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Editorial
Although it seems odd to begin an editorial with apologies, it is only
appropriate that I offer you my sincere apologies for the delay of three
issues of CTC Bulletin. After all, we owe it to you - dear writers and
contributors as well as dear readers and subscribers.
In order to catch up with our publication schedule, the three issues of
December 2002 (Vol. XVIII, No. 2), April 2003 (Vol. XIX, No. 1) and August
2003 (Vol. XIX, No. 2) are now combined in this triple issue.
Since I assumed the post of Joint Executive Secretary for Faith, Mission and
Unity on 1st August 2003 (and consequently as editor of CTC Bulletin), I
have made it my priority to publish this triple issue. I therefore hope that
you will understand why this is dated December 2002-August 2003. I will try
my best to ensure that the subsequent issue in 2003 will come out before the
end of the year.
Nevertheless, I must give credit to my predecessor, Dr. Daniel Thiagarajah
of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was during his term as Joint Executive Secretary
for CCA-FMU that a consultation was held from 28th September to 6th October
2002 in Cairns, Australia. From that consultation which focused on the
theme, "Journeying Together with Indigenous Peoples in Their Search for
Life", a number of stories and papers have been selected for part of this
issue.
These stories are simply representative of the many struggles of indigenous
peoples in Asia � including the Minjung in Korea, Burakumin and Ainu in
Japan, Aboriginals in Australia, Dalits, Adivasis and Tribals in India,
Maoris in New Zealand, Orang Aslis in Malaysia, and the ethnic minorities in
the Philippines, Myanmar, Taiwan, and other places.
The struggles of indigenous peoples may be one or several of interrelated
issues of land, identity, human rights, and self-determination. All in all,
they are issues of justice; they are issues of life in its fullness.
Reflecting on the plight of indigenous peoples in Asia, Daniel Thiagarajah
wrote: "Experiences of Third World people, their cultures, religions and
their contemporary struggles for justice and liberation have raised serious
questions on the Euro-centric model of theologizing. In a way, the struggles
and sufferings of these peoples for a new life demand a new paradigm of
theologizing. This new paradigm should emerge out of the experiences of
people who live under structures of violence, caste and racial
discrimination, patriarchy and economic exploitation. Since all these
theologies emerge from experiences of oppression, discrimination and
marginalization, all of them stoutly reject the idea that their oppression
is ordained or sanctioned by God. Instead, they see God being involved in
their struggles. Hence, this is a new way of understanding how God acts in
the world. It is a new way of articulating our faith in that God. It is, in
fact, the real 'God-Talk.'"
The other part of this issue features three lectures delivered by Dr. Judo
Poerwowidagdo on the overall theme, "The Role of the Ecumenical Movement in
Conflict Transformation towards Peace-Building in Asia." These lectures,
delivered on October 28-29, 2002 at the Eastern Theological College in
Jorhat, North East India, were part of the Ecumenical Lecture Series of the
Christian Conference of Asia. This is a new initiative of the present CCA
General Secretary, Dr. Ahn Jae Woong, whose vision is to bring ecumenism and
the ecumenical movement to the grassroots and to bring the regional
ecumenical organization and the academe closer together.
The three lectures are arranged in this issue of CTC Bulletin in the order
in which they were presented, which marks a building-up of the sub-themes:
first is "New Century: Age of Conflict"; second "The Church and the
Ecumenical Movement"; and third is "Ministry of Reconciliation and Peace."
It is significant that the lectures were done in Jorhat, among Indian tribal
people. It is also significant that the theme focused on conflict
transformation and peace-building, a much longed-for reality for many tribal
communities in Asia. Nevertheless, as the papers in this issue would show,
for indigenous peoples, there is no cheap and easy way to genuine peace and
conflict transformation. It can only be through justice.
Hope S. Antone
Editor
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