Magyar Egyház, 2001 (80. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2001 / 1. szám
2. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ FAITH COMMUNITIES FACING GLOBALIZATION COLLOQUIUM 2000 “How can people take their economic lives into their own hands?” “What are the strategic entry point for alternatives to the present forms of globalization and the role of faith communities?” These were among the questions discussed last year by more than one hundred and fifty theologians, economists and social activists from about forty countries during Colloquium 2000. The gathering, at the Evangelische Akademie in Hofgeismar, Germany, was organized by a group of church, ecumenical and mission organizations in Germany, in cooperation with Pax Christi International, the World Council of Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. The Alliance’s call for a church-based process of recognition, education and confession in relation to global economic injustice and ecological destruction was a reference point throughout the meeting. Preparations for the colloquium included an internet debate and various exposure programs in Germany, Switzerland and the UK. On the first day participants began with a symbolic action in front of the Deutsche Bank/Bankers trust in Frankfurt, where they also received greetings from representatives of the Protestant and Catholic churches in Frankfurt. They then moved to Hofgeismar for the meeting proper. Dr. Philip Potter gave the opening speech, which was followed by many inputs from Christian groups and other living faith communities. Most days started with group Bible study. Several presentations were devoted to analysis of the global situation, but there was also time to tell stories of hope, which became a source of encouragement. The major discussions took place in issue groups, some of these were: 1. The ideological dimension of economics and money, 2. Finance and land speculation, 3. Production, work and unemployment, 4. Poverty and exclusion caused by wealth accumulation, 5. Ecology, science and technology, 6. Counterculture and the media, 7. Interreligious aspects of economics, and 8. Churches and social movements, etc. Since most of the participants were very knowledgeable about these issues, it did not take long to get into debate. The first major interest of participants was how to link faith community movements and civil society movements in the struggle against the current trend of neoliberal economic globalization. Their second major interest was to strengthen grassroots democratic participation in the regulation of the economy. The third interest was to unmask the ideological aspects of neoliberal globalization and to identify workable alternatives. At the end of the meeting, a declaration was made which shows the basic position of the colloquium vis-á-vis globalization. It was decided to follow up the colloquium by organizing this kind of meeting at a regional level and it was agreed that churches needed to be challenged more vigorously in their role as economic actors. (Update) MAGYAR EGYHÁZ SPRING 2001 VOL. 80, NO. 1 ISSN 0360-5760 Published quarterly EDITOR IN CHIEF The Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, Bishop 13 Grove St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 EDITOR Stephen I. Szabó, Chief Elder 464 Forest Ave., Paramus, New Jersey 07652 BUSINESS MANAGER Priscilla Hunyady 50 N. Washington Ave., Colonia, NJ 07067 OFFICE OF PRINTING I.H. Printing, 6 North Dr, E. Brunswick, NJ 08816 OFFICE OF PUBLICATION Magyar Egyház — Magyar Church 464 Forest Ave., Paramus, New Jersey 07652 Subscription: $6.00 yearly; Group $5.00 SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODBRIDGE NEW JERSEY Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Business Manager ADDRESS CORRECTION: Priscilla Hunyady, 50 N. Washington Ave., Colonia, NJ 07067
