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The need to overcome poverty was one of the main points of agreement that emerged at a meeting between World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Samuel Kobia and Brazilian vice-president José Alencar, November 5 in the Brazilian capital.
"I would say that poverty is the moral equivalent to weapons of mass destruction, given that poverty kills more humans than those weapons do," said Kobia during the meeting with the Brazilian vice-president. The WCC general secretary added that the Brazilian's government's efforts in this regard are inspiring and should serve as an example for other countries.
The Brazilian vice-president agreed that poverty is the worst of all violence and underlined that there is always a correlation between the impoverishment of some and the enrichment of others. Alencar emphasized the need to create the conditions so that each region on the earth can develop its natural and human potential.
Small firearms disarmament
Small firearms also emerged as a key issue during the meeting, where Kobia was accompanied by a delegation led by the president and the general secretary of the National Council of Christian Churches (CONIC) of Brazil, Methodist Bishop Adriel de Souza Maia and Lutheran Pastor Ervino Schmidt respectively.
"The problem of small firearms has consequences that are comparable to a war. While one country is not pitted against another, they cost an enormous number of human lives each year," said Kobia, who underlined that the world could learn from the disarmament initiative being implemented by the Brazilian government.
CONIC representatives took advantage of the opportunity to give vice-president Alencar a letter requesting a one-year extension of the public Voluntary Disarmament Campaign, currently slated to be wrapped up December 23.
According to the ecumenical organization, "the media campaign did not have the hoped for impact" and therefore there is a need for more time to bring the population on board. Moreover the requested extension will allow "hundreds, even thousands" of churches to participate in the Campaign.
Healing the wounds of the past
Another issue addressed by the general WCC secretary was related to the transition to democratic governments in the region after dictatorships that inflicted profound wounds on the social body. Kobia manifested the Council's willingness to accompany churches in necessary healing, reconciliation and forgiveness processes.
Vice-president Alencar was recently appointed Defense Minister after the previous minister stepped down in the wake of a crisis with the Army leadership motivated by different understandings of their behavior during the past Brazilian military government.
The WCC general secretary also shared with the vice-president concerns and initiatives developed by the Council to combat racism, to address climate change and to promote indigenous peoples' rights.
Finally, Kobia emphasized that in a broken and divided world it is necessary to overcome the fear that dominates many in the face of an international panorama dominated by a single hegemonic super power. Alencar sustained, for his part, that the most serious problem facing the world today is the phenomenon of suicide terrorists who defy all logic of safety.
Prior to the end of the meeting Kobia reiterated, through vice-president Alencar, the invitation for President Luiz Ignacio "Lula" Da Silva, who was in Rio de Janeiro hosting the Rio Group Presidential Summit, to participate in the ninth WCC Assembly, to take place in Porto Alegre in February 2006.
The meeting, which lasted nearly an hour, ended with a prayer led by the Anglican Bishop of Brasilia, MaurÃcio Andrade.
2005 Fraternity Campaign: Ecumenical
Among other activities developed in the Brazilian capital, the WCC general secretary met in CONIC headquarters with representatives from member churches, including Catholic Archbishop of Brasilia, Dom Joao Braz de Aviz.
Kobia was also informed about the 2005 Fraternity Campaign that, while traditionally carried out by the Roman Catholic Church, will be ecumenical next year for the second time and will be coordinated by CONIC.
Under the theme "Solidarity and Peace" and the slogan "Blessed are the Peacemakers" inspired by the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence, the campaign, according to organizers, could be seen as preparation for the Porto Alegre Assembly.
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The WCC general secretary's visit to Latin American continues in Brazil (Salvador, Porto Alegre), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Uruguay (Montevideo) and Chile (Santiago).
A detailed program of the visit as well as high resolution photos are available in: