Newsletter

PRESS RELEASE NO. 33

LWF Eleventh Assembly, Stuttgart, Germany, 20-27 July

Assembly urges global reduction in military spending

LWF calls member churches to participate in Global Priorities Campaign

STUTTGART, Germany, 26 July 2010 – The Eleventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) adopted today a resolution calling on member churches to assist in the global reduction of military spending, and to increase spending to meet human needs through participation in the Global Priorities Campaign.

The resolution commends “the bold leadership shown by the Global Priorities Campaign” and calls on member churches of the LWF to co-sponsor and otherwise assist the campaign efforts.

The Global Priorities Campaign is a new international, inter-religious initiative. “Though our beliefs and traditions may differ,” states the campaign’s website, it brings together shared common values and commitments to justice, peace and human security. The Global Priorities Campaign promotes human security worldwide. It advocates “with all nations to increase the proportion of their resources used to meet human needs by means that include reducing military spending.”

To achieve this, the Global Priorities Campaign advocates: securing the common good of all people by reducing global military spending and redirecting resources to unmet human needs, particularly those of the most vulnerable and marginalized people in society, within the next ten years; securing the common good of all people through the development of new and innovative sources of revenue; and meeting human needs domestically and internationally by influencing budget priorities and creating greater equity in income and opportunities, including the fulfilment of internationally agreed development goals.

The resolution approved by the Assembly also calls on member churches to consider additional ways to sustain the efforts to the Global Priorities Campaign. (247 words)

See the Assembly Web site for more information and resources including the theme video for downloading and other video reflections; news stories, features, photos and blog feeds; the handbook, Assembly Updates and Study Materials: www.lwf-assembly.org