Recommendations of the WCC Central Committee, Johannesburg, South Africa, 20-28 January 1994

The WCC Central Committee decided that:

a) The WCC establish a Programme to Overcome Violence, with the purpose of challenging and transforming the global culture of violence in the direction of a culture of just peace. An initial consultation should be held to shape this programme, including suggestions for funding, before the Central Committee meeting in 1995;

b) Two initiatives already underway, i.e. (1) a consultation to be held in Corrymeela, Northern Ireland, June 1994, entitled “Building a Culture of Peace: the Churches’ Contribution” and (2) a database of church-related peace groups, be among the first steps towards this programme;

c) In the context of current discussions on Koinonia, Units I and III engage in a joint study on the ecclesial dimensions of the pursuit of a culture of non-violence and just peace in order to address the ecclesiological and constitutional issues posed by the second recommendation from the 1992 WCC Central Committee;

d) A study be initiated to assess the role of sanctions, their effectiveness and conditions of their applicability as an important means towards peaceful resolution and transformation of conflict. Results should be reported to Central Committee in 1995;

e) In view of the need to confront and overcome the “spirit, logic and practice of war” and to develop new theological approaches, consonant with the teachings of Christ, which start not with war and move to peace, but with the need for justice, this may be a time when the churches, together, should face the challenge to give up any theological or other justification of the use of military power, and to become a koinonia dedicated to the pursuit of a just peace;

f) The Central Committee request member churches, in cooperation with non-member churches and NGOs, to share with the WCC their positions on peace with justice, the development of a just peace culture as an alternative to one governed by the spirit, logic and practice of violence, and on education for peace;

g) The Unit III International Affairs team collate and provide an initial analysis of the replies received for members of the Central Committee, if possible by the time of its next meeting.