Zimbabwe churches in joint appeal to solve national crisis
-26/09/06
Churches in Zimba
Zimbabwe churches in joint appeal to solve national crisis
-26/09/06
Churches in Zimbabwe want a national debate to secure the future of the southern African nation, which is blighted by its worst economic and political crisis since it gained independence from Britain 26 years ago ñ writes a correspondent for Ecumenical News International.
“Our nation is desperately in need of a physician, and that physician is none other than us the people of Zimbabwe,” Roman Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical leaders stated in a recent document that examines the crisis and offers proposals on the way forward.
Prepared jointly by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the document is entitled ëThe Zimbabwe We Want: Towards A National Vision For Zimbabweí.
The church leaders have acknowledged their own failure to speak up on behalf of the people during the crisis, which they say has been worsening for the last 11 years. The period has seen a forced land reform campaign that has undermined the state of the economy and led to hunger in the country.
“As churches, we confess we have failed the nation because we have not been able to speak with one voice. We have often not been the salt and the light that the Gospel calls us to be. We, therefore, confess our failure and ask for God’s forgiveness,” they state.
The group said: “We will therefore never tire or give up until our goal is achieved. We are not interested in forming a political party as some are suggesting.”
Zimbabwe faces a battery of political and economic crises including high inflation peaking at 1000 per cent in August, massive joblessness, increasing poverty, tensions between the main political parties, and suppression of those reporting what happens in the country. Thousands have left the country for neighbouring Botswana and South Africa as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand in search for jobs.
With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.
[Also on Ekklesia: Churches provide Zimbabwe relief and step up protests; Zimbabwe kicks medical group out of displacement camp; Zimbabwean police ban church parades and prayer vigils; Church leaders condemn Mugabe clampdown; Rebel prelate condemns ‘corrupt’ church collusion with Mugabe; Mugabe laces God-talk with venom and threats; Mugabe accused of using prayer event to entrench oppressive rule; WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions; Zimbabwe archbishop will not be silenced; Bishop calls for cricket boycott]
Zimbabwe churches in joint appeal to solve national crisis
-26/09/06
Churches in Zimbabwe want a national debate to secure the future of the southern African nation, which is blighted by its worst economic and political crisis since it gained independence from Britain 26 years ago ñ writes a correspondent for Ecumenical News International.
“Our nation is desperately in need of a physician, and that physician is none other than us the people of Zimbabwe,” Roman Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical leaders stated in a recent document that examines the crisis and offers proposals on the way forward.
Prepared jointly by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the document is entitled ëThe Zimbabwe We Want: Towards A National Vision For Zimbabweí.
The church leaders have acknowledged their own failure to speak up on behalf of the people during the crisis, which they say has been worsening for the last 11 years. The period has seen a forced land reform campaign that has undermined the state of the economy and led to hunger in the country.
“As churches, we confess we have failed the nation because we have not been able to speak with one voice. We have often not been the salt and the light that the Gospel calls us to be. We, therefore, confess our failure and ask for God’s forgiveness,” they state.
The group said: “We will therefore never tire or give up until our goal is achieved. We are not interested in forming a political party as some are suggesting.”
Zimbabwe faces a battery of political and economic crises including high inflation peaking at 1000 per cent in August, massive joblessness, increasing poverty, tensions between the main political parties, and suppression of those reporting what happens in the country. Thousands have left the country for neighbouring Botswana and South Africa as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand in search for jobs.
With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches.
[Also on Ekklesia: Churches provide Zimbabwe relief and step up protests; Zimbabwe kicks medical group out of displacement camp; Zimbabwean police ban church parades and prayer vigils; Church leaders condemn Mugabe clampdown; Rebel prelate condemns ‘corrupt’ church collusion with Mugabe; Mugabe laces God-talk with venom and threats; Mugabe accused of using prayer event to entrench oppressive rule; WCC condemns Mugabe’s forced evictions; Zimbabwe archbishop will not be silenced; Bishop calls for cricket boycott]