The probably strongest message today was delivered by a Muslim. Professor Azza Karam is the Secretary General of Religions for Peace International. She was the quest of the General Assembly and was invited to the podium to give a greeting. She compared religious leaders to political leaders. And her point was that religious leaders have more power than political leaders.
I believe as a Muslim that Christ’s love was meant for all.
Of course she alluded
to the Assembly theme:
Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.
This is not
easy. Some Christians live under great pressure. I have spoken to Church
Leaders from Nigeria telling me about how it is to live close to Boko Haram. Or
to Church leaders in India whose congregations consists of mostly Dalits. Or
just look at my own context in Sweden. Today Muslims are blamed for many things
when parliamentarians don’t differ between Islam and Islamism. White supremacy
is the order of the day. When racism is allowed in society, sexism will come
suit. And it goes on. Discrimination of persons, that don’t fit the hetero
norm comes after that. I could mention other groups of people.
So, it takes a Muslim woman to come and tell us that Christ’s love was meant for all.
The rest of the first plenary was about the war in Ukraine. Also, very important. Hopefully the WCC can be a space where Christians in Russia and Ukraine can deepen their dialogue.
I also want
to say something about the voice of the young delegates and participants. They
are literally shouting for Climate Justice. Adults like me need to hear this
cry. Also a Professor Mathew Koshy Punnackadu, leader of the Department of
Ecological Concerns in the Church of South India was clear when he made a
comment about the parable about the good Samaritan. The man who was attacked by
the robbers is the soil, the water, and the trees, he said. It is not only
other humans that are our neighbours. Food for thoughts.
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