【时代论坛讯】今届洛桑福音会议(下称洛桑大会)于会议揭幕当日的记者会上,大会公布《首尔声明》,是继首三届会议所制定的《洛桑信约》(1975)、《马尼拉宣言》(1989)及《开普敦承诺》(2010)后的第四份会议文件。惟有关声明惹来许多争议,除了未取得与会者共识便公布外,部份与会者亦不同意文件内容。有南韩教牧于会议期间临时召开小组,公开邀请与会者参与讨论,并就声明作评论和建议,现正于网上进行联署。旧约学者莱特(Christopher Wright)亦有出席相关讨论。
而大会于早前的记者会上曾表示英文稿大致敲定,不过近日有媒体发现大会修改了声明内有关同性恋的一段。此外,大会今早向与会者发电邮,邀请与会者就声明发表意见。
整份《首尔声明》共有三部份、七个主题、九十七点内容。本身为国际学生福音团契(IFES)东亚区副总干事的金宗浩(译音,Kim Jong-ho)于会议第三天(九月廿四日),联同一些南韩教牧临时召开小组讨论会议,公开邀请大会参加者出席,就着《首尔声明》进行讨论,并设立WhatsApp群组请参加者在组内继续发表意见。本报记者于会后访问金宗浩,了解发起有关会议的原因,以及对《首尔声明》的意见。他表示,好些人读毕声明后感到不安,「总的来说,我们觉得这声明是一封相当有『防御性』(defensive)的声明。教会似乎处于防御模式,以免受世俗主义、LGBTQ+等威胁。这份文件背后似乎隐藏着一种恐惧。」
IFES东亚区副总干事的金宗浩
金宗浩进一步阐释,指《首尔声明》似乎是恐怕基督教失去「阵地」。「由于世俗主义、LGBTQ 问题和科技的威胁,基督教变得日渐式微。这份文件似乎是出于恐惧而订定的。」他认为,一份「防御性」的声明不会令下一代兴奋,也不能荣耀基督信仰。「这份重要的文件没有带来希望和愿景,反而只着重『保卫』。」此外,金宗浩认为声明太多着墨谈同性恋,偏偏对生态、全球气候危机,却只字不提。
旧约学者莱特参与讨论小组
至于当日出席小组讨论的参加者,金宗浩表示约有六十多人。记者亦见到去届会议《开普敦承诺》的撰写人,灵风国际总监、旧约学者莱特(Christopher Wright)亦身处其中,不过他并未有在会上公开发言。金宗浩希望透过发起讨论,让大会听到参加者的声音,并将各人的意见集结,撰写联署信给大会。有关信件已经在网上流传供参加者联署,截至今日(九月廿七日)下午四时,已取得二百七十一个签名。
联署信的内容,包括要求提高《首尔声明》协商过程的透明度;指声明将LGBTQ+问题夸大,并需为LGBTQ+人士受到的歧视和仇恨悔改;对于声明中提到加沙问题,大会应进一步具体要求为巴勒斯坦人民伸张正义,并敦促谴责有缺陷的神学理由的措辞(the language condemning defective theological justifications)。声明又提及关注种族主义、父权制和仇外心态等。
旧约学者莱特(图中,林倩恒摄)
《首尔声明》英文稿有修订
另一方面,大会在周一(九月廿三日)的记者会上曾指《首尔声明》的英文定稿已大致完成。不过有海外媒体却发现,关于「The image of God and human sexuality」中第六十九点的内容有以下修订:
九月廿二日的版本:
We recognize that a number of people, both within and outside the church, experience same-sex attraction, and that for some, this is the only or dominant attraction. The biblical insistence that Christians must resist temptation and so maintain sexual holiness, in both desire and behavior, applies equally to heterosexually attracted individuals as it does to same-sex attracted persons. We acknowledge, however, that Christians who are same-sex attracted face challenges in many local churches due to ignorance and prejudice, and have consequently suffered discrimination and injustice within Christian communities. We repent of our failures and lament the harm this has done to our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
新版本:
We recognize that a number of people, both within and outside the church, experience same-sex attraction, and that for some, this is the only or dominant attraction. The biblical insistence that Christians must resist temptation and so maintain sexual holiness, in both desire and behavior, applies equally to heterosexually attracted individuals as it does to same-sex attracted persons. We acknowledge, however, that Christians who are same-sex attracted face challenges even in Christian communities. We repent of our lack of love towards our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
另外,第七十点的内容亦有修订:
九月廿二日的版本:
We urge Christian leaders and local churches to recognize within our communities the presence of faithful believers who experience same-sex attraction, and to support them in their discipleship by pastoral care and by developing healthy communities of love and friendship.
新版本:
We urge Christian leaders and local churches to recognize within our communities the presence of believers who experience same-sex attraction, and to support them in their discipleship by pastoral care and by developing healthy communities of love and friendship.
此外,大会今早亦向各与会者发电邮,邀请他们就《首尔声明》提出意见。电邮中重申,《首尔声明》着墨于洛桑神学工作组所订定的全球教会须加强关注的神学议题,并在福音的基础上反思这些议题。电邮更附上连结,让与会者填写对声明的意见。
于今天下午的记者会上,当问到大会是否一早计划发邀请予与会者就声明发表意见,抑或基于会议期间听到太争议声音而有此举动;大会发言人指发相关电邮邀请并非在计划之内,又解释是因为场内有不少人表达欠缺正式渠道反映意见,而单单透过电邮收集意见太散乱,因而有此决定。发言人又指,收集到的意见会交由洛桑神学工作组决定下一步行动。
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