October 29, 2004

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - In a joint declaration, Evangelical churches from Costa Rica expressed their opposition to Free Trade Agreements between the Central American region and the United States arguing that they exclude the most vulnerable sectors of the population.

The ecumenical declaration also expressed the rejection of the "corruption that is embargoing and shadowing the national reality," as well as all the power abuses.

It repudiated the "new forms of extortion and manipulation of people's faith under the flag of the theology of prosperity." We are opposed to the new markets of faith negotiating and perverting the name of Jesus Christ, they affirmed.

This declaration is the result of a series of meetings throughout September and October on the part of leaders, bishops and presidents of Costa Rican Churches that are members of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI).

The First Central American Evangelical Church, the Costa Rican Lutheran Church (ILCO), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica, the Lutheran Central American Church and the Episcopal Church signed the declaration.

At the same time, the Presbyterian Church, the Moravian Church, the Baptist Federation, the Baptist Seminary, the Mennonite Church, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the Community of Love Federation (FEDEICA), the Latin American Biblical University (UBL) and the Central American Secretariat of the Latin American Council of Churches.

The joint declaration also expresses the commitment of Evangelicals to support all the efforts that are being carried out in the Public Ministry aimed at putting an end to the state of corruption "that an irresponsible leadership class has maintained us in for decades."

At the same time it called on the responsible Costa Rican institutions to continue their strict monitoring and review of all individuals and institutions that show signs of corruption or distorting public goods, said the Rev. Eduardo Chinchilla Guevara, CLAI regional secretary for Mesoamerica.

Together with the declaration published for the 487th anniversary of the XVI Century Protestant Reform, on October 30 there will be a concentration in the First Central American Church of San Jose, which will include a forum on the theology of prosperity.

That same Saturday in the city of Limon, the Churches will meet for a similar event and on the 31 there will be a meeting in the First Baptist Church in the city of Alajuela.

ALC News Service/Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency