WCC NEWS: Bridging economics and theology, GEM School promotes Economy of Life

Bridging economics and theology, the 5th edition of the Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics and Management for an Economy of Life (GEM School) concluded on 8 July in Berlin, Germany. Participant of the GEM School 2022, Berlin Photo: Rev. Dr Sivin Kit/LWF 15 July 2022 For Alex Xiong Chun Lim, a young Malaysian public policy analyst currently based in Rwanda, the week-long programme enabled him to find synergies between everyday work and what he “holds true in (his) heart.” “GEM School has equipped me with learnings, that the things I hold dear – justice for the marginalised – is scriptural,” Lim said. The school offered sessions on foundations for international financial and economic transformation as well as on advocacy tools for economic justice focusing on church campaigns for national and global tax justice. Participants also exchanged knowledge and experience from different contexts. Rev. Jenne Pieter from Indonesia shared about practices of “indigenous economics” from the Maluku Islands that have at core the values of sharing and caring. Photo: Rev. Dr Sivin Kit/LWF The school, which brings together church leaders and youth in an intergenerational discussion, generated project proposals that could be implemented in the short-term. Tabita Shamshad from Pakistan is looking to roll out a “Change for Climate Change” booklet linking environment and ecology. The booklet will be targeted at children and could be used in Sunday School. Rev. Dr Russell Meyer from the United States is planning to develop a toolkit titled, “Forgive us our debts: Jubilee in the 21st century,” to enable Christians and congregations to apply jubilee concepts locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Meyer expressed much gratitude for GEM School and for his co-participants. Meyer reflected, “We each and all are GEM School…The school is all that we shall learn as we live out the intentions that we blessed in each other. We have become an iteration of hope in the world.” Photo: Rev. Dr Sivin Kit/LWF GEM School is co-convened by the World Council of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, and Council for World Mission as part of the New International Financial and Economic Architecture Initiative. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland