Latin American Ecumenical News by CONSEJO LATINOAMERICANO DE IGLESIAS

Latin American Ecumenical News September - November 2012 • No. 1

LAEN

Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence.

Proverb 12,17

Information Service of the Latin American Council of Churches

Transfer of CLAI funds for VI Assembly in Havana embargoed in the United States An early November transfer of U.S. $101,000 from a Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) account in Miami to the Tryp Meliá Hotels in Spain has been embargoed under the United States blockade of Cuba policy. ALC, Quito By Geoffrey Reeson, ALC English editor.* he Hotel Habana Libre, where the CLAI VI Assembly is scheduled to be held from February 19-24, 2013 in Cuba, is part of the Spanish Tryp Meliá hotel chain and the transfer of the funds to the Meliá account in Spain was to cover the reservation of 220 double rooms for the assembly delegates and invited guests. Despite CLAI’s detailed explanation to the U.S. financial institutions involved that the purpose of the transfer is for an international religious gathering in Cuba, which has been public information on CLAI’s website for over a year, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury initially had the funds frozen and now embargoed. Church World Service (CWS), the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) of the United Methodist Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), have put their legal counsel at CLAI’s disposal for the necessary procedures to seek the release of the funds. Following a pre-assembly meeting that took place in Havana November 23-24 with CLAI president, Bishop Julio Murray, and general secretary, Rev. Nilton Giese, the Rev. Joel Ortega Dopico, president of the Council of Churches of Cuba

Affirming an Ecumenism of Concrete Gestures (CLAI VI General Assembly 2013, Poster)

(CIC), made public a CIC statement at a press conference on November 26, in which it says that the actions against the transfer of the CLAI funds “is a serious limiting of the freedom of the Christian churches to develop their work of witness and ecumenical service in all of Latin America.” The CIC statement continues by saying: “While Cuba, accused of not respecting religious freedom, has facilitated all the necessary conditions for our evangelistic task and service to our churches and peoples of the Latin American continent, the United States, that proclaims itself to be an example of religious freedom

in the world, limits and restricts it through policies that are ethically unacceptable for any Christian, policies that also represent an epoch that belongs to the past.” The statement by the Council of Churches of Cuba concludes with a concrete gesture of mobilizing “the Cuban churches in a fund-raising campaign to help offset the expenses of the VI Assembly (…) and calling for the international solidarity of the churches and Christian agencies with which we have fraternal relations (Acts. 11:29).” *Contributing to this news story were the office of the CLAI General Secretary, Quito, and ALC correspondent in Havana, José Aurelio Paz.

Ecumenical accompaniment decided on playing a decisive role in Colombia’s peace process Ecumenical accompaniment decided on playing a decisive role in Colombia’s peace process. “The dialogue between the Colombian government and the FARC rebels leads us to a different level in the search for peace in Colombia,” says Dr Marcelo Caruso, a

Colombian scholar who works on issues of human rights, participation and impact on public policies and assists organizations of victims in the country. Ecumenical accompaniment decided on playing a decisive role in Colombia’s peace process.

WCC/ALC By Marcelo Schneider, WCC. aruso was one of the speakers invited to the meeting of the national and international reference groups of the Program of Ecumenical Accompaniment (PEAC), gathered in Bogotá, between

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Honoring Argentinean Methodist Bishop Emeritus Federico Pagura: Recovering the memory of our land through those who have struggled for human rights and justice Honoring Argentinean Methodist Bishop Emeritus Federico Pagura: Recovering the memory of our land through those who have struggled for human rights and justice. The First Methodist Church of Buenos Aires was host on October 26 for the presentation of “Dawn of Hope: Life and Witness of a Latin American Prophet,” a biography of Federico Pagura. Published in Quito by the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), the book is co-authored by Argentinean Methodist pastor Carlos Sintado and Cuban journalist Manuel Quintero Pérez. ALC Buenos Aires By Claudia Florentin, ALC, in collaboration with Marcelo Schneider, WCC.

Dawn of Hope” is a journey along the extensive trajectory of Pagura, now 89, co-president of the Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights (MEDH) and an outstanding figure in Latin American and world ecumenism, Beginning with a series of interviews with Pagura –and persons close to him– along with detailed documentation, the authors reconstruct Pagura’s vast intellectual work, with the purpose of recovering the historical memory of the Methodist bishop who has dedicated his life to the struggle for justice and human rights. In a second part of the book, keys are proposed for interpreting Pagura’s work of poetry and music. The century old Methodist temple was filled with members of ecumenical churches, human rights and civil society organizations, the

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Mothers of May Square – Founding Line, representatives of the national government conveying greetings from President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Ambassador Juan Landaburu, Undersecretary for Worship of the Nation, and Dr. Andrea de Vita, Director for Worship of the Nation. As was to be expected, music was a central feature at the presentation. Homero Perera, Pagura’s musical companion, played the piano together with Pastor Pablo Sosa. Methodist bishop Frank Nully Brown emphasized that Wesley’s phrase, “the world is my parish,” comes true in Federico Pagura. The presentation ceremony included a memorial journey through Pagura’s ministry. Bishop Jacinto Ordoñez of Costa Rica, Panama and Argentina, CLAI General Secretary Rev. Nilton Giese, Nobel Peace Laurate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the Rev. Arturo Blatezky of the Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights, and Dr. Marcelo Schneider, Latin America correspondent for the World Council of Churches (WCC), shared remembrances and testimonies on the long route of memories from the life of Federico Pagura. Co-author Carlos Sintado affirmed that one of the objectives of the book is to recover the historContinue on page 8

Dawn of Hope Biography of Federico Pagura

LATIN AMERICAN ECUMENICAL NEWS • SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012

2 Clai News

Concrete gestures begin in Havana in preparation for the CLAI VI Assembly "We want to invite the churches in Latin America to hold us in prayer so that the theme of the Latin American Council of Churches-CLAI VI Assembly: Affirming an Ecumenism of Concrete Gestures, become a reality with the enthusiastic participation of the leaders of the continent, this coming February here in Havana,” says CLAI president, Bishop Julio Murray. ALC, Havana By José Aurelio Paz for ALC. urray was speaking at the closing of the preassembly of Cuba last weekend, and called for support for the CLAI VI Assembly in Havana. The CLAI president said to ALC that the journey CLAI began at its founding in 1982 has been continuous through each of its previous assemblies, up to the VI to be held in

Havana, “which will serve to meet the new challenges, actions and experiences of the churches for achieving concrete expressions of commitment that can impact, in a positive way, the lives of people through the carrying out of the mission of Jesus Christ in its most integral meaning." The pre-assembly in Cuba, held from November 23-24, reviewed the agenda and all of the strategy designed to make the VI Assembly a landmark within the continental ecumenical endeavor, as a result of its projections and the scenario in which it will be held. For his part, CLAI general secretary, Rev, Nilton Giese, pointed out that the maximum effort is being made so that the gathering in Havana have an exemplary organization and logistics, thus facilitating a broad and productive dialogue among the close to 400 delegates and invited guests. Giese shared a document prepared as a guideline for affirming concrete gestures in an ecumenism of essences for the continent, which

Liturgical moment in Cuba referring to the actions through which the church can help change the panorama of poverty in Latin America (Aymara Cepeda)

ends with an invitation to pray for the work of the VI Assembly, saying: “by means of the national tables we are working on the purpose of strengthening the national ecumenical organisms, so that they analyze their reality and, through consensus, find common challenges and conditions for impacting society toward a change, which, individually, we are not in a condition to achieve.” Quaker pastor and president of the CLAI-Cuba National Table,

CHURCH and MISSION: Latin American and Caribbean Lutheran Churches Seek Structures That Strengthen Their Prophetic Voice A regional meeting of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Bolivia’s eastern city of Santa Cruz assesses how churches emerging from contexts of strong social, economic and political crises can be a prophetic voice of hope amidst massive impoverishment, violence and inequality. LWF/ALC, Santa Cruz Sharing of Gifts and Resources Explored in Latin American and Caribbean Context “That is why today we have hope, that is why today we struggle with stubbornness,” was the theme

LAEN Latin American Ecumenical News is a quarterly produced by the Communication Department of the Latin American Council of Churches Editor: Geoffrey Reeson Translation: Geoff Reeson, Patricia Morck and Christopher Morck. Layout and Editorial Coordination: Amparo Salazar Chacón Press service: ALC, Methodist News Service, ENI, Presbyterian News Press, ACNS, Zenit, Factiva, ACPress. Departamento de Comunicaciones CLAI Inglaterra N32-113 y Av. Mariana de Jesús Casilla 17-08-8522, Quito, Ecuador Telepone: (593-2) 255-3996/252-9933 Fax: (593-2) 256-8373 E-mail: nilton@claiweb.org www.claiweb.org ISSN 1390-0358 Subscriptions: Latin America and the Caribbean: One year US$ 12, Two years US$ 20 Other regions: One year US$16, Two years US$26

of the 18-22 September gathering of representatives from the 16 LWF member churches in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, and partner organizations. Hosted by the Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELB), the 54 participants included church leaders, members of networks of women and youth, persons living with disabilities, theological educators and diaconal (social service) workers. They discussed lessons learned, reviewed challenges and offered recommendations from a five-year program (2007-2011) aimed at developing local capacity and empowering leadership to strengthen churches’ institutional and human resources for witness in their contexts. The major objective of the meeting organized by the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD) through the LAC and Human Resources Development (HRD) desks was “to concretely define how best churches in the region can develop human and institutional capacities that support their contribution to God’s mission, and in the process build the Lutheran communion,” said LWF area secretary for LAC, Rev. Dr Patricia Cuyatti. She noted that throughout the five-year program, churches affirmed various local initiatives and explored the kind of church they want to be in their respective contexts, and how they could best express and witness their faith. Empowering the leadership was an integral component as well as the mutual sharing of gifts and resources between the different

churches. “The IELB is very pleased for the opportunity to welcome the regional meeting and offer its perspectives as a church mainly of indigenous people in this country,” said Rev. Emilio Aslla, president of the IELB. “Our church can share the talents of teaching, preaching, agronomy, psychology and medicine. And also gifts of music and playing soccer. In the local church, 40 percent are youth and they are coming to the church through the music and soccer games,” he explained. Aslla said participatory and inclusive processes were crucial in addressing the sustainability of churches in minority contexts in particular. “We need perspectives on the different methodologies that can consolidate and strengthen our commitment and solidarity with the people we serve, and strengthen us as a communion of churches.” He underlined the need for the region’s churches to work together in affirming their “social commitment to serve our people and improve their living conditions.” The 22,000-member IELB is organized in 105 congregations served by 26 ordained pastors. It supports community members including women’s groups through projects dealing with education, water supply and food security. The churches in the LWF LAC region bring together more than 846,000 members. Bogotá, Colombia based journalist Edwin Mendivelso contributed to this story. Source: Lutheran World Federation, LWF: http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/lac-prophetic-voice.html

María Yi, manifested that Cuba, “because of its historical wealth and experience in events of this magnitude, will be a worthy host” for the representatives of the 188 Latin American and Caribbean member churches and organizations of the Latin American Council of Churches in some 20 countries of the continent. The Rev. Joel Ortega Dopico, president of the Council of Churches of Cuba (CIC), said that that organism, together with the CLAI National

Table, will do all that is possible so that the gathering in Havana be a memorable one, at a time “when the churches and the ecumenical movement in the country are experiencing an exceptional moment of unity in service to the people, following the trail of hurricane Sandy through the island, which, in spite of all its sequels, has made us stronger in our witness and action.” The delegation of CLAI officials also reiterated its rejection of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, that violates the most elementary ethical principles and those of peaceful coexistence between countries, and its solidarity with the families of the five Cuban prisoners in the United States, as in both cases the most elementary human rights of the people and of the Cuban family are trampled on. "We know that the delegates to the VI Assembly are not only going to meet with a church that is alive and united as is the Cuban, but also with a people of solidarity who, above and beyond the vicissitudes it is living through, always show their happiness," said Murray.

TOWARDS HAVANA:

CLAI completes Regional Consultations and Pre-Assemblies During September and October the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) carried out its Regional Consultations and PreAssemblies, in preparation for the ecumenical organization’s VI General Assembly to be held in Havana, Cuba, in February, 2013. CLAI/ALC, Quito he Regional Consultations and Pre-Assemblies have been very special events for CLAI, and the preparations for its VI General Assembly are becoming more and more intense. Prior to the regional gatherings, CLAI had held National Consultations, with an excellent participation in all the countries involved. The National Consultations dealt with very concrete concerns of

the churches with regards to migration, climate change, natural, climate and political catastrophes, racism, discrimination, sexual and reproductive rights, diaconal service and development, the theology of prosperity, and new forms of power in the Neo-Pentecostal churches. The outcomes of the discussions on these concerns were then presented to the regional gatherings, with a focus on the issue of sexual and reproductive rights, and the developing of a strategy for joint actions by CLAI at the national and regional levels in 2013, in response to this priority issue. “Now comes the process of organizing, editing, layout and printing of the material that we want to present at the Continental Consultation in Havana, February 19-20, 2013,” said CLAI General Secretary, Rev. Nilton Giese. CLAI has five regions: Mesoamerica: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Caribbean and Greater Colombia: Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Andean: Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Brazil. Río de la Plata: Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.

Church and Sexual and Reproductive Rights (CLAI)

latin america and Environment 3

Junge expresses thanksgiving and hope that the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are entering into peace talks. LWF/ALC, Geneva STATEMENT ON PEACE TALKS IN COLOMBIA Rev. Martin Junge, General Secretary The Lutheran World Federation

he Lutheran World Federation welcomes with thanksgiving and hope the August 27 announcement by Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos that the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are entering into peace talks. Colombia has been ravaged by a decades-long violent conflict involving outlawed armed groups, drug cartels, and gross violations of human rights. One out of every ten Colombians-more than 5.5 million per-

sons—has been forcibly displaced from his or her home. Those most seriously affected by the violence and social injustice have been women, children, indigenous people and AfroColombians. The LWF Council, the Lutheran Communion’s highest governing body in between Assemblies, held its annual meeting in Bogotá, Colombia this past June. The Council was deeply moved by the challenges and difficulties of people living in poverty in the context of Colombia’s long-standing conflict. The Council observed how the suffering of people is increased because of continuing and new displacement, limited opportunities for education and employment, vulnerability to flooding and other natural disasters, and a health system that offers limited support to people and families affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. The LWF Council affirmed that a just and sustainable peace

in Colombia must be based on the following principles: - Every Colombian citizen needs to have the opportunity to take part in the peace-building process, not just government officials or representatives of groups. - The peace-building process needs to take place in both directions: from the highest level to the grassroots, as well as from the grassroots level upwards. - A change of mindset has to take place: instead of the imagery of violence, the imagery of dialogue should be used. - Victims play a key part in the dialogue of peace. They should not be excluded. The Council expressed its appreciation that the Colombian government has passed a law to offer possibilities for displaced individuals and families to reclaim their land. The LWF continues to urge the government to fully implement

National march against corruption and repression in Costa Rica On November 15, thousands of citizens, representatives from social, ecumenical, student organizations, and artists protested against the high levels of corruption that the governing class has permitted, and seeks to institutionalize by means of the habit of practice and the manipulation of the laws to protect officials involved in these criminal acts. ALC, San José

he Costa Rican Lutheran Church (ILCO) took part in the march to make known its opposition to these acts of abuse on the part of the authorities who have systematically implemented measures that seek to undermine freedom of speech and information, so that the existent corruption not be known by the population, such as the so-called “Gag Law,” with which not only the press is affected but also all the people. ILCO pastor Carlos Bonilla said: "We are defending the

Children from the La Esperanza indigenous community in the department of Arauca in Colombia (LWF DWS Colombia M. Sjögren)

the law, with involvement of civil society and full respect for human rights. In addition, the government must protect vulnerable individuals and communities from having their land grabbed by powerful interests seeking to exploit mineral or forest resources. As a communion of Lutheran churches we seek peace with justice and promote reconciliation as affirmed in our vision: “Liberated by God’s grace, a communion in Christ, living and working together for a just, peaceful and reconciled world.”

