© wcc-jpc team rogate mshana understanding the agape process and content responding to the question...

© WCC-JPC TeamRogate Mshana

Understanding the AGAPE Process and Content

responding to the question

‘How do we live our faith

in the context of Globalization?’© WCC-JPC Team

Rogate MshanaLay-out LSM - November 2005


Milestones from the Ecumenical Journey:

• Responding to the Question: How Do we live our Faith in the

Context of Globalization?

• We need Alternative Globalization Addressing Peoples and the Earth (AGAPE) process.


1998 Harare Assembly: “The Logic of globalization needs to be challenged by an alternative way of life of community in diversity”

2000 WCC Ecumenical Team for the UN: A Call for a Change of Heart

1999 Seoul/Bangkok Economy, a matter of faith

2001 Central Committee - A Policy on Economic Globalization: A Critical View and

Alternative vision. The WCC should focus on alternatives to Economic Globalization

based on Christian values.

2001 Budapest - Churches in Eastern and Central Europe: Serve God, Not Mammon declaration

2001 Fiji - The Island of Hope: An Alternative to Globalization

2001Fiji - Youth Voices Against Globalization: “It is our Future that Is

Threatened.”

2003 The WCC/APRODEV Study on Christianity Poverty and Wealth

2002 Bandung - Spirituality of the Common Future: Asia-Africa Beyond Globalization: A call for Economic Social and Cultural Rights.

2002: Johannesburg: New Partnership for African Development : NEPAD, a response to Globalization

2002-2003: Four encounters with World Bank and IMF’s: Passion for Another World

2002-2004 Cartigny I - III Moved by God’s Spirit: Spirituality of Resistance and Alternatives

2002 Soesterberg: Participants call for Economy in the service of Life

2003 LWF Winnipeg Assembly: A Call to Participate in Transforming Globalization

2003 Buenos Aires: The need to Globalize the fullness of Life. Under Neo-liberal Globalization, the churches in Latin America say “Basta” Enough is Enough”.

2004 Stony Point: Churches in North America: What does God Require of Us? A declaration for Just Trade in the Service of An Economy of Life.

2004 WARC Accra General Council Covenanting for Justice: The Accra

Confession on Economic Globalization

2004 Agape: Geneva: A Consultation on Alternative Globalization Addressing People and Earth ( AGAPE)

2005 Central Comm: A call of AGAPE

2006 Porto Alegre Assembly: A call of

AGAPE

The AGAPE process

milestones in detail

2004 Manila - Women and Globalization


The Content of AGAPE• Theologically AGAPE is God’s

Abounding Love and Grace. It underlines that the Earth and All Life have Origins in God and Belongs to God.


Against the Neo-liberal economic paradigm:

• Because of the current unsustainable neo-liberal economic paradigm, Life is under threat.

• There is increasing inequality, poverty and ecological destruction.

• This paradigm must be changed.


Against the Neo-liberal economic paradigm: Increasing Inequality -

The Champagne Glass Economy

Top 20 %Next 20 %

Bottom 60 %

83 % of the world’s wealth




Churches need an Economy of Sharing:

• Through Transformative Justice, an AGAPE economy of life is needed where competition and greed is replaced by cooperation and love.


Specifically:• Trade must be transformed from

“Free” to “Just” for all people and also sustain our mother earth, work for food sovereignty and transform trade rules.


Just Finance:

Churches are against usury and are for just finance:

– Financial markets must be regulated. AGAPE calls for debt cancellation;

– Payment of Ecological debt by rich countries;


Just Finance (contd):

– support alternative financing at local levels,

– promote ethical codes of investments.


Transformative action and living alternatives:

• churches must be transformative communities in promoting economy of sharing and eco-justice to sustain our mother earth.

• There are alternatives which can be globalized.


Eco-justice

• Churches and congregations should care for the web of life and the rich bio-diversity of creation.


Let Justice roll down like waters

and righteousness like an overflowing

stream. - Amos 5:24


AGAPE call:Churches are called to work on

alternatives


The way forward• The PGC recommends that the 9th WCC

affirms a follow-up of the AGAPE process to be undertaken and expanded, in collaboration with other ecumenical partners and organizations, to engage (1) in the work of theological reflection on

these issues that arise out of the center of our faith;

(2) solid political , economic and social analysis;

(3) on-going dialogue between religious, economic and political actors; and,

(4) sharing practical, positive approaches from the churches.


Workshop on deepening the AGAPE process and follow-up• Takes place in Geneva, 7-9 Sept. 2006• Recommends the way forward-

bridging various ecumenical perspectives on AGAPE

• Sharing perspectives from ecumenical partners and organisations

© wcc-jpc team rogate mshana understanding the agape process and content responding to the question...

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