Representatives of Presbyterian and Reformed churches of Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Peru and Argentina met in San José, Costa Rica, to analyse and reflect on our Latin American reality and to consider the following issues and materials:

"Theology and Economics: A Hermeneutic for our Times" - Rev Harry del Valle
"Neoliberalism and Freedom" - Dr Elsa Tamez
"Towards a Society With Room for All" - Dr Franz Hinkelammert
Preparatory materials provided by the Warc, including a proposed working agenda and results from other similar gathering in different parts of the world.
Presentations and current analyses prepared by the delegates from each participating country

We recognize

In Latin America we recognize that

the tendency towards globalization of capital impedes relationships among equals
existing international economic relations are producing asymmetrical growth faster than underdeveloped or developing countries
Latin America does not have access to the necessary financial capital and technology for holistic development
the gospel has been used as a means of conquest and political and economic domination by empires that deny the essence and nature of the message of God's reign
the accompaniment of first world churches with sister churches of Latin America reveals a lack of understanding of the reality which our faith communities experience. This shows that our relationship is one of paternalism rather than sisterhood in the faith
we are unable to change the situation of hopelessness, not only in religious terms but generally, as large sectors of the population find no way out and resign themselves to their fate. The loss of utopias is one of the results of the economic system. People are giving up their dreams, which leads to an individualistic attitude of "everyone for himself/herself". And when they cannot envision a better future, they are more easily controlled
In addition to the elements of economic injustice indicated in the preparatory documents, there is a "culture of corruption", the problem of land tenure by minorities that do not use it productively, militarism, falling budgets for education and health, rapid technological change that makes obsolete processes and systems of production in our countries, and the foreign debt, which becomes "eternal debt".

This constantly growing debt impedes the reorientation of resources for other priorities in support of social needs and investment to generate wealth.

The scriptures

The scriptures provide foundations concerning the importance of economic life. The Old Testament illustrates the just distribution of the land (Num 26.53-56; Lev 25.23). Likewise the New Testament calls us to provide for the needy (Mt 14.15-18; 25.31-46) and to reject the useless accumulation of wealth (Lk 12.13-21). Jesus himself reveals that economics is one of the central concerns of God's reign and of his message and ministry. In Luke 4, at the outset of his ministry, Jesus declares that God's reign (the jubilee) brings good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed, and in all that follows he identifies himself precisely with the marginalized. This solidarity brings confrontation with the dominant powers and takes him to the cross. Thus God's plan (economy) includes all dimensions of life (Eph 1.8-10), and economics is concerned with the struggle for the life and dignity of all people.

We affirm

As representatives of Latin American churches in this gathering concerning faith and economics, we affirm that

the present evil age can be unmasked by a new reading of the Bible and a contextual hermeneutics by our communities
we are guided by the vision of God's reign found in Jesus' person and message
our sovereign God becomes incarnate in every manifestation of life among our people
hope which is the fruit of life leads us to a world with dignity and justice
we are chosen by God to be agents of change.

We believe

We believe that we need to create possibilities for dialogue between the Latin American churches and sister churches of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches that will lead to solutions, centred in the gospel, to the economic problems of our communities regarding funding, technology, education and health.