The Arab Spring has generated violence and instability, but she wants us to know that most Muslims in Egypt (and elsewhere) are not extremists. Violence violates the Muslim belief in justice and peace. After the bombing of a church in Alexandria in 2011, Muslims guarded all of the churches at Christmas while the Christians were praying inside.
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| Mother Antonia and Prof. Tawfik |
Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada:
Father Baraga worked amongst the Objibways on the shore of Lake Superior. One day, he was paddled to the north side of the lake by Ojibways who were not Christian. During their trip, a strong wind came up. He was amazed to see the paddlers stop, place their paddles on their laps and sing a Christian hymn. The wind abated, but more miraculously was Father Baraga's ability to recognize the Spirit of God at work amongst non-Christians. Mark asked us to look for God in the places we least expect.
Martin Hkor, Executive Director of the South Centre in Malaysia, noted that the countries of the south are not allowed to subsidize their agricultural products due to the International Monetary Fund's restrictions, while the countries of the north heavily subsidize theirs. As a result, cheaper agricultural products flood the poorer countries, who cannot compete with subsidies. And then--the richer countries send in food aid.
Leymah Gbowee told her story of leading a non-violent movement of Christian and Muslim women that played a pivotal role in ending Liberia's civil war in 2003. She had a tremendous amount of anger as she saw children turned into brutal killers and women violated. It was not until after she had worked on her own personal healing that she was able to turn the power of her anger into constructive peace-building. Her challenge to the churches today is not to be co-opted by governments. If churches refuse to take a stand against violence and injustice, they might as well be joining those who shoot people.
Stanley Noffsinger, General Secretary of the Church of the Brethren, recalled a famous bumper sticker: "When Jesus said, "Love your enemies," I think he probably meant "Don't kill them."
Michael Lapsley, the Anglican priest who was working against apartheid in South Africa, lost his hands and an eye when he opened a letter bomb in 1990. He had just finished preaching during our final prayer service, when a protestor leaped onto the stage and began throwing raw eggs. He was quickly tackled by under cover police officers, who had been alerted that something might happen that day. The participants were concerned more with the manner in which the police handled the protestor, than with the protestor's actions. I think I agree, although I was a bit shaken. Michael later told me that the constant presence of protestors at this Assembly must mean that we are doing something right. He should know.
Michael Lapsley, the Anglican priest who was working against apartheid in South Africa, lost his hands and an eye when he opened a letter bomb in 1990. He had just finished preaching during our final prayer service, when a protestor leaped onto the stage and began throwing raw eggs. He was quickly tackled by under cover police officers, who had been alerted that something might happen that day. The participants were concerned more with the manner in which the police handled the protestor, than with the protestor's actions. I think I agree, although I was a bit shaken. Michael later told me that the constant presence of protestors at this Assembly must mean that we are doing something right. He should know.
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| Michael Lapsley preaching |
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| police tackling the protestor |
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