Confessing When Empire Trembles: Belhar and Accra Confessions in Conversation: January 15-17

In the midst of economic crisis and continued war in the greater Middle East and West Asia, what word does God have for the church and for our society? As over-extended great powers tremble and are under ecological judgment, how do we confess our faith in that “mightier one,” whose power liberates and whose Spirit makes new?

Justice, racial and economic, is a keynote in two recent statements of the world church–and a major theme in the faith lives of many young Christians today. The Accra Confession is named for the place of its 2005 adoption by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Belhar, too, was named for the place in South Africa where it was written and adopted in the intensity of racial division in South Africa. Accra comes out of the recognition that the economic and military empires of globalizing power were not helping half the world’s population, especially the very poor. Now an economic crisis reinforces Accra’s non-doctrinal critique, with people of color worldwide continuing to bear the brunt of poverty and violence. Belhar speaks to the divisiveness of racism and the unity and inclusiveness of the church as the body of Christ.

What do these confessions say to each other, and what do they say to US, Canadian, and Caribbean Christians? How do they help us witness to God’s redeeming work today? How do they speak to our Reformed, ever-reforming, ecumenical and emergent churches?

This colloquium will place these two recent confessional statements in conversation to help us design ways to witness as Christians in North America. This colloquium is hosted by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy of the PCUSA and Stony Point Center, and is co-sponsored by the Covenanting for Justice working groups of North American and the Caribbean, members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. The design will emphasize participant involvement and strategizing for how to move the church ahead on the important emphases of the two confessions, respecting the official processes of discernment underway regarding Belhar in the PCUSA and others, and anticipating the uniting council meeting of the new World Communion of Reformed Churches in Grand Rapids, June 18-28, 2010.

Before noting speakers, it must be stated that many participants are experienced and accomplished leaders in matters of justice in their own churches. The colloquium is an opportunity to discuss new items, such as the Kairos statement soon to be released by the Palestinian Christians, and to continue work on the principles of a solidarity economy, as recommended by the Johannesburg pre-Grand Rapids meeting this past September. Other regions of the world have held meetings on these confessions before us, but this Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend marks an appropriate time for North American and Caribbean discussion.

Speakers include:

• Charles Amjad-Ali, Professor of peace studies/Islam at Luther Seminary, Church of Pakistan.
• Collin Cowan, General Secretary of the United Church of Jamaica and Cayman Islands
• Heidi Hadsell, President, Hartford Seminary, ecumenical social ethicist
• Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Executive Secretary of the Office for Church Renewal, Justice and Partnership, World Alliance of Reformed Churches
• Rebecca Todd Peters, Prof at Elon University, author on economic justice & globalization
• Rick Ufford-Chase, Executive Director, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship 
• Peter Notebloom
• Cynthia Holder-Rich
  

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