In an address marking the ecumenical movement's increasing preoccupation with the global economic order, a prominent leader of the movement has given churches an urgent reminder of the pressing need to eliminate poverty and restore human dignity for all peoples of the world.

"In the 21st century, we cannot afford to waste time while people are dying," said Dr Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (Warc). "We are called to make a difference ? This is the time for action."

Dr Nyomi's speech to Warc's executive committee, which has been meeting here since July 26 , was intended to help establish priorities for the global church body in the 21st century. Warc represents more than 200 Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United churches throughout the world.

In his speech, Dr Nyomi criticised what he called the "lethargy" of some churches in their commitment to advocacy for the poor.

Referring to Jubilee 2000, the international movement to rid the world's poor countries of debt, he said: "Imagine that as the year 2000 drew to a close there were people who actually heaved a sigh of relief, stating that finally the Jubilee campaign can come to an end."

Dr Nyomi placed his message in the context of the world's crises: increasing religious intolerance in Indonesia, growing conflict in the Holy Land, the pandemic of HIV/Aids, the weakening of democracy throughout the world, the difficult struggle to reach global consensus on the environment and crushing international debt for developing countries.

He called on his audience to identify the "forces of death" in each of these situations, and to work with Warc's member churches to overcome them.

Dr Nyomi linked these crises to the emergence of a global economic order based on growth at the expense of the social and natural environment. He charged member churches around the world to fight what he described as the unfairness of such a system.

"Our children and grandchildren will not forgive us if we sit by and do nothing about the injustices so rampant all around us," he said.

Dr Nyomi's call came as Warc prepares for a meeting of its general council - its top governing body - to be held in 2004 under the theme "That All May Have Life in Fullness".

This theme is connected to a major Warc programme called "Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth", which challenges Reformed churches to take strong action to help the poor and to protect the environment.

In making his appeal, Dr Nyomi reminded church leaders that they had help from partner organisations. "We are not alone," he said, citing the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in particular. The LWF earlier this year decided to convene its next assembly, scheduled for 2003, on the theme "For the Healing of the World". Healing is also one of the issues identified by Warc last weekend for its own general council meeting in 2004.

In other comments, Dr Nyomi reminded committee members of the importance of spirituality as the basis for the churches' response to the world's challenges, and of remaining united in mission. "We need to strengthen our churches to be communities in which young and old, women and men, lay and clergy, feel at home in using their gifts," he said. [573 words]

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