© WCC-JPC Team Rogate 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 Mshana Lay-out LSM - November 2005

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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 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 : Four encounters with World Bank and IMF’s: Passion for Another World 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” 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 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

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana Against the Neo-liberal economic paradigm: Increasing Inequality - The Champagne Glass Economy Top 20 % Next 20 % Bottom 60 % 83 % of the world’s wealth 11 % of the world’s wealth 6 % of the world’s wealth

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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;

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana Just Finance (contd): –support alternative financing at local levels, –promote ethical codes of investments.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana 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.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana Eco-justice Churches and congregations should care for the web of life and the rich bio-diversity of creation.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana Let Justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an overflowing stream. - Amos 5:24

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana AGAPE call: Churches are called to work on alternatives

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana The way forward The PGC recommends that the 9 th 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.

© WCC-JPC Team Rogate Mshana Workshop on deepening the AGAPE process and follow-up Takes place in Geneva, 7-9 Sept Recommends the way forward- bridging various ecumenical perspectives on AGAPE Sharing perspectives from ecumenical partners and organisations