Global Responsibility: In Search of a New World Ethic

The Christian churches met in October 1988 in Stuttgart on a German level, in May 1989 in Basle on a European level and finally in March
1990 in Seoul on a world level. In all cases the programmatic concern was the furtherance of ‘Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation’. The Basle document... is a model Christian contribution for the postmodern period.

1. A Model Christian Contribution

(a) Self-criticism by the church

In contrast to the approach of some documents of the Vatican and the World Council of Churches, the Basle assembly did not just preach to
the world in a self-righteous way, but first exercised self-criticism on the church. The Christian churches have become aware of their own
failings in the past. Here is the wording of their convincing self-criticism:

• We have failed, because we have not borne witness to God’s caring love for each and every creature and because we have not developed a lifestyle which corresponds to our understanding of ourselves as part of God’s creation.

• We have failed, because we have not overcome the divisions between the churches and because we have often used the authority and power given us to strengthen false and limited solidarities like racism, sexism and nationalism.

• We have failed, because we have caused wars and not exhausted all the possibilities of devoting ourselves to mediation and reconciliation. We have excused wars and often too easily justified them.

• We have failed, because we have not questioned decisively enough the political and economic systems which misuse power and riches, which exploit the natural resources of the world only for their own use... 65

2. Postmodem Requirements

(a) Not just freedom, but also justice

For the next millennium a way must be found to a society in which men and women possess equal rights and live in solidarity with one another:

a way from the differences between poor and rich, between powerful and powerless, which divide us;
a way from the structures which cause hunger, deprivation and death;
a way from the unemployment of millions of people....

What we need is a social world order!

(b) Not just equality, but also plurality

For the next millennium a way must be found to a reconciled multiplicity of cultures, traditions and peoples in Europe:
a way from divisions which form boundaries and which are furthered by racial, ethic and cultural discrimination;
a way from contempt for and marginalization of two-thirds of the world;
a way from the legacy of antisemitism in our societies and churches....

What we need is a pluralistic world order! [67]

(c) Not just brotherhood, but also sisterhood

For the next millennium a way must be found to a renewed community of men and women in church and society in which women bear an equal
share of responsibility to men at all levels and in which they can freely contribute their gifts, insights, values and experiences:
a way from divisions between men and women in church and society....
a way from the ideologically fixed roles and stereotypes....
a way from a refusal to acknowledge the gifts given to women for the life and decision-making processes of the church.

What we need is a world order in partnership!

(d) Not just coexistence, but peace

For the next millennium a way must be found to a society in which peacemaking and the peaceful resolution of conflicts is supported, and
to a community of peoples which contribute in solidarity to the wellbeing of others:

a way from wars and ideologies, which scorn the divine in every human being....
a way from a situation in which military intervention or the threat of military intervention seems necessary to preserve or implement human rights.

What we need is a world order which furthers peace!

(e) Not just productivity, but solidarity with the environment

For the next millennium a way must be found to a community of human beings with all creatures, in which their rights and integrity are also respected:
a way from a separation between human beings and the rest of creation.... 68

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