March against corruption in Costa Rica (ILCO)

ALC, Mexico City

Rican Social Security system being affected for several years now. Representative José María Villalta of the Broad Front affirmed that the manifestations are usually minimized by saying that only a small group came out, their being unions or other particular groupings. “Here today we have an overwhelming mobilization of the most diverse social sectors, a colorful march, that reflects the diversity of the people of Costa Rica and the unanimous feeling that this government has taken the wrong direction." Source: Costa Rican Lutheran Church, ILCO

Source: Lutheran World Federation, LWF: http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/statement-peace-talkscolombia.html

National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) excommunicates seven pastors for defending the ordination of women to the priesthood The decision to excommunicate the seven male pastors was taken by the Ecclesiastical Court of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) on September 19.

health of all Costa Ricans, and also the right to freedom of expression, of demonstration, rights that are to be respected and not repressed in a violent and abusive way as has happened recently. We follow Jesus' example of always standing alongside the poor and repressed, and because of that we are here today putting into practice the teachings of Jesus Christ; blessed are those who work for peace, because they will be called children of God." Corruption has penetrated into all levels of government, including the Social Security administration, with the Costa

In this time in which the Colombian government and the armed opposition groups begin negotiations, I call upon them to incorporate the principles for a just and sustainable peace that are listed above. I reiterate the LWF Council’s call for Lutherans around the world to pray and engage with and for the churches and people of Colombia, and for a sustainable peace based on justice. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9) Geneva, September 4, 2012

fter having deliberated over the issue for a third time, the Theological Council of the INPM had rejected the ordination of women in 2011, and on that occasion admonished seven male pastors on the grounds that the admission of women into any ordained ministry would not be tolerated. The seven pastors defending the ordination of women to the priesthood include the Rev. Dan González, Dean of the Theological Community of Mexico. One woman, Amparo Lerín Cruz, had obtained her master's degree in the INPM training pro-

gram and hoped during 22 years that she would be admitted into the ordained ministry, now impeded by the National Presbyterian Church. The seven pastors excommunicated were accused of rebelliousness and tried without being able to be present at the meeting of the Ecclesiastical Court. When referring to the seven, the court expressed the hope that one day they would "show repentance and contrition.”

National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, Seal (INPM)

LATIN AMERICAN ECUMENICAL NEWS • SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012

Peace Talks in Colombia: Incorporate Principles for Just, Sustainable Peace: Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge

LATIN AMERICAN ECUMENICAL NEWS • SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012

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Latin America and Caribbean Communication for All: Sharing WACC’s (World Communication Agency (ALC) regrets suspending of operations of Association for Christian Communication) Principles the ENInews service News Ecumenical International announced on 1 October that its ENInews service is suspending operations, effective immediately, as it seeks emergency funding in order to operate for the remainder of 2012. ALC, Quito By Geoffrey Reeson, ALC English editor.

hen sharing the news of the suspension with ALC’s director, Enrique Zerbin (based in Buenos Aires), and ALC’s English editor, Geoffrey Reeson (based in Quito), ENInews’ New York-based editor, Solange De Santis, said that she has “enjoyed working with ALC and its content greatly enhanced ENI's coverage of Latin America.” In response, Zerbin gratefully recognized that in ENInews’ most recent stage, “Latin America and the Caribbean had a high presence in ENI,” the greater part of which came from the co-publishing agreement with ALC. For his part, Reeson expressed his appreciation to De Santis for her “support and timely observations to help us improve ALC’s English service,” and ALC’s trusting “that ENInews’ emergency funding efforts will be successful.”

