The Malaysian Insider: Asian church leaders meet in KL

Asian church leaders meet in KL

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Malaysia’s religious “conflict” has garnered much interest among church leaders attending the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) launched here today.

Two regional church leaders expressed their concern over the attacks on more than 10 places of worship across the country early this year after a High Court ruled that a Catholic newspaper could use the word “Allah”.

But they diplomatically refrained from commenting on the federal government’s response in dealing with the problem as a pilot interfaith panel meeting among religious leaders under the watchful eye of a Cabinet-appointed chairman scheduled on Tuesday was suddenly called off.

Reverend Dr Henriette T. Hutabarat Lebang, director of the Institut Teologi Gereja Toraja in Indonesia, said the situation in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation with multi-religious minorities, mirrors that of her own country.

“I come from Indonesia. We’re facing similar situations: how to live together in a pluralistic community,” she told reporters after being elected the next CCA general secretary.

“We all want to see a good society in Asia, in our countries, but how do we build that?” she asked, noting it was a challenge faced by many church leaders and the subject underscores much of the discussion for the next five days of their meet at the Grand Seasons Hotel here.

The Archbishop of Perth, Roger Herft, said no country today can think it is isolated from the rest of the world.

“Australia knows that. Whatever happens in Malaysia impacts the rest of us,” said the Anglican archbishop, who was born and grew up in Sri Lanka.

Heft had earlier in the press conference stressed the importance for people to be able to practise their religions.

“If we don’t take people’s faiths seriously, the whole society is going to suffer.

Reverend Dr Hermen Shastri, the general secretary of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM), pointed out that issues to injustice are central to faith, a view Hutarabat Lebang seconded, noting that churches across Asia often advocate the rights of minority groups.

The 13th CCA is held in Malaysia for the third time since its inception in 1959. This year, the theme is “Called to Prophesy, Reconcile and Heal”.

The CCA is a regional body of over 150 member churches from different denominations.

Over 380 church leaders and ecumenical speakers from across Asia are here for the meet, which ends on April 20.