The Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network Reference Group members and seminar participants with the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, October 2024, Geneva, Photo: WCC The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network Reference Group convened for the first time in-person at the WCC Ecumenical Institute at Bossey from 12-13 October to plan the work ahead. The main objectives were to build community and begin to shape plans and priorities. A part of the reference group also participated, from 13-15 October, in a seminar on Indigenous spirituality, land rights, and climate justice.Seminar participants shared papers, poetry readings and storytelling, and entered into dialogue with WCC staff from the Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development. They also heard an overview on climate-responsible banking and how it relates to child rights. The seminar, entitled“The Intersection of Indigenous Spiritualities, Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice – Meeting of Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network,” was supported by a grant from the German Foreign Ministry. Climate justice is inextricably linked to the human rights of Indigenous peoples, particularly as Indigenous communities occupy 20-25% of the Earth’s land surface. Eighty percent of that land mass holds the world’s remaining biodiversity. The meeting and seminar explored the interrelated threads of Indigenous people’s spiritualities, Indigenous rights, and climate justice. “This meeting has been just such an enormous opportunity for Indigenous people to share their experiences across the globe, to have an opportunity to reflect,” said Prof. Dr Anne Pattel-Gray from Australia.“But as we've all conversed and identified, we need to be very strategic now going forward. And we're so appreciative of World Council of Churches for this space and inclusion thatwe've moved from the periphery to thecentre. And now we need to make our participation significant and transformative and bring the wisdom of Indigenous peoples to thecentre, to the churches. And in partnership, look at how we can transform our faith.” Rev. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba, WCC programme director for Unity, Mission, and Ecumenical Formation, said that the Ecumenical Indigenous People's Network Reference Group will, among other tasks, guide the fellowship in critically reassessing and reimagining the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity, ensuring it honours Indigenous theological insights and spirituality. “Acknowledging that the concept of pilgrimage may carry colonial implications that marginalize Indigenous communities, the reference group’s efforts will support the World Council of Churches’strategic priority, ‘Mission from the Margins and Decolonial Discourses,’ amplifying and centring Indigenous voices and perspectives to realize the ‘Together Towards Life'mission paradigm,” said Nalwamba, Lori Ransom, WCC Indigenous Peoples consultant, said:“I leave these meetings excited by the very high level of commitment to the work ahead which was displayed by every member of the reference group. They brought a wealth of wisdom, experience, and passion to our conversations. In terms of next steps: Member churches can look forward to a publication in 2025 featuring papers, poetry, music, and art from the seminar on Indigenous spirituality, land rights, and climate justice.” Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network Learn more about the WCC work on Mission and Evangelism Commission on World Mission and Evangelism "Convening in Kenya, WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism maps out work" (WCC news release, July 2024) SOURCE>WCC |