WSCF Solidarity plan on Identity, Diversity and Dialogue

24 February 2010

SCM Canada sent Bre Woligroski (Winnipeg, MB) to represent our movement at a regional program with many SCMers from around the world, addressing issues close to SCM Canada’s heart.

We, the participants at the WSCF Identity, Diversity, and Dialogue Programme met in Thailand in December 2009 to consider WSCF’s theme for 2009. Participants came from: Aotearoa New Zealand, Bangladesh, Canada, Côte D’Ivoire, Ecuador, Georgia, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Korea, Philippines, Rwanda, Slovakia, Thailand, and USA. Some participants identified as LGBT . Participants were from Protestant, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal and Orthodox traditions.

The objectives of programme were:
• To analyse the social, political and economic contexts of Identity, diversity and dialogue around the world.
• To bring awareness of the manipulation of identity to create conflict.
• To exchange experiences on identity, diversity and dialogue from a student perspective.
• To understand the cultural and socio-economic implications that influence identities and dialogue such as economic systems, history, patriarchy, and international balance of power.
• To analyse the role of the church and Christians in responding to diversity and dialogue.
• To motivate international analysis and solidarity on actions about identities and dialogue among the Student Christian Movements in the Federation.
• To train grassroots leaders in dialogue, reconciliation and peace-making.
• To build links with networks and organisations that work on Identity, diversity and dialogue.

We engaged with the theme through various means:
• Keynote presentations (on identity, on ethnic, religious and sexual minorities and on dialogue)
• Theological reflections and Bible study,
• Exposure experiences to: the Thai-Burmese border, a refugee camp, university peace institute, a Buddhist temple, Red Light district,
• Interaction with Burmese advocacy groups, interaction with Muslims and Buddhists, interaction with leaders of other student groups, personal and cultural sharing, worship, community building and sharing from our own contexts.
• Joint session with WCC conference “Building a movement of gender justice for peace“

This programme has allowed members of the Federation to consider, celebrate and wrestle with the blessings and challenges of our global diversity. We commit to the importance to all 3 elements of the programme, especially our 3 areas of focus: ethnic and cultural minorities, religious diversity and inter-faith dialogue, sexual minorities and LGBT issues. Whilst we have concentrated on a particular set of issues we realise that Identity, Diversity and Dialogue is not limited to these. Our work on this theme takes place in a context of influences and forces which shape us and which we resist for example patriarchy, militarism, war, global imbalances of power and wealth. This work also takes place within the Federation’s contextual framework.

On this basis, we would like to commit ourselves to intentional dialogue within the Federation and in all our relationships and we propose the following:

a) We invite the Federation globally to:
• Promote dialogue and dialogue skills throughout the Federation, even when dialogue is difficult.
• Renew commitment to engage students in critical thinking and sharpen student analysis of the global frameworks in which we live, which influence us and which we resist.
• Include consideration of the theme and related issues in Student World, the website and Federation News
• Engage with the UN and other partner organisations and networks on this theme.
• Develop stronger relationships between regions on this theme.
• Strengthen WSCF‘s partnership with Religions for Peace.
• Acknowledge uncomfortable issues that need space and discussion within the Federation: sexuality, intercultural communication, race and racism.
• Let previous annual themes (migration, empire, violence against women, students) inform work on this theme.
• Ask the Federation‘s Advocacy and Solidarity Committee to explore advocacy on: Burma , border issues, decriminalising homosexuality, the Pattani region, migrant workers.
b) We invite the Federation regionally to:
• Organise regional reflection and inculturation of this theme.
• Consider the theme/tools/information/elements in existing regional programmes, e.g. in Asia-Pacific the Human Rights, Justice and Peace programme.
• Strengthen relationships between movements within the region; send interns to groups working on the theme, share information within regions.
• Join regional campaigns related to this theme.
• Include consideration of the theme and related issues in regional publications and websites.
• Invite people from different regions to share perspectives on the theme.
• Create a regional action plan on the issues within the theme.
• Identify and make database of Senior friends and partners working on these issues who can help.

c) We invite national movements to:
• Be in contact with communities on the edge of your society.
• Share materials from WSCF and other organisations on the identity, diversity and dialogue issues in your context.
• Work with NCC (National Council of Churches).
• Write articles, produce information on the theme.
• Hold national camp or study or national conference on this theme.
• Identify what is being done already by other organisations on this theme join or contribute to their work.
• Develop plan and tools for national action on the theme.
• Include consideration of the theme and related issues in national publications and websites.

d) We invite SCMers locally/individually to:
• Consider this theme in your local context.
• Learn about the minorities in your context (ethnic, religious, sexual).
• Visit minority communities and learn from them.
• Reflect theologically on the theme and issues arising in your context.
• Reflect on diversity issues in your context and on the relationship between the Church and ethnic and religious minorities and the Church and LGBT issues.
• Encourage and support those who already are in dialogue.
• Hold a consultative meeting on this theme with SCMers, religious groups, community based organisations, other students groups, women‘s groups, LGBT groups, human trafficking and sex industry organisations, children organisations, parents and family of our own, migrant workers, Burma groups.
• Share information about Burma.
• Join local campaigns on the identity, diversity and dialogue.
• As a Methodology we suggest the use of cultural work such as festivals.

Inter-Religious Dialogue
A central part of our programme was consideration of inter-religious dialogue. The participants at the IDD programme considered the following questions and suggested the following answers.

1. What are the mandates for inter- religious dialogue?
• So that human beings can live together,
• to know and love one another,
• the events surrounding September 11th 2001,
• to unveil/ be an antidote to myths of religious conflict/ manipulation of religious difference,
• to respond to common problems,
• to strengthen relationships between different religions,
• to maintain peace.

2. What inhibits inter- religious dialogue?
Manipulation of fears, love of power, apathy, fear of difference, prejudices, fear of losing one’s identity, exclusivism, fear of retribution.

3. Why has inter- religious dialogue become more important?
Globalisation, September 11th 2001, changes in identity, rise in fundamentalisms, rise in hate crimes, global war on terror, migration, mass media.

4. How can you measure the success/failure of an inter- religious dialogue?
What do you aim for at the beginning of the dialogue?
If you can be honest, new knowledge, openness to others, conversation of equals, grassroots perspectives, understand why dialogue is taking place, who is moderator?

5. What does WSCF uniquely bring to inter-religious dialogue?
Open space, ecumenism, diversity, founded on dialogue, uses dialogue to promote change, educational level, students, openness, global view, unity, solidarity, friendships, framework for dialogue, commitment to justice, creativity, grounded in learning, experience.

Therefore about inter-religious dialogue we recommend to SCMs and WSCF:
• SCMs and WSCF need to engage in inter- religious dialogue for peace and justice
• Inter-religious dialogue is a means not an end, it is a tool for peace with justice
• For SCMs and WSCF a dialogue of life/dialogue of action my be more appropriate than formal theological dialogue
• Promote critical thinking by church and society around myths of religious conflict
• Reinforce unity and diversity
• Promote a framework of dialogue
• Encourage openness and commitment to justice
• Learn about the others’ experience
• Link effectively with partners
• Share from our own experience
• Be safe space
• Introduce information about other religions into SCM and WSCF
• More Christian – Muslim activities
• Don’t be boring; don’t just do formal dialogues
• Share inter-religious experiences with other parts of the Federation to help movements who are new to inter-religious dialogue
• Create friendships before dialogue
• Need to do to an in-depth needs assessment in terms of inter-religious dialogue for WSCF