Churches call for urgent debt cancellation and structural reform rooted in biblical justice.
The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), in partnership with the Council for World Mission (CWM), convened a pivotal Theological Consultation on Debt from 13–15 May 2025. Bringing together theologians, church leaders, economic justice advocates, and grassroots practitioners, the consultation culminated in a powerful communique now available on the WCRC website.
This timely gathering responded to the stark reality that global public debt has surpassed $100 trillion, disproportionately impacting the Global South. The communique denounces debt as a modern mechanism of economic and climate injustice—a continuation of colonial and neoliberal exploitation—that forces nations to choose between debt servicing and human dignity.
“Churches cannot remain silent while financial systems crucify the poor,” the communique states. Referencing the biblical call for Jubilee in Leviticus 25, participants underscored that 2025 is a time for prophetic disruption—a year of release, restitution, and justice. The consultation emphasized that debt cancellation is not charity but justice, and that the structures which sustain inequality must be dismantled.
A deeply theological analysis interrogated how certain Christian doctrines—particularly satisfaction atonement—have historically undergirded colonial and economic subjugation. Yet the Christian faith, rooted in Jubilee and liberation, offers resources for resisting indebtedness and restoring dignity. Participants called for churches to reclaim their prophetic voice by actively resisting systems of economic apartheid and climate colonialism.
The consultation affirms the Turn Debt into Hope campaign, urging churches worldwide to mobilize their members in advocacy and petition for:
- Total cancellation of unjust and unsustainable debts,
- A reformed global financial architecture rooted in justice,
- Climate reparations and the end of extractive, debt-based recovery models.
In solidarity with oppressed peoples and in alignment with the New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA), the communique outlines a comprehensive set of demands—ranging from IMF and World Bank reform to ecological debt recognition and the rejection of austerity.
Read and download the full communique here.
WCRC invites all member churches and ecumenical partners to prayerfully reflect, share widely, and take action in the spirit of Jubilee.
