July 5, 2005
by Tim Kershner

The United Church of Christ's General Synod voted on Tuesday, July 5, to call for "full, and impartial investigations" into to growing incidence of violence and human rights violations in the Philippines.

In addition to violence against civilians, more than 60 journalists were killed between April 1986 and December 2004, according to Amnesty International. Six church workers were murdered or assassinated in March and April of this year, and on May 12, 2005, the Rev. Edison Lapuza leader of the United Church of the Philippines was killed.

While causes for the growing violence are many, the Rev. David Bahr of the UCC's Ohio Conference and chair of the Synod committee which considered the measure, claims the growing violence appears to be a systematic campaign of "intimidation and death" against church and civic leaders.

The UCC measure follows an appeal from the leader of the United Church of the Christ of the Philippines to call for investigations, and statements from several church leaders, including UCC General Minister and President John H. Thomas, to provide increased security and safety for the citizens of the Philippines and international relief workers.

United Church News