Greetings from EMW

General Secretary
Council of Churches of Malaysia
26 Jalan University
46200 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
MALAYSIA

Dear Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri, dear Brothers and Sisters,

With deep concern we follow the violation of specific church buildings in Malaysia after the hot debate of the use of the Arabic term Allah for God. After the reasonable decision of the court that Christian may use - just as Muslims - “Allah” as a name for God, the protest against this decision from certain groups seems surprising and ignorant. 

It is good to read that you reacted in a very wise and peaceful way stating that the faith of the people in Malaysia is bigger than these radical groups want to acknowledge. 

We hope and pray that this incident will lead to more ecumenical awareness in Malaysia and the world and to more interreligious cooperation. 

I am looking forward meeting you and the CCM during the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur and maybe we do have time to exchange ideas on this issue even before or just after the GA.

I will be arriving in Kuala Lumpur 13.04. at 14:15 and my departure is 22.04. at 14:20.

May God bless your work in CCM and everything you are doing in this moment of interreligious tensions.

On behalf of the Associations of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW)

Yours in Christ

Rev. Dr. Anton Knuth
Executive Secretary of Asia/Pacific-Desk