World Council of Churches debate on "The Promised Land"
September 2, 2008
The World Council of Churches has announced an international ecumenical debate on “The Promised Land”, from 10-14 September in Bern, Switzerland. Sixty-five Christian theologians “will discuss the concept of the ‘Promised Land’ and related theological issues with a view to help more churches become advocates for a just peace.”
“One of the main goals we hope to achieve is to deepen church understanding of biblical promises concerning the land and its peoples. This will require a holistic approach to the biblical message, promoting common understanding of how theological issues may be related to the conflict,” says Michel Nseir, programme executive for the WCC special focus on Middle East. “Different approaches to biblical and theological issues should not prevent common action for a just peace.”
That’s all very interesting from my perspective, however without Muslim and Jewish involvement the prospect of real progress being made is slim. As my favourite local refugee organisation says, “nothing about us without us!”
The WCC’s “Public Witness: Addressing power, affirming peace” project has laudable goals and some great programmes such as the Decade to Overcome Violence. However, the rubber meets the road at the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, and it seems like a very one-sided road to this Jewish reader. By effectively taking sides and not acknowledging different perspectives, the Council has turned itself into a political tool rather than an instrument of peacemaking dialogue. To my mind, that’s moving backwards, not forwards, as such exclusion can only lead to more violence on both sides.
For a slightly different but aligned (and more scholarly) perspective, see Frank Crüsemann’s article recently published in Jewish-Christian Relations, 60 Years: The Church and the State of Israel.
Dave
Related posts:
- Jewish, Christian, and Muslim youth celebrate open debate
- The International Council of Christians and Jews is broadening its focus to include Muslims
- Parliament of World Religions
- Just Peacemaking and positive action
- Peace Camp Initiative
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: christian, eappi, israel, jewish, muslim, nonviolence, palestine, peace, promised land, switzerland, world council of churches.
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1. David Clifford Tucker | September 3rd, 2008 at 4:21 am
Interesting but from my perspective I would interested to know whether the God of the scriptures has as input into this discussion as if I remember rightly it is Yahweh who owns the land and has made some rather forthright statements or covernants on this matter?
I await further deliberations,
David.
2. Nigel | September 3rd, 2008 at 6:47 am
I would love to see the list of speakers to see how truly ecumenical this debate will be. I suspect they will predominantly be the usual ultra-liberal representatives that have partisan positions and strange one-sided ideas of peace and justice.
3. susan | September 8th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
“Peace Peace when there is no peace” Jeremiah 6v13 -15 and Jeremiah 8 v 10 -12
Ezekiel 13 v 9 – 11 – watch out for the inclement weather to follow.
Ezekiel 13 v 15 -16
Let the will of God our Father be done. Let His Kingdom come. Let Him rule and reign over all of HIS land whose borders were decreed by HIM for HIS people of today and future generations.
I hope the people gathering on behalf of “Christians” are Holy Spirit baptised and lead by HIM in word and action otherwise the meetings are a waste of time.