REPORT FROM PEOPLE¡¯S FORUM
<br>APRIL&nbsp;12&nbsp;TO&nbsp;13,&nbsp;2010
<br>IN&nbsp;KUALA&nbsp;LUMPUR,&nbsp;MALAYSIA
<br>
<br>The&nbsp;People¡¯s&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;started&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;Bible&nbsp;Study&nbsp;led&nbsp;by&nbsp;Rev.&nbsp;Rienzie&nbsp;Perera.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;Study&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;passages&nbsp;from&nbsp;Genesis,&nbsp;Exodus,&nbsp;Psalms,&nbsp;Gospel&nbsp;of&nbsp;Luke&nbsp;and&nbsp;Epistle&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Romans.&nbsp;Dr.&nbsp;Perera&nbsp;challenged&nbsp;the&nbsp;churches&nbsp;with&nbsp;words&nbsp;of&nbsp;St.&nbsp;Paul&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Romans&nbsp;?&nbsp;¡°Do&nbsp;not&nbsp;be&nbsp;conformed&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;world&nbsp;but&nbsp;be&nbsp;transformed&nbsp;as&nbsp;followers&nbsp;of&nbsp;Christ.¡±&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;study&nbsp;highlighted&nbsp;an&nbsp;alternate&nbsp;vision&nbsp;of&nbsp;liberated&nbsp;life&nbsp;in&nbsp;all&nbsp;its&nbsp;fullness&nbsp;over&nbsp;against&nbsp;the&nbsp;dominant&nbsp;culture&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;world.&nbsp;
<br>Dr.&nbsp;M.P.&nbsp;Joseph&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;Socio-Political,&nbsp;cultural&nbsp;and&nbsp;economic&nbsp;contexts&nbsp;in&nbsp;which&nbsp;EACC/CCA&nbsp;then&nbsp;and&nbsp;now&nbsp;and&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;future.&nbsp;He&nbsp;called&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;churches&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;informed,&nbsp;transparent,&nbsp;accountable,&nbsp;responsible&nbsp;and&nbsp;self&nbsp;critical.&nbsp;&nbsp;Churches&nbsp;must&nbsp;meet&nbsp;the&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;Gospel&nbsp;by&nbsp;being&nbsp;in&nbsp;solidarity&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;vulnerable,&nbsp;manifesting&nbsp;a&nbsp;life-transforming&nbsp;commitment.&nbsp;&nbsp;He&nbsp;talked&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;origins&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;EACC&nbsp;how&nbsp;it&nbsp;identified&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;marginalized&nbsp;and&nbsp;how&nbsp;the&nbsp;situation&nbsp;has&nbsp;changed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Concerns&nbsp;were&nbsp;raised&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;churches&nbsp;being&nbsp;co-opted&nbsp;within&nbsp;the&nbsp;discourses&nbsp;of&nbsp;empire,&nbsp;globalization,&nbsp;development,&nbsp;liberal&nbsp;democracy,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;loss&nbsp;of&nbsp;real&nbsp;diakonia&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;being&nbsp;replaced&nbsp;by&nbsp;charity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr.&nbsp;Joseph¡¯s&nbsp;insights&nbsp;prompted&nbsp;a&nbsp;very&nbsp;lively&nbsp;discussion.&nbsp;
<br>The&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement&nbsp;has&nbsp;become&nbsp;empire-building&nbsp;and&nbsp;ecclesial-techno-bureaucratic.&nbsp;Instead,&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement&nbsp;must&nbsp;amplify&nbsp;the&nbsp;voice&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;voiceless&nbsp;and&nbsp;accompany&nbsp;them&nbsp;in&nbsp;their&nbsp;struggle.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;also&nbsp;felt&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;abandoning&nbsp;of&nbsp;URM&nbsp;has&nbsp;resulted&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;grassroots&nbsp;being&nbsp;alienated&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement.&nbsp;Absence&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;poor&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement&nbsp;questions&nbsp;the&nbsp;very&nbsp;nature,&nbsp;purpose,&nbsp;meaning&nbsp;and&nbsp;existence&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement.&nbsp;&nbsp;This&nbsp;reflects&nbsp;the&nbsp;complicity&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;logic&nbsp;of&nbsp;empire-client&nbsp;relations.&nbsp;In&nbsp;this&nbsp;changing&nbsp;context&nbsp;the&nbsp;Peoples&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;calls&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement&nbsp;now&nbsp;to&nbsp;re-define&nbsp;itself.
