church of North India, the Church of Christ in Thailand, the United Church of Christ in Japan, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines who have demonstrated church unity in the region. The Asian leader also mentioned the examples of the China Christian Council, which is post-denominational and the Uniting Church in Australia, which is inclusive and open as far as receiving new members are concerned. �Asian churches as a whole may be able to contribute to the rest of the world the experiences of the churches of the united, uniting and post-denominational within the framework of the Faith and Order Commission,� he added. Rev Dr Samuel Kobia , general secretary of the WCC and Rev Dr David K Yemba, moderator of the Faith and Order Commission, also addressed the plenary. The WCC�s commission on Faith and Order is considered to be the most representative theological forum in the world. Among the several objectives of the commission is the promotion of the visible unity of the Christian church. posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 29, 2004 |
