Press Release No. A13-041/E20.07.09 20:04 European Churches speak with one voice on critical issuesThe 13th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), meeting in Lyon, France, has adopted a series of statements on public issues today. Six issues, covering migration, climate change, economics, nuclear disarmament, human rights and the plight of Roma people in Europe were addressed in statements overwhelmingly endorsed by delegates at the Assembly representing Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant and Old Catholic Churches from countries throughout Europe. ‘Called to value migrant people’ was the first statement to be agreed, during the Assembly’s final day of business. The statement includes the words: “In recent years there has been an alarming increase in racism and in acts of violence against migrants and ethnic minorities in Europe.” The statement goes on to commit CEC’s member churches to denounce acts of racial discrimination and institutional racism and to ask public authorities to ensure the basic human rights of undocumented migrants, particularly those in detention. The adoption of this statement follows a process of integration between CEC and the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME). Reflecting the global recession, the CEC Assembly agreed a statement ‘Called to promote ethical principles in financial and economic structures’. It says “The [financial] crisis calls into question many basic assumptions about the economic order that have been unexamined for decades. The substance of the current crisis is not, however, limited to the realm of economics… In revealing the scale and impact of economic factors on human life, the crisis has also highlighted its significant ethical and spiritual dimensions.” The statement goes on to say: “Prosperity built on the levels and patterns of debt of recent years cannot be accounted as real prosperity. We have heard little from responsible decision-makers that indicates an intention to address in a fundamental way these structures of debt within the global financial system that led to the current crisis.” The statement also commits the churches of Europe to promote examples of faith-based economic praxis, such as fair trade, international debt relief and interest free credit schemes. The third statement adopted by the Assembly related to human rights. ‘Called to strengthen human rights, religious freedom and relationships’ outlines the context of an increasingly religiously, ethnically and linguistically diverse Europe. “The love of God for the world (John 3:16) and its people is expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Chris and is at the heart of the Churches’ commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to their open relationship with people of other religions within and beyond Europe.” The churches have agreed to increase participation in inter religious dialogue and to deepen their understanding of the concepts of human rights and religious freedoms. Climate change and environmental concerns were addressed in the statement “Called to be a better stewardship of creation”, which was adopted unanimously. Anticipating the international summit meetings on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the autumn the statement says: “Amongst the signs of hope and opportunity that we discern in facing this serious challenge to God’s good creation are the forthcoming UN climate change conference in September 2009 and the subsequent world conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.” The churches committed themselves to greater involvement in promoting the “economy of enough” and lifestyles which are sustainable. They have called on governments to adopt precise and binding commitments within specified timetables for the reduction in the causes of climate change at the Copenhagen summit. “Called to a world free of nuclear weapons” strongly endorses the call from President Barack Obama for global nuclear disarmament. The churches urge all nuclear weapons states to refrain from modernisation of nuclear weapons, and to set a schedule for dismantling existing arsenals. The statement concludes: “In 1989, it was people that ended the Cold War. Today, it may be people that end the threat of nuclear catastrophe.” The final statement, “Called to stand in solidarity with the Roma minority in Europe” is concerned with the deteriorating situation of Roma, Sinti and travellers’ communities. The statement reads: “The social exclusion of the largest European ethnic minority is severely exacerbated by increasing racist violence of the past years.” The statement calls on governments across Europe to do more to protect Roma communities and do more to promote their inclusion.
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