70. The European Ecumenical Assembly PEACE WITH JUSTICE is a step in a process. It is not the process itself. We underline that we seek to identify the highest level of consensus in what we can say and do together for justice, peace and the integrity of creation as European churches and Christians.

71. As delegates of the European churches we commit ourselves to work in our churches and societies for justice, peace and the integrity of creation. We ask the churches in Europe to do the same in their respective countries and internationally. Personal renewal and change of structures are two sides of the same coin in this commitment.

72. In faithfulness to the Gospel, as delegates from European churches:

We consider it to be a scandal and a crime that every year millions of people have to die of hunger in a world in which there are sufficient resources and could be enough food for all. We commit ourselves to sharing our resources. We commit ourselves to the preferential option for the poor, the oppressed and the powerless. We will work for a new international economic order.  

73. We consider it to be a scandal and a crime how human rights are violated. Human beings are created in the image of God and have an inalienable right to the basic guarantees of life. We commit ourselves to struggle against all violations of human rights and the social structures which favour them. We consider it to be vitally urgent to protect the human dignity of all for the whole of life, particularly when it is most vulnerable, i.e. at its beginning and its end, in sickness and in exclusion from human community. Any discrimination on the basis of class, race, sex, belief, as well as forced separation of families deeply violates human dignity. We reject the use of torture and of the death penalty under all circumstances. We will work for the implementation of all human rights agreements.

74. We consider it to be a scandal and a crime, that irreversible damage continues to be inflicted on creation. We are becoming aware that there is the need for a new partnership between human beings and the rest of nature. We do not want to solve problems any longer at the expense of other people or by producing additional new problems. We will work for an international environmental order.

75. We consider it to be vitally urgent for humanity to abolish the institution of war and to overcome deterrence based on weapons of mass destruction. We feel the need progressively to free the world from all weapons of mass destruction. We commit ourselves to the nonviolent settlement of conflicts throughout the world. We will work for an international peace order. In particular, we must together achieve concrete treaties which form the basis of an international peace order.

76. We consider it to be vitally urgent to learn that the resources of this earth are to be shared with the coming generations and future life. We commit ourselves to a new life style in our churches, societies, families and communities.

77. As Christians we are living in God's covenant with us and the whole of creation. We are all part of the one body of Christ. Because God changes hearts and minds, we covenant with one another. Our first loyalty belongs to Him. All other loyalties (national, cultural, social, etc.) are of secondary importance. This is the basis for our engagement for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

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