CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America should express concern for human rights violations in Nigeria, according to an action taken by the church's Division for Global Mission board at its meeting here March 20-22. The board pointed to the Nigerian military government's execution of political activists in 1995.
ELCA members should urge the U.S. government to "exercise leadership concerning human rights issues" and "press the Nigerian military government to free political prisoners," the board said.
Advocacy efforts in the 5.2-million-member ELCA are carried out through its Division for Church in Society. Much of the global mission board's action is addressed to that unit.
"These decisions come in the wake of the recent visit to Nigeria by Pope John Paul II who also called upon the Nigerian government to release political prisoners," said the Rev. Winston D. Persaud, Dubuque, Iowa. Persaud, who chairs the board, teaches systematic theology at Wartburg Theological Seminary.
The board also encouraged churches in Nigeria "in their ministry to promote justice, reconciliation and human rights" and asked the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to promote dialogue about the situation among Lutheran churches. In 1996 the LWF expressed concern "about the impact of long-standing military rule on Nigerian society." The LWF is a communion of 124 member churches including the ELCA.
In a similar vein the board addressed human rights abuses and the economic situation in Colombia. "More than 25,000 non-combatant civilians have been murdered or have disappeared" since 1987, the resolution says.
The board called upon ELCA members to pray for an end to human rights abuses and encouraged the church to raise awareness among its members of the situation in Colombia and to increase its advocacy efforts around the conflict and related economic issues.
The ELCA's 1990 Blueprint for Action on Central America and Caribbean Concerns supports regional initiatives for negotiated solutions to conflict and "public policies that encourage dialogue."
The LWF, World Council of Churches, Latin American Council of Churches and National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. should be commended for their pursuit of peace and reconciliation together with the churches of Colombia, the board said.
Persaud said, "These actions reflect a deep awareness that sisters and brothers in Christ and people of other faiths are suffering, and we are committed to lifting up their circumstances so that people become aware of these situations and take some action to address them."
Citing again the Blueprint for Action the board requested that the ELCA inform its members of "issues concerning the closure of the military education and training facility known as the United States Army School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia."
The board asserted, "The School of the Americas continues to train military personnel from Latin America and the Caribbean in terror tactics, torture techniques and the intimidation of their own people."
The ELCA's statement, "For Peace in God's World," affirms that the church will "give priority to opposing grievous violations of human rights, including torture, and to prohibit U.S. military assistance which is used by other governments to oppress their own citizens."
In an action related to Cuba the board urged ELCA members to advocate for an end to the embargo and to further this goal by relaxing restrictions against humanitarian goods. The Rev. Richard J. Meier, Rockford, Ill., called the embargo "a sin that needs to be rectified."
In 1995 the ELCA voted to "work actively toward the goal of ending the U.S. embargo against Cuba" as part of ongoing efforts to seek reconciliation and normal relations between the United States and Cuba.
Two international guests addressed the board -- the Rt. Rev. Gideon Chang, bishop of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore, and Urszula Bujnicka, vice president of the Consistory of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
