Participants at a church-sponsored conference in Geneva, Switzerland on the rule of law are calling for a rethinking of the escalation of state-supported security measures. The calls come in response to reports pointing to the high cost of “securitization” and the increasing invasion of individual privacy through surveillance via social media and travel controls.
“Security measures are necessary for a well-functioning society,” says Elizabeth van der Heide of the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorism in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch academic warns against the tendency of governments to “terrorize their flock” with exaggerated images of danger that are then used to justify high levels of electronic surveillance and suspension of laws guaranteeing the protection of human rights.
“Society does not become more secure through installing security gates but through a feeling of trust, social cohesion and personal fulfillment” van der Heide says.Van der Heide made her comments in delivering an address to the Churches and the Rule of Law conference at the John Knox International Center (28-30 October). The two-day event attracted forty participants from churches and non-governmental organizations in Africa, North America and Europe.

“Is security the new religion?” Dietrich Werner of the World Council of Churches asked during debate. “Are we idolizing security?” The German academic and theologian calls this a key contemporary concern for churches and says it is time to issue a declaration against the “religious connotation of security”.
Conference organizer, Douwe Visser of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), notes the conference theme was chosen in response to growing recognition of the role played by churches in the development of legal safeguards against the abuse of power
and the infringement of human rights imposed in the name of security.
“The objective was to inform churches about the role they can play in their local contexts in
ensuring the rule of law,” says Visser. “It was also intended to present an opportunity for
global organizations such as the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the World
Council of Churches to set their agendas in response to the question of rights and the rule of
law in the coming years.”
Martin Robra of the World Council of Churches (WCC) called on the ecumenical movement
in general, and WCC in particular, to focus on the multiple and sometimes contradictory
issues associated with the role churches can play in response to questions and concerns
about how best to defend human rights at the same time as ensuring protection for the
vulnerable in politically unstable countries.
Robra acknowledges this is a controversial issue among churches, with some defending the
need for security measures imposed by force and others opting for non-violent intervention. However, he says he “cannot imagine a WCC of the future without a much stronger
emphasis on international affairs and peace with justice.”
Visser says that WCRC will initiate further work with ecumenical partners such as the WCC
on the issues raised by the conference. The John Knox International Centre will be
publishing a report on the conference early in 2013. Drafts of the conference presentations
are available at www.wcrc.ch.
WCRC represents 80 million Christians in 108 countries. Its member
churches are active worldwide in initiatives supporting economic,
climate and gender justice, mission, and cooperation among Christians
of different traditions.

Media Contacts:
Kristine Greenaway
Office of Communications
World Communion of Reformed Churches
Email: kgr@wcrc.ch
tel: +41 (0)22 791 62 43; fax: +41 (0)22 791 65 05
www.wcrc.ch