COMPOSITE WORKSHOP REPORT

After hearing the presentations on the theme and having identified emerging issues, participants of the joint CCA-WSCF programme divided into three groups for deeper sharing and interaction. The three workshops were to provide participants the venue for: (a) sharing and affirming their vision based on their faith in God; (b) putting their vision in the context of the realities in their countries and the region; and (c) citing specific issues among the realities which are of utmost concern to them as youth and students. Following is a composite report on all those workshops.

I. The Vision and Faith Foundation

Obedience has many faces as shown in the Bible, but the greatest of all is the example of Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived out a life of obedience to God's will and work for justice, equality and liberating partnership. Jesus confronted the existing structures of oppression. He lived with and among the poor, the suffering, the alienated, oppressed and discriminated people of the society for their empowerment. His life was a life of struggle to break down the structures of oppression and to build a new community of justice, equality and partnership. We confess that Jesus died in the course of walking this path of obedience.

As youth and students, we are also called on to be obedient. We are called to walk the path of struggle to break down the structures and relationships of oppression and to build a new community of justice, equality and genuine partnership. We must share in the suffering of the people and in the struggle to overcome oppression.

However, we confess our limitations in our obedience. We require sustained critical reflection of our faith and of ourselves to strengthen our commitment to Jesus' path. We must consciously build genuine partnership among ourselves, between women and men, as young people of diverse Asian and Pacific cultures, and with the rest of our struggling peoples based on the common confession of faith and obedience to God's will. In walking the path of obedience we require empowerment from God and from mutual support and criticism among ourselves.

II. The Context and Reality

Asia-Pacific is a very diverse region — with many different colors, cultures, races, religions, etc. But instead of promoting "unity in diversity" such differences have resulted in many tensions and conflicts — e.g. racial discrimination, lack of cross-cultural dialogue/sharing, minority/aboriginal people's struggle.

While Asia-Pacific has probably the biggest human population, the people's state of living is not at all that good. The reality of poverty is gruesome and there is hardly any social welfare for the poor. Apart from the unjust labour relations, the rights and welfare of the workers are not guaranteed. There is a lack of educational opportunities as well as educational rights. The rural poor get displaced because of industrialization but only find themselves joining the host of urban poor who constantly face the threat of demolition and eviction. The native culture also gets overwhelmed by the commercial individualistic culture imposed from outside.

Asia-Pacific has been endowed with rich natural resources. But the so-called development has resulted in massive destruction of the environment – logging, depletion of other resources, pollution caused by irresponsible disposal of wastes, including nuclear waste, and by the use of harmful chemicals.

Asia-Pacific is at the mercy of the international economic system which disregards the integrity and self-reliance of people and their national economy. The economy is controlled by the logic of maximizing extraction of profit instead of people's welfare. This is the nature of the unfair international economic relationship.

Most governments in Asian and Pacific countries are undemocratic – unresponsive to people's aspirations and welfare, heeding only the call of the powerful few people's (both national and international) economic interests. Many of the countries' laws are repressive, curtailing the freedom of thought, expression and action.

Meanwhile, Christians are minority in most Asian and Pacific countries and in the region as a whole. And most of them are not responsive or not able to respond to the socio-economic and political-cultural issues affecting their respective countries. Those who do are a very minority within the minority of Asian-Pacific Christians.

Furthermore, the women and youth who constitute more than half of the Asian-Pacific population are not involved in decision-making processes; their perspective about things and their vision of an alternative order are not sought nor considered.

III. Pressing Issues

As youth and students from the Asia-Pacific region, we hereby share our concerns on some of the pressing issues affecting us.

A. Education

Since education has become an expensive commodity too high to afford, it has become a privilege for only a few – the elites of our society. Whatever affordable education there is, it is geared to

technical know-how which aims basically to maintain the present system and ideology.

But education should be a right for everyone regardless of sex, race, religion, language or economic and social position. It should be a complete education promoting critical and creative thinking as well as enabling us to be responsive to the needs of our times and situations.

B. Environmental Concerns

The glaring reality of the state of the environment is fast becoming a priority issue which students and youth must tackle with the rest of the church and society. The degradation of God's creation caused by misuse and abuse of the natural resources for the so-called development shows the need for an alternative system that is sus-tainable and earth-friendly. Youth and students, filled with the capacity to dream and envision, can help find that alternative and develop viable programmes.

C. Women and Men Partnership

One of the pervading realities in the Asia-Pacific region is that women are discriminated against and given secondary roles and positions within the system of patriarchy. There has not been due recognition and response to the issue of women's oppression because society doesn't recognize nor ask for women's perspective. The problems faced by women are not raised; if at all they are, only by women. 'The men who are not directly affected and who benefit from the system generally tend to be less concerned about the issue. Problems like prostitution, rape, sexual harassment, dowry, bride burning, female infanticide, etc. are rampant in our societies and must be dealt with.

If we are to change this reality at all, the first step is to recognize that women are indeed oppressed and marginalized and will continue to be in that situation for as long as the system of patriarchy remains.

The second step is to start building up both women's and men's consciousness. This includes a re-examination of our understanding and interpretation of the Bible and changing the language, which is often very male, used in our prayers, songs and liturgies.

The third step is to enable women and men to work together as equal partners. To do this, we must now begin the process of searching together. We must focus more on the things which we can do together as partners and on sharing power as well as responsibilities rather than competing with each other and trying to dominate each other.

Of course in all this, we must constantly acknowledge without any prejudice that women and men are different and that they have their separate and distinct roles. But there must be mutual respect and understanding between them. Women must understand that a change in attitude for men is a painful and difficult process. It is something that takes time and requires a continuing dialogue with men. Men also must realize that the women's struggle is an integral part of their own struggle for a fuller life.

D. Ecumenical Cooperation

There have been difficulties in pursuing cooperation among the different youth and student organizations. This has largely been because of some differences in interests, perspectives and orientations.

But affirming a common vision for a better world for all of God's people and creation, we feel the great need to strengthen if not improve our relationship. Recognizing that God is acting in all human struggles, we feel the great need to also come together and share in the big task of working as God's partners.

Some possible programmes or activities to promote ecumenical cooperation among our youth and student organizations are continuing dialogues on areas of common concern and joint consultations on issues such as drug addiction, AIDS, ecological situation, etc.