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EATWOT SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY Yogyakarta, April 23-29, 2012
The earth dries up and withers, The world languishes and withers; The heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; For they have transgressed laws, Violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Isaiah 23:4-5
Moved by Prophet Isaiah’s words and the theme Ecological Vision and Planetary Survival, women and men theologians who represented the four regions of the association - Africa, Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean and USA groups - gathered in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on April 23-29, 2012, for the Seventh General Assembly of EATWOT. Gathered at a time when the Earth is groaning for renewal and rest, and after days of intense reflection on the future of EATWOT, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to EATWOT’S aims.
A Theological Conference on Ecological Vision and Planetary Survival also took place with the participation of members from all the regions. They responded to the challenge put by the Concept Paper (see link at the end of page) which main question was that neither the political system or the political institutions nor the institutional religions can provide the solution for the ecological destruction towards which we seem to be moving. The remedy can only be found through a collective change of religious mentality and this is the task of theology. The participants brought their contribution from their regional context and reality and an intense and fruitful discussion took place. A book will be published with the texts which will be amended and improved until July. An editing team was offered by the Philippines members, headed by sr Virginia Fabella and Lilith Usog.
The Assembly elected the new Executive Committee and affirmed their support to the new elected Board. The Assembly further affirmed that they are more than ever united to revitalize EATWOT by supporting each other and each region.
The Executive Committee was elected from the three continents after thoughtful deliberation, as follows:
Executive Committee President: Luiza E. Tomita – Brazil, Latin America Vice-President: Adam K. arap Chepkwony - Kenya, Africa Executive Secretary & Treasurer: Carmelita (Lilith) Usog- Philippines, Asia
The Regional Coordinators: Samuel Ngun Ling - Mianmar, Asia: Marcelo Barros - Brazil, Latin America Africa - to be appointed during 2012 Rosetta Ross (reconfirmed) - US-EATWOT)
The Commissioners: Theological Commission: Jose Maria Vigil – Panama, Latin America Evangeline Anderson – India, Asia Paul Gundani – South Africa, Africa (to be confirmed) US-EATWOT – to be appointed
International Theological Commissioner: José Maria Vigil - Panama, Latin America ( reconfirmed)
Women’s Commission : Judith G. Lim Na Bik Gwat - Indonesia, Asia ------------------------- - Latin America - to be appointed ------------------------ - Africa – to be appointed ------------------------ - US- EATWOT – to be appointed
Publications Editorial team: Gerald Boodoo (USA) (coordinator) Jose Maria Vigil - Panama (L. America) Ezequiel Silva - Argentina (L.América) Archie Ligo - Philippines (Asia) Intan D. Supeno - Indonesia (Asia) Africa - to be appointed
Theme for the Next Five Years :
ECOLOGICAL VISION IN A GROANING WORLD. The Assembly together with the new Executive Committee and the Commissioners reassured their commitment to continue doing a Third World theology, beyond a liberating theology, taking into consideration the context of their communities’ reality and challenges in order to reaffirm that a new world is possible.
The STATEMENT of the Seventh General Assembly can be found here
You can follow the activities and discussions held at the Assembly through two Newsletters published during the Assembly and the third and last one published at the end of the Assembly. |