ENInews, Logo

The text of the ENInews statement follows: "We regret taking this step, but despite a massive reorganization, ENInews is feeling the effect of the deep cuts from its historic supporters as well as from non-payment by quite a number of subscribers," said the Rev. David Harris, president of ENI and publisher of the Presbyterian Record, based in Toronto. "Subscribers and readers have said how much they value authoritative, unbiased news of ecumenical and inter-faith developments around the world," said Harris. "We hope the suspension will be temporary and ENInews will secure a firm funding base. "Subscriptions will be extended to compensate for the period of time ENInews operations are suspended.” Founded in 1994, ENInews is supported by the World Council of Churches (WCC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and World Communion of Reformed Churches, all based at the

Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. It is also supported by the World for Christian Association Communication, based in Toronto. This year, ENInews also received a grant from the Reformed Church of Argovia, based in Switzerland. At the beginning of 2012, the WCC and LWF, citing financial difficulties, reduced their funding to ENInews, the latest in a series of cuts over the past several years. The service also has about 500 subscribers and maintains co-publishing agreements with Religion News Service, the Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency and Episcopal News Service. Its stories are published by church and secular media around the world. In 2011, ENInews transmitted 721 stories. ENInews stories are translated into French by Protestinfo, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. ENInews is produced by New York-based editor Solange De Santis and a worldwide corps of journalists. Source: ENInews: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5964

Ecumenical accompaniment decided on playing… From page 1

October 29 and 31. Convinced that the beginning of peace talks does not mean a sudden end to violence in the country, Colombians and global partners are finalising details to receive the first accompaniers who will spend approximately three months in communities that are suffering different kinds of human rights threats and violations. PEAC’s national coordinator and human rights advocate Blanca Echeverry points to the lack of state protection of victims of armed conflict in Colombia in seven areas as a key factor that inspired the creation of the ecumenical initiative. “We want to help strengthen and build the capacity of organizations and communities in the affected areas, strengthening their social participation and organization, as well as advocate for the enforcement and recovery of their economic, social, political, cultural, environmental and territorial rights,” she said. Dr Ricardo Esquivia, a lay person from the Mennonite Church from the north coast region of Montes de Maria, and considered by many as the main inspirer of PEAC, affirms that it takes creativity and

Dr Ricardo Esquivia Schneider WCC)

(Marcelo

audacity to advocate for justice in a non violent way. “There are a lot of groups that get a lot of attention to their causes by the use of violent ways. We don’t do that. We spread seeds of justice and we need to cherish them as they grow,” said Esquivia. “The PEAC represents a challenge to bring together three levels of our work that are often seen as separate pieces: development, advocacy and conflict resolution,” he added. WCC programme executive for Diakonia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, Rev. Dr Carlos Ham linked the initiative of accompaniment in Colombia to the theme of

the upcoming Assembly of the Council. “On October 30 2013 we will be the celebrating the opening of our 10th Assembly. Let us hope that initiatives like the PEAC can raise the issues of justice and peace among our member churches worldwide,” said Ham. Inspired by the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) ten-year experience with the Ecumenical Accompaniment in Palestine and Israel, PEAC is a programme being implemented by the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), with the support of the WCC, ACT Alliance, the United Church of Canada, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Student Christian Federation, the Regional Ecumenical Advisory and Service Center (CREAS), Church World Service, the United Church of Canada, Kairos Canada, and the Methodist Church of Britain. Members of PEAC’s International Reference Group were scheduled to travel to the region of Montes de María on October 31 to meet local authorities and communities. The town of San Onofre will be the first area to receive accompaniers by December 2012.

“Communication for All: Sharing WACC’s Principles” affirms that communication is a exercise, spiritual builds and shapes community, enhances participation, promotes freedom and demands accountability, celebrates cultural diversity, builds connectedness, affirms justice and challenges injustice. WACC/ALC, Toronto

n 2009 the Executive Committee mandated the President, Dr. Dennis Smith, to convene a small group of people to review and update WACC’s Christian Principles, which date back to 1986. “The sense of the Executive Committee was that while the previous five principles remained valid and continued to be the core statement of our identity as an Association, substantial changes in the world of communication, culture and technology combined with reflections form WACC global members required that we revise them,” said Smith. A draft document was presented to the Executive Committee meeting at the WACC office in Toronto. The Committee endorsed the new Principles and recommended them to the Board of Directors for approval. The new document expresses WACC’s core beliefs and values and, while explicitly rooted in the Christian faith, can be offered humbly to partners of other religious traditions to encourage interfaith dialogue.