<br>The&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;acknowledges&nbsp;the&nbsp;success&nbsp;stories&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;movement&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;past;&nbsp;but&nbsp;there&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;need&nbsp;to&nbsp;define&nbsp;new&nbsp;paradigms&nbsp;of&nbsp;relating&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;household&nbsp;of&nbsp;God,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Oikoumene.
<br>The&nbsp;prophetic&nbsp;role&nbsp;demands&nbsp;us&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;a&nbsp;message&nbsp;that&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;the&nbsp;system&nbsp;that&nbsp;is&nbsp;based&nbsp;on&nbsp;greed,&nbsp;violence,&nbsp;and&nbsp;competition.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;affirms&nbsp;and&nbsp;wants&nbsp;to&nbsp;promote&nbsp;the&nbsp;message&nbsp;of&nbsp;justice,&nbsp;hope&nbsp;and&nbsp;love&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;biblical&nbsp;notion&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;fullness&nbsp;of&nbsp;life&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Oikoumene.
<br>Asian&nbsp;churches&nbsp;are&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;situation&nbsp;similar&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;frog&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;water&nbsp;that&nbsp;is&nbsp;slowly&nbsp;allowed&nbsp;to&nbsp;boil&nbsp;unaware&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;rising&nbsp;temperature&nbsp;until&nbsp;it&nbsp;is&nbsp;too&nbsp;late.&nbsp;Even&nbsp;where&nbsp;there&nbsp;is&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;economic,&nbsp;social,&nbsp;political&nbsp;and&nbsp;cultural&nbsp;realities&nbsp;still&nbsp;the&nbsp;church&nbsp;often&nbsp;fails&nbsp;to&nbsp;act.&nbsp;The&nbsp;activities&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;church&nbsp;are&nbsp;mostly&nbsp;limited&nbsp;to&nbsp;maintenance,&nbsp;self-preservation,&nbsp;amassing&nbsp;wealth&nbsp;and&nbsp;privileges.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;church&nbsp;tends&nbsp;to&nbsp;avoid&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;especially&nbsp;where&nbsp;its&nbsp;own&nbsp;interest&nbsp;may&nbsp;be&nbsp;put&nbsp;at&nbsp;risk.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Consequently&nbsp;the&nbsp;church&nbsp;is&nbsp;in&nbsp;danger&nbsp;of&nbsp;losing&nbsp;its&nbsp;identity&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;reason&nbsp;for&nbsp;being.&nbsp;&nbsp;Confession&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;church¡¯s&nbsp;failures,&nbsp;and&nbsp;discernment&nbsp;and&nbsp;obedience&nbsp;to&nbsp;God¡¯s&nbsp;will&nbsp;are&nbsp;seen&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;way&nbsp;forward.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<br>
<br>The&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;was&nbsp;informed&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;panelists&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;issues:&nbsp;
<br>
<br>a.        Tourism&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;negative&nbsp;impact&nbsp;on&nbsp;women&nbsp;and&nbsp;children,&nbsp;economy&nbsp;and&nbsp;ecology;
<br>b.        Myanmar&nbsp;report&nbsp;on&nbsp;URM&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;work;
<br>c.        Indian&nbsp;church¡¯s&nbsp;response&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;ecological&nbsp;crisis&nbsp;and&nbsp;cross&nbsp;border&nbsp;peace&nbsp;initiatives&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;Valley.&nbsp;
<br>d.        Peace&nbsp;for&nbsp;life&nbsp;?&nbsp;analysis&nbsp;of&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;and&nbsp;impunity&nbsp;in&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;geopolitical&nbsp;context&nbsp;of&nbsp;militarized&nbsp;globalization&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;empire&nbsp;building,&nbsp;
<br>e.        A&nbsp;personal&nbsp;testimony&nbsp;by&nbsp;Pastor&nbsp;&nbsp;Berlin&nbsp;Guerrero&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;United&nbsp;Church&nbsp;of&nbsp;Christ&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;about&nbsp;his&nbsp;abduction,&nbsp;torture,&nbsp;detention,&nbsp;imprisonment&nbsp;and&nbsp;on-&nbsp;going&nbsp;death&nbsp;threats.
