Ecclesial and social visions of the indigenous peoples
Baguio, Philippines
Indigenous Mexicans bless an interfaith service at Mexico City's Gante Methodist Church. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/EAA
The Philippines - a country where approximately a tenth of the population is indigenous and lives in isolated areas where access to basic services and opportunities for economic growth is lacking even as natural resources abound - will be the meeting place for some 30 theologians belonging to indigenous peoples of Latin America, North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
The theological consultation on "Ecclesial and social visions of the indigenous peoples" aims to encourage the WCC constituency to be inspired by the theological and spiritual resources of the indigenous peoples.
The resistance of the indigenous peoples in the Philippines to marginalization and development aggression will hopefully inspire similar story telling from other parts of the world.
The issues of identity, culture, land, rights, language, spirituality, their experiences of economic injustice, exclusion and violence and their visions of peace and a safe earth, will be background against which visions will be articulated.
The consultation is organized by the WCC project on Just and Inclusive Communities in partnership with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.
WCC work on just and inclusive communities
WCC member churches in the Philippines
National Council of Churches in the Philippines