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“World Council of Churches Project (2006-2013)” by Jerome Edgar

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“World Council of Churches Project (2006-2013)” by Jerome Edgar “Poverty, Wealth and Ecology”: A Critical Analysis of a “World Council of Churches Project (2006-2013)” By Jerome Edgar Bailey A full thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Magister in Theology University of the Western Cape Supervisor: Professor Ernst Conradie December 2020 http://etd.uwc.ac.za/i ABSTRACT Long-standing ecumenical debates on the relationship between “Faith and Order” (what the church is) and “Life and Work” (what the church does) exist. Although these dimensions are inseparable, the emphasis is often placed on either the one or the other, such as either on Christian identity or on social responsibility. Similar tensions may be found in ecumenical discourse on “spirituality and society”, between “ecumenical vision” and “social transformation”, “Christianity and culture”, or “faith and science”. This “relationship between ecclesiology and ethics” was investigated through a study process commissioned by the WCC at the Seoul convocation on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in 1990. This study was jointly conducted by Faith and Order (Unit 1) and Justice, Peace and Creation (Unit 111). Best and Robra (ed.) (1997:vii-x) observe that the aim of the study was to “heal the division between the Faith and Order and the Life and Work movements”, i.e., “to explore the link between what the church is and what the church does” (cf. Conradie (ed.) 2013:40). The ethical dimension and assignation of the church is explored, as part of the church’s “worship”, its “confession of faith”, and its “witness and service” in the world. The study process was based on two convictions, namely: (a) “that ethical reflection and action are intrinsic to the nature and life of the church” and (b) that “ecclesiology and ethics need to stay in dialogue by honouring and learning from the distinctive language and thought forms of each other” (Conradie (ed) 2013:40). http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ii KEY WORDS Changing Landscape Church Climate change Development Disunity Domination Ecclesiology Ecological degradation Ethics Eucharist, communion Exploitation Faith Indigenous people Injustice Justice Koinonia Liberation Life Order Pollution Poverty Prosperity gospel Tension Unity Visible Unity Women http://etd.uwc.ac.za/iii Work Youth http://etd.uwc.ac.za/iv ABBREVIATIONS AACC All Africa Conference of Churches AGAPE Alternative Globalisation Addressing Peoples and Earth APRODEV Association of Protestant Development BEM Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry BUSA Baptist Union of Southern Africa CCA Christian Conference of Asia CCT Christian Council of Tanzania COP Conference of Parties CWM Council of World Mission CWME Commission on World Mission and Evangelism EA Ecumenical Affirmation EFSA Ecumenical Foundation of Southern Africa EU European Union FBO Faith Based Organisation FOCCISA Fellowship for Christian Councils in Southern Africa IMC International Missionary Council http://etd.uwc.ac.za/v JPIC Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation MDG Millennium Development Goals NGO Non-Governmental Organisation OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development PCC Pacific Conference of Churches PROMCURA Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa PWE Poverty, Wealth and Ecology SACC South African Council of Churches SAFCEI South African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute SDG Sustainable Development Goals TCTCV The Church Towards a Common Vision TTL Together Towards Life UN United Nations UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UWC University of the Western Cape WARC World Alliance of Reformed Churches WCC World Council of Churches http://etd.uwc.ac.za/vi WSCF World Student Christian Federation WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development WTO World Trade Organisation http://etd.uwc.ac.za/vii DECLARATION This thesis is a presentation of my original research work. Wherever contributions of others are involved, every effort is made to indicate this clearly, with due reference to the literature, and acknowledgement of collaborative research and discussions. The work was done under the guidance of Professor Ernst Conradie, at the University of the Western Cape, Bellville Cape Town. Jerome Edgar Bailey In my capacity as supervisor of the candidate’s thesis, I certify that the above statements are true to the best of my knowledge. Professor Ernst Conradie ………………………………….. Date: December 2020 http://etd.uwc.ac.za/viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank and acknowledge the following people, listed in no particular order, for their ongoing support and help, which made the completion of this thesis possible: I am especially grateful to the Lord, God Almighty, who opened doors for me and made this study project possible. Additionally, I am appreciative of the financial assistance of the National Research Fund. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the author and are not necessarily to be attributed to the National Research Fund. I also wish to express my gratitude to Professor Erns Conradie who served as my supervisor. He mentored and developed me throughout the duration of my study and the writing of this research paper. Thank you for your guidance and wise counsel. Much appreciated sir! Heartfelt thanks to the Bailey family, especially my wife Rochelle Bailey, and my two daughters, Kelly-Ann and Amy-Joy. Thank you for your love, patience, and understanding, all three of you have been a constant pillar of support. The Perm Gardens Baptist Church leadership and congregation – thank you for your prayers, love, patience, and support. Gratitude is further extended to all my friends (too many to mention) for their help, input, suggestions, and constant prayers. It is much appreciated! Thank you all for help making this project a success! http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. ii KEY WORDS ......................................................................................................................... iii ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................... v DECLARATION................................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... ix TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... x Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................... 1 “Poverty, Wealth and Ecology”: A Critical Analysis of the World Council of Churches Project (2006-2013) ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 CONTEXT AND RELEVANCE .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Ecumenical Discourse on Ecclesiology and Ethics .............................................................................. 3 1.2.2 Wider Ecumenical Discourse on Poverty and Ecology ........................................................................ 4 1.2.3 A Wider Discourse on Poverty and Ecology ........................................................................................ 4 1.2.4 A Brief Summary .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 DELIMITATION .............................................................................................................................................. 5 1.3.1 The Church Towards a Common Vision: Faith and Order Paper 214 (TCTCV)................................. 5 1.3.2 Together Towards Life (TTL) ............................................................................................................... 6 1.4 RESEARCH PROBLEM .................................................................................................................................... 7 1.5 PROCEDURE .................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.6 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................................. 11 Ecumenical Discourse on Ecclesiology and Ethics ................................................................. 11 2.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 ECUMENICAL DISCOURSE ON ECCLESIOLOGY AND ETHICS ........................................................................ 12 2.2.1 The Faith and Order and Life and Work Movements ......................................................................... 13 2.2.2 “Costly Unity”, “Costly Commitment”, and “Costly Obedience” .................................................... 14 2.2.3 A Brief Summary ...............................................................................................................................
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