Contact: World Council of Churches, +41-22-791-6153, +41-79-507-6363, media@wcc-coe.org

MEDIA ADVISORY, Oct. 16 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Philippines - a country where approximately a tenth of the population is indigenous and lives in isolated areas where access to basic services and opportunities for economic growth is lacking even as natural resources abound - will be the meeting place for some 30 indigenous theologians from the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia.

This consultation on "Ecclesial and social visions of the indigenous peoples" aims to encourage the World Council of Churches (WCC) constituency to be inspired by the theological and spiritual resources of the indigenous peoples. These can both challenge and enrich the traditional understandings of unity, mission, evangelism and spirituality.

"The resistance of the indigenous peoples in the Philippines to marginalization and aggressive models of development will hopefully inspire similar story telling from other parts of the world," said Deenabandhu Manchala, WCC programme executive for just and inclusive communities.

While in the past, indigenous peoples were seen as targets of conversion and a means by which Christians manifested their charitable work, churches have in recent times begun to learn from indigenous peoples' cultures and stand alongside them in their struggles for a free and fair society.

The issues of identity, culture, land, human rights, language, spirituality, their experiences of economic injustice, exclusion and violence and their visions of peace and of all beings living in communion with the earth, will be the background against which visions will be articulated.

The consultation is organized by the WCC project on Just and Inclusive Communities in partnership with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

WCC work on just and inclusive communities:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3105

WCC member churches in the Philippines:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4679

National Council of Churches in the Philippines:
http://www.nccphilippines.org/

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

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 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.