<br>f.        The&nbsp;Ecumenical&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;of&nbsp;Korea¡¯s&nbsp;initiatives&nbsp;on&nbsp;re-unification
<br>g.        &nbsp;The&nbsp;issues&nbsp;of&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;armament&nbsp;and&nbsp;its&nbsp;implications&nbsp;for&nbsp;global&nbsp;peace
<br>
<br>The&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;identified&nbsp;and&nbsp;worked&nbsp;on&nbsp;three&nbsp;key&nbsp;areas:&nbsp;
<br>a.        Peace&nbsp;Building&nbsp;in&nbsp;Highly&nbsp;Militarized&nbsp;Contexts&nbsp;of&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;Peninsula&nbsp;and&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;Valley
<br>b.        Conflict&nbsp;and&nbsp;Human&nbsp;Rights&nbsp;in&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;Region
<br>c.        Churches¡¯&nbsp;Engagement&nbsp;with&nbsp;People¡¯s&nbsp;Movements&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Context&nbsp;of&nbsp;Globalization
<br>
<br>Given&nbsp;the&nbsp;above&nbsp;discussion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;resolves&nbsp;the&nbsp;following:
<br>WHEREAS,&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;and&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;are&nbsp;highly&nbsp;militarized;&nbsp;the&nbsp;60-year-long&nbsp;conflicts&nbsp;in&nbsp;these&nbsp;areas&nbsp;affect&nbsp;the&nbsp;regional&nbsp;and&nbsp;global&nbsp;security&nbsp;and&nbsp;peace;&nbsp;and&nbsp;have&nbsp;caused&nbsp;much&nbsp;human&nbsp;pain&nbsp;and&nbsp;suffering;
<br>WHEREAS,&nbsp;national&nbsp;security&nbsp;states&nbsp;in&nbsp;many&nbsp;if&nbsp;not&nbsp;all&nbsp;countries&nbsp;in&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;fit&nbsp;the&nbsp;structure&nbsp;and&nbsp;serve&nbsp;well&nbsp;the&nbsp;interests&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;empire&nbsp;and&nbsp;find&nbsp;expression&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;militarist&nbsp;and&nbsp;repressive&nbsp;regimes&nbsp;and&nbsp;&nbsp;gross&nbsp;human&nbsp;and&nbsp;civil&nbsp;rights&nbsp;violations&nbsp;including&nbsp;displacement&nbsp;of&nbsp;communities,&nbsp;extra&nbsp;judicial&nbsp;killings,&nbsp;forced&nbsp;migration,&nbsp;and&nbsp;refugee&nbsp;movement.
<br>WHEREAS,&nbsp;the&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;has&nbsp;lost&nbsp;its&nbsp;engagement&nbsp;with&nbsp;basic&nbsp;communities&nbsp;and&nbsp;people¡¯s&nbsp;movements;&nbsp;
<br>WHEREAS,&nbsp;the&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;has&nbsp;come&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;dominated&nbsp;by&nbsp;ecclesial&nbsp;leadership&nbsp;and&nbsp;no&nbsp;longer&nbsp;hears&nbsp;the&nbsp;voice&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;marginalized;&nbsp;
<br>WHEREAS,&nbsp;issues&nbsp;of&nbsp;migrant&nbsp;workers&nbsp;and&nbsp;globalized&nbsp;labor&nbsp;are&nbsp;a&nbsp;continuing&nbsp;major&nbsp;concern&nbsp;of&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;constituent&nbsp;members;
<br>
<br>BE&nbsp;IT&nbsp;RESOLVED&nbsp;that&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;explore&nbsp;ways&nbsp;to&nbsp;create&nbsp;its&nbsp;capacity&nbsp;to&nbsp;support&nbsp;its&nbsp;constituent&nbsp;members&nbsp;to&nbsp;engage&nbsp;in&nbsp;significant&nbsp;efforts&nbsp;for&nbsp;peace-building,&nbsp;peace&nbsp;processes&nbsp;and&nbsp;peace&nbsp;negotiations;&nbsp;and&nbsp;further
<br>RESOLVED&nbsp;that&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;continues&nbsp;and&nbsp;develops&nbsp;ecumenical&nbsp;pastoral&nbsp;visits&nbsp;incorporating&nbsp;fact-finding,&nbsp;study&nbsp;and&nbsp;solidarity&nbsp;missions&nbsp;and&nbsp;provide&nbsp;support&nbsp;to&nbsp;constituent&nbsp;members&nbsp;to&nbsp;protect&nbsp;victims&nbsp;of&nbsp;human&nbsp;rights&nbsp;violations,&nbsp;displaced&nbsp;persons,&nbsp;refugees,&nbsp;and&nbsp;other&nbsp;sanctuary-seekers;&nbsp;and&nbsp;further
<br>RESOLVED,&nbsp;that&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;strengthens&nbsp;the&nbsp;peace&nbsp;initiatives&nbsp;of&nbsp;NCC&nbsp;India&nbsp;and&nbsp;NCC&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;and&nbsp;further&nbsp;facilitates&nbsp;their&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;in&nbsp;relation&nbsp;to&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;the&nbsp;interests&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;people&nbsp;living&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;Valley;&nbsp;and&nbsp;further&nbsp;
<br>RESOLVED,&nbsp;that&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;takes&nbsp;appropriate&nbsp;steps&nbsp;to&nbsp;ensure&nbsp;that&nbsp;issues&nbsp;related&nbsp;to&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;and&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;Peninsula&nbsp;are&nbsp;significant&nbsp;agenda&nbsp;items&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;2013&nbsp;&nbsp;WCC&nbsp;Assembly&nbsp;&nbsp;in&nbsp;Pusan,&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea;&nbsp;and&nbsp;further&nbsp;
<br>
<br>RESOLVED,&nbsp;that&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;encourages&nbsp;the&nbsp;member&nbsp;churches&nbsp;and&nbsp;organizations&nbsp;to&nbsp;support&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;Ecumenical&nbsp;Forum&nbsp;and&nbsp;other&nbsp;similar&nbsp;initiatives&nbsp;that&nbsp;promote&nbsp;trust&nbsp;and&nbsp;understanding&nbsp;between&nbsp;North&nbsp;and&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea;&nbsp;and&nbsp;further&nbsp;
<br>RESOLVED,&nbsp;that&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;engages&nbsp;in&nbsp;addressing&nbsp;the&nbsp;problems&nbsp;faced&nbsp;by&nbsp;migrant&nbsp;workers&nbsp;and&nbsp;bringing&nbsp;together&nbsp;constituents&nbsp;already&nbsp;engaged&nbsp;in&nbsp;programs&nbsp;helping&nbsp;migrant&nbsp;workers;&nbsp;and&nbsp;further&nbsp;
<br>RESOLVED,&nbsp;&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;reclaims&nbsp;its&nbsp;involvement&nbsp;in&nbsp;transformational&nbsp;grassroots&nbsp;organizing&nbsp;with&nbsp;basic&nbsp;sectors&nbsp;as&nbsp;once&nbsp;reflected&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;programs&nbsp;of&nbsp;Urban&nbsp;Rural&nbsp;Mission&nbsp;(URM);&nbsp;and&nbsp;finally
<br>RESOLVED,&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;CCA&nbsp;promotes&nbsp;a&nbsp;critical&nbsp;discussion&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;dominant&nbsp;development&nbsp;paradigm&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;co-option&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;churches&nbsp;and&nbsp;chart&nbsp;directions&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;new&nbsp;approach.

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<br><br><br><font color=#008000 style='font-size: 9pt;'>Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links Corea
<br>(http:// laborasia.net/)
<br>Reconciliation & Unification Mission Center
<br>Osan Laborer`s & Migrant`s Shelter(http//owcc.or.kr)
<br>Rev. Jang, Chang Weon( labrev7@gmail.com)
<br>Korean Progressive Labor Network Center(http://nodong.net/)
<br>Representation
<br>One of our big family, the world is one of the workers.
<br>Tel/ 82)31-372-9301 Fax:82)31-372-9391H.P.:82)10-2263-7972
<br>http://list.jinbo.net/unsub.php</font>
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