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'Spirituality of Resistance' is theme of WCC's contribution to World Social Forum
Episcopal News Service
Issue:
Section:
2003-010-4
Posted: Tuesday, January 21, 2003
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For the World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation taking part in the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 23-28 January, the emphasis will be on a spirituality directed towards resistance.
'We are witnessing the development of a spirituality that supports the powers responsible for the current unjust and unsustainable process of corporate globalization. For that reason, we need to recover the long tradition of a Christian spirituality critical of power. It is a spirituality which has given those without power the strength and courage to oppose those who abuse it,' explains Rogate Mshana, responsible for the WCC's Economic Justice program.
Delegation members will lead a series of workshops showing links between Christian spirituality and examples of resistance against the unjust world order by churches and social and ecumenical organizations. WCC delegation members will also participate in two discussion panels arranged by the forum organizers, and WCC president Bishop Federico Pagura has been invited by the forum organizers to share his experience as a Christian.
The WCC delegation will be active at the World Social Forum within the framework of an ecumenical caucus set up by the WCC, the Lutheran World Federation, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, the Latin American Council of Churches, and an ecumenical coalition of Brazilian churches and related organizations.
'The churches were not very visible at earlier forum meetings, although they strongly supported the causes on its agenda,' Rogate Mshana comments. 'We hope that our higher profile on this occasion will enable us to strengthen our participation in the social movements working to ensure that all human beings can live in dignity.'
Further details of how the WCC is participating in the World Social Forum, including descriptions of the workshops and the text of the presentations, can be found at http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/wsf-e.html (English).
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