• Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
• Episcopal Church in the Philippines
• Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en Las Islas Filipinas
• Iglesia Filipina Independiente
• Iglesia Unida Ekyumenikal
• United Church of Christ in the Philippines
• The United Methodist Church
• Lutheran Church in the Philippines
• The Salvation Army
• Christ Centered Church
• Apostolic Catholic Church

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

• Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities
• Philippine Bible Society
• Union Church of Manila
• Consortium of Christian Organizations in Rurban Development
• Kaisahang Buhay Foundation
• Manila Community Services, Inc.
• Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
• Women’s Ecumenical Center for Cooperative Education
• Ecumenical Church

PEACE TALKS NOW…MORE THAN EVER

"They say 'peace…peace' when there is no peace…." (Jeremiah 6:14)

The signs seem to point toward gradual dimming of the light of freedom-a valued tenet of all Christians. The government has scuttled the peace talks after its peace negotiating panel and the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process raised high hopes on the prospects of the peace talks. It has resorted to back channel talks which are not the mutually accepted medium. The old witch-hunting and red baiting tactics of the Cold War era are resurrected in a desperate attempt to intimidate critics. The necessary distinction between ordinary terrorists and principled groups and individuals espousing a clear political ideology is deliberately blurred-a lucid manifestation of naiveté or even ignorance. Claiming to have eliminated the thorny Abu Sayaff menace, the military has moved on to pounce on the CPP-NPA. The Anti-Terrorism Bill in Congress which will, no doubt, create another legal infrastructure to stamp out dissent, may yet see the light of day very soon. It is very disconcerting that all of these seem to merely repeat and re-hash the rhetoric which the global power mouths. It does not take seriously our unique socio-economic and political context. What space is there left for the creative expression of alternative perspectives and choices-a foundational principle that makes for a healthy and vibrant society? In wanting its people to perceive reality through a simple lens, the government has made their existence static…meaningless. It negates the essence of God who respects contradictions and honest debate. In a state where freedom is being slowly dissipated, there can only be unpeace.

As Bible-believing Christians, we are reminded through the story of the Tower of Babel, that the selfish passion to be a sovereign monolithic world power at the expense of people is destroyed by God. Therefore, at this chaotic juncture of our history, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) reiterates its long held commitment to just and lasting peace. We are convinced that now, more than ever, everyone-the government, the insurgent groups, the people, the churches-must talk peace. We all must sincerely and relentlessly work for peace founded on justice.

MS. SHARON ROSE JOY RUIZ-DUREMDES
General Secretary