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The communique states: "We, the Ecumenical Panel on a NIFEA jointly convened by the World Council of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, and Council for World Mission, voice our deep alarm over the unprecedented consolidation of capital, technology, and political power today, aggravating already obscene levels of inequality, undermining democratic governance, fomenting wars and invasions for the control of resources, and further destabilizing already fragile ecological systems."
The NIFEA panel met from 25-27 March to address the worsening global economic and ecological situation.
"In our meeting we heard the witness and wisdom of our Indigenous siblings, women and youth who are expert members of the panel,” said Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary. "As communities of faith, our commitment is to stand with the least of us and to care for the most vulnerable – amplifying their voices."
According to the communique: "It is immoral that over a billion people – half of them children – subsist in poverty whilst billionaires increased their wealth by over 15% in 2024 to US$15 trillion. It is outrageous that the richest 10% of the global population receives more than half of global income, whereas the poorest half earns merely 8.5% of it."
The statement also expresses deep concern about "a rapidly escalating climate and biodiversity emergency that jeopardises livelihoods and poses an existential threat to all life." It notes that "several tipping points are close to being crossed or have already been crossed, leading us to recognise that we may be beyond a point of no return."
Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, emphasized, "From growing inequality to climate upheaval to rising authoritarianism, the polycrises we are confronted with are not just economic or political. These are profoundly spiritual and moral. These are questions of faith."
The communique outlines both short-term and long-term actions, calling for “an urgent renewal of global solidarity and re-commitment to democratic values, international human rights frameworks and multilateral processes addressing global economic and ecological governance.”
The message also calls for "practical measures to end the hyper-concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals and their business entities, including through a range of progressive tax policies” as well as “diverse actions to strengthen the resilience of our communities through advocacy, solidarity, and diaconal support at the grassroots levels.”
The communique also notes that hope is a central Christian virtue. “We need to reimagine hope from the perspective of a future promised by God and from Indigenous understandings of the wellbeing of all,” concluded Peralta.
