Global Ministries Supports Philippines Human Rights and Peace Summit
Statement of Support for Peace summit held by Global Ministries’ partner churches in the Philippines
Statement of Support for Peace summit held by Global Ministries’ partner churches in the Philippines
On July 21, 2006, an ecumenical group of church members, leaders, human rights workers and supporters met in Manila for the Philippines Human Rights and Peace Summit. Over 800 participants attended, including international friends from UCC Canada, PCUSA, Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea, NCCJapan, and PCTaiwan. Two senators, three congressmen, and the former vice president also gave their solidarity messages. At the summit, victims and families of the victims of human rights violations were able to give their testimonies.
In solidarity with the Peace Summit, Global Ministries Area Executive Rev. Xiaoling Zhu shared the following statement of support, which was shared with participants of the summit:
July 21, 2006
To our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and all who suffer in the Philippines,
We write to you from the East Asia and Pacific Office of Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ in the United States.
We give thanks to God for the courageous and faithful work of church leaders, human rights activists, and others who labor on behalf of the poor in the Philippines. It is with great sadness and outrage that we continue to witness extrajudicial killings, attempted murders, forced disappearances, threats and harassments. We write today to express our solidarity with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and with all others who are working for peace and justice. Together, we condemn these heinous acts, and call upon the Philippine government to put a stop to them, to investigate fully and impartially, and to bring to justice those who are responsible.
We pray that the Human Rights and Peace Summit will give voice to the suffering of the people, the victims and their families, and that this witness will be heard by the Philippine government and around the world.
Peace in the name of Christ,
Rev. Xiaoling Zhu,
Area Executive, East Asia and the Pacific
Global Ministries
Rev. Karen Farthing,
Program Associate, East Asia and the Pacific
Global Ministries