Title: Board okays resolutions opposing world debt and urging investment in
poor countries
Date: April 23, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99b-28
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Resolutions urging forgiveness of international debt for impoverished countries and investment in their economic enterprises were endorsed by the world ministry arms of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ.
The Common Global Ministries Board, meeting here April 14-18, indicated its support for the Jubilee 2000 Debt Forgiveness Movement. The directorate also encouraged the Disciples and UCC world boards to submit similar resolutions to 1999 meetings of their respective plenary bodies.
"These resolutions give our congregations important global issues of which to be aware and to see how they impact the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world," said the Rev. Patricia Tucker Spier, president, Disciples Division of Overseas Ministries.
The debt cancellation campaign was begun in 1996. Its aim is to convince wealthy nations and lending institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to free poor countries from foreign debt. Campaign supporters say many of the enormous loans were incurred by corrupt government regimes. In addition, loan payments remove funds that support basic social services.
Congregations can receive an information packet about Jubilee 2000 by sending an electronic mail message to dom@disciples.org or seeing the website: www.globalministries.org.
The Just Peace Investment Initiative will help conferences, regions and congregations support micro-enterprise and community development projects in poor countries around the world.
The venture will help congregations think about the theological implications of global investment and empower recipients, enabling them to own their businesses. Congregations will make investments with assistance from Calvert Social Investing Foundation, which developed the initiative with the UCC Fellowship of Reconciliation.
Two other items approved by the Common Board urged development of guidelines for church-related travel and tourism in poor countries and support for a global warming treaty.
The guidelines are intended to challenge the travel and tourism industry, which is believed to engage in economic globalization, environmental degradation, and human exploitation of the people in operating the $3.5 trillion business.
Directors are asking the Disciples General Assembly, meeting in October, and the UCC General Synod, meeting in July, to advocate U.S. support for the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty. Both denominations also are asked to help support legislation to regulate and reduce pollution in this country.
-- end --