  Sermon inspires far-left political agenda by WCC  By Diane L. Knippers President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy For The Association for Church Renewal Tuesday, December 8, 1998 The World Council of Churches 50th anniversary assembly opened with worship incorporating songs, prayers, and rituals from around the world and a sermon that reinterpreted biblical texts to illustrate and inspire a far-left political agenda. The preacher for the opening service was the Rev. Eunice Santana, a president of the WCC from Puerto Rico.
War, weapons denounced The Rev. Enos Chomutiri, president of the Zimbabwean Council of Churches, welcomed the assembly. He thanked the WCC for supporting the Zimbabwean independence movement through the Program to Combat Racism. "You come to us during hard times," he said, calling attention to poor children. The problem, he said, is globalization and debt, and he called for jubilee restitution. He also denounced war and weapons sales and endorsed a ban on landmines, noting that Africa is a major market for weapons. As processional banners commemorated the previous seven council assemblies, the liturgy rehearsed the earlier themes, interspersed with songs and hymns. These hymns conveyed the traditional teachings of Christianity -- from an African song that affirmed "It is the blood of the Lamb that saved us all" to the traditional American hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross," or from an Argentine praise song, "Holy, holy, holy, My heart, my heart adores you," to a Russian Orthodox chant, "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us." Contrition for separation The prayer of confession expressed contrition for disregard for creation and for walls of separation between neighbors. Various gifts were brought forward, the first being a large teak cross, carved by a Zimbabwean artist, with the shape of Africa appended to it, symbolizing "the sufferings, liberation, and struggles of Africa." Ms. Santana began her message by referring to the Gospel reading from Luke 4:16-19 in which Jesus proclaims, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor." "How wonderful and significant to hear the words of Jesus here, in mother Africa, where they take on a unique rhythm and flavor: in mother Africa, so easily forgotten and ignored by the powerful when convenient, so unknown by so many, so exploited and stepped upon by others," Santana said. She asserted that when we receive Jesus, we receive God, and that as we do unto our brothers and sisters we do unto him. "Jesus's actions were life-giving, life-affirming," she said. Such actions confronted the systems of exploitation, poverty and oppression of his day. When Jesus healed the bent-over woman, it reminds us of so many men, women, and children, she said, who are hurt from AIDS, lack of medical care, colonialization, and threats of disappearance. Solving the hunger problem Santana then recalled the story of Jesus "solving the problem of hunger" in the feeding of the 5,000. The disciples thought spending money was the only way to solve the problem. But Jesus emphasized sharing, she said. When he received the gift of five loaves and two fishes from the child, that was an act of "solidarity." When Jesus commanded that the people be divided into groups of 50, that symbolized "organizing." Jesus' miracles were not "magic acts to call attention to himself," she said. "The miracle was persuading others to take their food out of their bags and to share." The wealth had not been evenly distributed, she explained, but Jesus remedied this maldistribution. "Most of our people live in poverty," Santana said. "It can be no other way when markets and capital hold sway." She also cited arms, wars, discrimination, and displacement. Santana reserved her sharpest criticism for capitalism and transnational corporations. She excoriated structural adjustment, or market reforms imposed upon poor countries that force them to engage in privatization. She particularly denounced the exploitation of children who are forced into prostitution or to work in other inhuman conditions. Repeating a rumor While Santana identified many serious problems in the world, she exhibited some extreme forms of conspiracy theory. She alleged, for example, that children in poor countries are kidnapped so that their vital organs could be sold in wealthier nations -- a rampant rumor in parts of the developing world for which there is no verification. She even suggested that El Niño might have arisen from nuclear testing in the Pacific. Citing the eruption of dormant volcanoes and the devastation of Central America by Hurricane Mitch, she wondered, "It's as though there was a secret plan to deprive us." She concluded by stating that the goal of many is "globalizing solidarity that assumes accountability," and that when people are required to pay debts they cannot pay, they cry, "Jubilee, Jubilee." Santana's address received polite but not sustained applause. The service continued with the recitation of the Nicene Creed, the Lord's prayer, and a joyful Mozambican song, "We are made in the image of God. Be joyful!" |
|||
|
Recent reports on the World Council of Churches
and daily coverage of the 50th Jubilee assembly in Harare News From Around the Church News Updates Home, · Archives, · The Presbyterian Layman, History of the Lay Committee, · Letters & Editorials, Book Reviews, · Resources, ·Links |
|||
