From June 15-19 2002, more than 80 representatives from western European churches, as well as guests from churches in central and eastern Europe, North America, Africa and Asia, from the Vatican and from ecumenical organizations gathered in Soesterberg (The Netherlands) for a consultation with the guiding theme, economy in the service of life. This consultation was graciously hosted by the Council of Churches in The Netherlands. It took place under the joint auspices of the World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the Conference of European Churches and the Warc European area committee.

A message from the churches in central and eastern Europe, who gathered for a similar consultation in 2001, informed the discussion in Soesterberg. We acknowledge the important work done by churches and ecumenical groups in central and eastern Europe, eg the document on the Basis of the Social Doctrine by the Russian Orthodox Church with its comments on globalization. Affirming the basic human values stated by the north/south working group of the church and society commission of the Conference of European Churches, ¹ and as a response to the demands expressed in the message from the Budapest Consultation, we would like to emphasize the following:

Jesus Christ says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (Jn 10.10)

We affirm

life in its fullness for all: God's household, the divine economy, comprises the whole earth and all who dwell on it.

We acknowledge

that our being church together has been and is being deeply hurt by

the deep negative impact of the wars in former Yugoslavia and especially of the NATO bombing in the Kosovo war on the relationships between people and churches in western and central and eastern Europe,
our failure to listen and to respond sufficiently to the pain of those whose hopes have been frustrated by the course of the major changes from the previous oppressive system to the democratic and free market society. New freedom cannot be enjoyed by unemployed, displaced and impoverished people who experience daily uncertainty and insecurity. The dangers and difficulties of the transition experienced as neoliberal shock therapy were grossly underestimated;
the fact that we do not resist strongly enough to the idolatrous and exclusive character of the neoliberal doctrine and practice of the "free market economy", leading to intolerable inequality, exclusion, and the destruction of the environment which you experience in your countries;
trying to help you with diaconical services, but not addressing sufficiently the root causes of economic exclusion;
avoiding risking insecurity for the sake of the poor and disempowered as expression of our shared vulnerability
opting for compromise when we should challenge those with political and economic power to build an economy in the service of life and protect social, cultural and economic rights.

Overcoming neoliberal globalization

We do not subscribe to the widespread assumption that "there is no alternative" to economic globalization as it is developing now guided by the neoliberal economic doctrine, nor do we believe that economic globalization is a leaderless process - there are people in charge. As Christians, we must and will approach and challenge them, even more so because many of them are members of our churches.

In spite of positive signs of improving economic performance of countries in central and eastern Europe, we have to face negative impacts of current economic and social policies in these countries. Neoliberal economic globalization can and does divide and exclude. This is true in the south and in central and eastern Europe, as well as in our societies. It can and does violate the gospel of life by causing agony for many. As Christians, we constitute the one body of Christ. If one part of the body suffers, all the others suffer as well. Economic globalization threatens to tear the fellowship, the koinonia, of the one body of Christ apart. Our biblical tradition reminds us that we are called to follow Jesus Christ in all spheres of life and that we have to choose between God or mammon, life or death (Mt 6.24, Deut 30.11ff).

Membership of our churches in western Europe is declining and the prevailing values in society are less and less influenced by Christian values. We are challenged in many ways by this reality. We need to hear and to respond in new ways to the call of the gospel to speak with a prophetic voice to the societies in which we are living. In response to God's promise of life, and in response to the voices from the churches in central and eastern Europe, members of the same body of Christ, we will engage in concrete actions of solidarity and sharing. We will remind members of our churches to witness to God's justice by preaching, liturgy and education. We will remind our members working in those institutions in which political and economic decisions are made that they must work towards life sustaining policies for peoples and nations. We will question and challenge the national and international institutions who bear responsibility in the globalization process, in particular those involved in finance, development and trade, calling on them to become more accountable to people and to develop policies that will lead toward a more equitable distribution of wealth.

European integration

We look with concern at the process to prepare for the entry of a number of central European countries into the European Union. Terms and conditions are presented that put these countries and their citizens for many years in a secondary position. At the same time we observe growing discontent among stakeholders in western Europe, who see their privileged position reduced.

We realize that the road towards full integration is complex. However, under no circumstances should we accept that future citizens of this enlarged and united Europe are treated as secondary visitors with fewer rights and long waiting periods.

Secondly, under no circumstances we should accept that the countries and their citizens that do not join as yet find themselves at the other side of the fence with fewer prospects in life. The wall has come down. No new walls should be erected to separate the people of Europe. We encourage ourselves and each other:

to join together in ecumenical processes to more seriously committing ourselves, from out of our faith convictions, to work more vigorously for justice in the economy and on the earth,
to struggle together for all to enjoy life in all its fullness,
to analyse the destructiveness of the current economic system and to speak out against the injustices of economic globalization,
to search for alternatives by providing financial and spiritual support, and to support already existing and newly emerging economic and social alternatives like Oikocredit, the economy of communion of the Focolare movement, and fair trade,
to join hands with civil and social movements to further our common struggle,
to adopt self-restraint and simplicity in lifestyle, in resistance to the dominating cultural patterns of consumerism,
to facilitate networking to promote solidarity between the churches in the south and the churches in central and eastern Europe,
to support ongoing encounters between churches and ecumenical groups in central, eastern and western Europe on issues such as agriculture, social rights, migration and common security;
to call for fair, just and speedy negotiations on the EU integration and recognition of the justified claims of those who are not included in this process;
to seek redress for injustices, such as illegitimate debts and unfair trade conditions.

In order jointly to walk towards an economy in the service of life we need to learn from each other and to remind each other of the one hope that unites us - that is Christ and his life-giving gospel. God calls us to give account of the hope that is in us. Brothers and sisters, call us to account if we violate that very hope - in our logic, in our spirit and in our praxis.

Note

1. Cf chapter 5 of the document of the north/south working group of the church and society commission of the Conference of European Churches: "European social market economy - an alternative model for globalization?"