Wednesday, May 1, for their involvement in evil deeds in the name of Christianity. They made their historic confessions at the end of Hope.21, a congress with over 1000 evangelists and other Evangelicals.
In a final document titled "Budapest Perspectives, Towards an Agenda of hope for Europe," the evangelicals said they "repent of the sins" including racism, nationalism and injustice. "We identify our selfish materialism, our embrace of dualism, our inherent racism, our idolatrous nationalism," the evangelicals said.
WOMEN
In addition, the male dominated evangelical leadership also apologized "for falling short of Jesus’ example and Biblical standards in our treatment of both single and married" women. "We will ensure all women have the opportunity to fully use their God-given gifts and abilities to serve him."
The evangelical leaders also cited their "proud Euro-centrism", "indifference to global suffering and injustice" as well as their "inadequate knowledge of Scripture" and "the growing irrelevance" of evangelical churches, as major obstacles for change.
GENERATIONS
"We admit God’s people have let down successive generations by failing in our calling to be ‘salt and light’ within our societies. Nor have we been true prophets giving clear and appropriate moral guidance to our national leaders and communities," they added.
The controversial role of churches in the Holocaust was not mentioned, but Hope.21 Congress Manager Jeff Fountain told BosNewsLife that German evangelical Christians had asked forgiveness for one of the last century’s darkest episodes.
POPE
Fountain said the Hope.21 documents shows that the evangelical leaders wanted to follow the example of Pope John Paul II who apologized for atrocities committed by the Catholic church. "We have got to address the things that prevent us from having hope for the future," Fountain added.
He said that several of his colleagues have begun to travel across the routes of crusaders and slave traders to start the difficult process of reconciliation. At the same time the Hope.21 document makes it clear that while the past should not be forgotten, evangelicals should speed up their efforts to reclaim Europe for Christ.
AIDS
The document make clear that evangelicals should become more involved in evangelism and church growth, as well as in social area’s, including helping refugees, the elderly and AIDS patients. In addition the Dutch Christian Union party wants to set up a European network of Christian politicians to avoid the further spread of euthanasia and abortion laws from the Netherlands.
The outgoing Hungarian centre right Government welcomed Hope.21. "It is the first time that so many evangelicals are discussing the problems of Europe, " said Hungarian Foreign State Secretary Zsolt Nemeth. Hope.21, which ended May 1, was organized by the Hope for Europe initiative, a platform of several organizations.
