|TOP|A new report recently adopted by the Executive Committee of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) has told churches across Europe to recognise both the opportunities and challenges afforded by globalisation.

“Churches in Europe recognise globalisation as a process containing both opportunities and challenges,” read the report.

It continued: “Although elements have been identified which could lead to the rejection of economic globalisation, the European experience witnesses that neither total rejection nor uncritical endorsement is entirely appropriate.”

The report, which is the result of a broad consultation process within the CEC, urged churches not to ignore the positive elements of globalisation whilst also stressing the vulnerabilities inherent in globalisation, particularly for some distinct groups in society like trafficked women, migrants, minorities and the socially excluded.

The paper also said that special attention needs to be paid to the situation in the developing countries.

|QUOTE|It also voiced its opposition for those aspects of globalisation which do not take these vulnerabilities sufficiently into consideration, such as totalitarianism in terms of ideology and the creation of a market society with its harmful effects on human relationships, culture and human identity.

“The document provides an ethical orientation and explores underlying values and principles. It reviews the European experiences and lists challenges for the churches in Europe as well as for the Conference of European Churches in a global context,” said Rev. Rüdiger Noll, director of the CEC Church and Society Commission.

The paper is a contribution of European churches to the ongoing ecumenical discussion on globalisation, and in particular to the preparatory process for the upcoming 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February 2006.

The paper will be discussed with the European delegates to the WCC Assembly at a preparatory meeting organised by the CEC Church and Society Commission on 8-9 December 2005 in Brussels.