"All of us affirm the inherent relationship between the Reformed faith and concern for the global economy... Our faith in Jesus Christ as creator and Lord requires us to participate in God's good covenant that the world be habitable for all children and that all may have life, and have it abundantly (Jn 10.10). The sovereignty of God - the historic core of our shared Reformed faith - calls us to be responsible stewards of all aspects of life in this world and to deny any attempt to establish an alternative centre that would compete with faithful worship and service of Jesus Christ. Our Reformed tradition affirms that the purpose of the economic order is to sustain life in community."

In February and March, representatives of five Warc churches took part in a journey of dialogue covering three continents and lasting three weeks. Their travelling conversation was prompted by the 1997 proposal of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for a dialogue between church leaders in Brazil, Korean and the United States on the grassroots impact of the social, political and economic forces driving the world today, on what changes in the world economy would better serve people's needs, and on how churches could promote such changes.

Participants were drawn from the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil, the Presbyterian Church of Korea and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea in addition to the PCUSA. Since all five churches are members of Warc, it was agreed that the conversation also take place within the framework of Debrecen call to member churches to engage together in a process of recognition, education, confession and action regarding global economic injustice and ecological destruction.

The journey began in Seoul. Through immersion in the realities that Korea faces in the wake of the Asian economic crisis, the participants realized how serious the impact of the global economy on Korean society is. They heard of the fatal collapse of the agricultural industry, of the poor prospects of migrant workers and of workers who have been sacked due to the structural adjustment programme urged upon Korea by the IMF.

In Seattle, we were disturbed by SPEEA labour union pickets on the street as we approached the Boeing company. We were then puzzled to hear from Boeing management that it is the best company in the world! All three of the international corporations that we visited in Seattle told us that corporate growth brought with it the challenge of social responsibility and spoke a great deal about ethics. It was our impression that all three corporations were faithful adherents of global neoliberalism, however, and it was not clear to us how this was to be reconciled with an emphasis on ethical responsibility.

From the Seattle council of churches we heard that the experience of cooperating with civil movements during the WTO summit in Seattle last year had been a great encouragement to the churches to play their proper role in society. The liturgical framework in which they had placed protests against WTO proposals had been a way of engaging in confession.

In São Paulo, we were overwhelmed by civil movements that were trying to reclaim basic economic, social and cultural rights. Movements like the Urban Cooperative Housing Project, the Gaspar Garcia Centre for Human Rights and the Paper Collectors' Cooperation were signs of hope. Pentecostalism is very attractive for the poor of Brazil, yet we need to ask what kind of faith it is shaping in the hearts and minds of the poor. At the same time, Reformed communities in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America may need to reflect on ways in which they can respond the existential issues with which the poor are struggling, socioeconomically as well as spiritually.

The dialogue raised several questions for participants: Is there a way that being Reformed Christians shapes our response to globalization? On what ethical basis do we act economically? What should be the roles of markets and governments in the global economy? Should we look to national governments or to international organizations to resolve global economic issues?

One thing is clear to us. "While visiting three countries, we found many suffering by exclusion and victimization due to the rapidly moving process of economic globalization... We have learned in our dialogue that many of these people might not have been victimized if the powerful players who steer the global economy had acted in a more globally responsible way."

This quote and others in this article come from a draft statement which participants are currently finalizing. It will be published (in English, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish) in a book which will also contain an analytical report of our pilgrimage as well as personal reflections by individual participants. What interests us is how the member churches involved in this conversation will follow up its result.

The dialogue was just one of the ways in which Alliance churches can respond to the Debrecen call for a confessing process at all levels of their life. It would be good for other member churches to engage in this kind of interchurch dialogue.

"The purpose of our dialogue continues as our current challenge: to stimulate serious biblical and theological international reflection on ethical issues emerging from the reality of the global economy."

For further information, contact Jenny Stoner, or Kathy Reeves.

Park Seong-won, department of cooperation and witness