I am very pleased that the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)* has agreed to provide leadership to an independent review of Wycliffe and SIL policies for translating the terms that refer to “God the Father” and “Son of God.” Wycliffe is grateful for the leadership that WEA will be providing to this important process.
Recognizing the role of the Church in fulfilling the Great Commission, and respecting the leadership of the WEA and those they will engage in this review process, we commit ourselves to following the wisdom and guidance that this review will produce.
Here is what Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, the Secretary General of the WEA, states in their 27-March-2012 announcement:
Rejoicing that many Christians globally do not have to learn Hebrew or Greek to read God’s Word and wishing to strengthen Evangelical unity on the basis of God’s Word, the WEA has agreed to facilitate an independent external audit of Wycliffe and SIL International’s practice of the translation of ‘God the Father’ and the ‘Son of God.’
This link will take you to WEA’s statement online and, while on their website, you can learn more about this global organization. http://www.worldea.org/news/3934
As we learn details about the panel, the participants and the review process, we will share them with you. Thank you for praying with us that God will be glorified and His guidance evident throughout the process.
Warmly,
Bob Creson
President
Wycliffe Bible Translators USA
*Promoting the proclamation of the Good News about Jesus and urging people to good works, the World Evangelical Alliance is the largest global association of evangelicals, giving a world-wide identity, voice, and platform to more than 600 million evangelical Christians.
While I rejoice Wycliffe has finally realized its involvement in removing ‘Father’ and ‘Son’ from Bible translations geared toward Muslims, this newest move doesn’t preclude Wycliffe from answering some questions. Are Wycliffe officials going to explain their denials for several weeks? Are they also apologizing for calling our efforts to hold Wycliffe and SIL accountable as “satanic?”
Mr. Wario on his own blog expressed doubt as to whether Wycliffe workers are missionaries at all, as opposed to “rumoured government operatives”. To support that suspicion, he provided a link to a typical 1970s -era leftist thing about SIL possibly being CIA agents helping to destroy the rain forests and kill off the Indians. This is interesting in that in another post, he talks of being good friends with and SIL couple in Kenya and appreciating Wycliffe.
As for someone referring to his “efforts to hold Wycliffe and SIL accountable as ‘satanic,’” it never happened. I saw the post he was alluding to, and all it said was that Satan doesn’t want there to be clear translations (something to that effect). It didn’t suggest that his own criticisms were Satanic. It could be interpreted simply that Satan will work through all the arguing and confusion, not that Satan is behind Warrio’s criticisms.
[...] Because Wycliffe USA and its strategic partner organization, SIL International, are committed to translating the Scriptures in ways that communicate accurately, they are submitting to a review of these specific Bible translation practices. In March, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) agreed to lead this review. [...]