Following the worsening developments in Myanmar, Council of World Mission (CWM), Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) and Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) have released separate statements of solidarity with the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (PCM).
CWM General Secretary Dr Collin Cowan had reached out to PCM General Secretary Rev Ram Thanga to express deep concern and CWM’s commitment to mutual accompaniment with the Church and people of Myanmar. Rev Ram Thanga had described the situation as “the people’s struggle for freedom from the military”, requesting prayers “for the military government to exercise restraint towards the people”, and “for Myanmar to be fully returned into the hands of a civilian and duly elected government”.
PCT also joined its voice with PCM for duly elected leaders to be released from house arrest, stating that the national crisis during the pandemic is creating “major stress, anguish and trauma to the Myanmar people, as well as the crisis surrounding the Rohingya minority”.
Present at the rally were Myanmar community members from all over New Zealand, including Dunedin, Auckland, Hamilton, and Nelson. (Credit: PCANZ Global Mission Facebook page)
In addition, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) Moderator had urged the NZ government to “monitor this crisis closely and use all diplomatic channels to work with the international community in helping seek a peaceful resolution”. (More at: http://bit.ly/3eMK3ex)
Lastly, Dr Cowan invited General Secretaries of CWM member churches to “pray for a quick end to the people’s struggle and suffering, and for the Church to be a shining beacon of hope to all in this darkness”.
Download CWM General Secretary’s letter here.
Download PCT’s statement here.
Download PCANZ’s statement here.