The first principle “Communication is a spiritual exercise” seeks to encourage inter-faith study and dialogue. The second, “Communication builds and shapes community”, asserts that genuine communication calls for mutual accountability and trust. Under “Communication enhances participation”, WACC asserts that inclusive and participatory communication leads to transparency and mutual accountability leading to a more just and peaceful world. “Communication promotes freedom and demands accountability” affirms that freedom of expression must be respected and community groups must be assured access to technology and to media platforms. “Communication celebrates cultural diversity” underscore the fact that communication is especially vital when cultural memory, language, religion, gender, age, ethnicity or race are denigrated or denied by members of other cultural groups. Finally, the new Principles emphasize the need to build connectedness, to affirm justice and to challenge injustice. “Communication for All” is WACC’s vision, recognizing communication rights as inherent in all other human rights, and restoring voice and visibility to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in a spirit of genuine solidarity. Source: World Association for Christian Communication, WACC: http://waccglobal.org/component/content/article/3167:communication-for-all-sharing-waccs-principles.html

Communication for ALL, WACC, Logo reduced

Church and Society 5

The founding was announced on the occasion of the 495th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation celebrated on October 28 in the Anglican Church Chapel on the premises of the Theological Community of Mexico. ALC, Mexico City By Leopoldo Cervantes-Ortiz for ALC. he name for the new communion of churches was inspired by that of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), organized in June, 2010 as a result of the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). Over 300 people attended the celebration, including special guests from different denominations and pastors and members of numerous local churches. Heading the pastors present were those recently excommunicated from the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM), accompanied by their congregations, along with a representative group from Chiapas that will also join the new church body. The agreement to form the Mexican Communion of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches (CMIRP, Spanish acronym) was accepted on October 27 in the Esmirna Church of Cuernavaca, Morelos, where the Chiapas representation was also present. In a spirit of celebration and marking a starting point for a new church and ecumenical journey, the grouping of communities of Calvinist – Presbyterian tradition ordained the first women pastors in Mexico, Gloria González Esquivel

and Amparo Lerín Cruz. González Esquivel, a Theology graduate, originally from the state of Morelos, to the south of the Federal District, now residing in Chiapas where she pastors a community and heads an NGO working with women of scarce resources, was received by the Chiapas group integrating the CMIRP. Lerín Cruz was born in Oaxaca and holds a Masters degree in Theology, and is presently involved in pastoral work in El-Shadday Church, following a long process that began in the John Calvin Presbytery (founded in 1989). Lerín’s process lead to a great conflict with the General Assembly of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM, Spanish acronym), where she herself was a presenter in favor of the ordination of women before the Theological Council in August, 2011 that ruled out any possibility of women’s ordination in the INPM.. The agreement to ordain González and Lerín on such a significant date marks the beginning of the work of the CMIRP, and affirms a theological position that stands side by side with the initiatives promoted by the regional reformed organisms (Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Latin America, AIPRAL) and the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). The liturgical ceremony began with a processional and the Presbyterian pastors wearing Huguenot clerical collars, and a prayer by Dave Thomas, former representative of the Presbyterian Church USA (PC USA), with which the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico broke relations in August, 2011. The call to worship was from a text by Argentinean musician and liturgist Gerado Oberman, the song

First Reformed women pastors ordained in Mexico

“God, Send the Rain” was sung as part of the confession of sin, and the Kyrie Eleison by Brazilian composer Rodolfo Gaede Neto highlighted the community prayers of intercession. Leopoldo Cervantes-Ortiz gave the biblical reflection entitled, “The Spirit of God Reforms His Church and Confirms the Ministries,” based on Joel 2, I Corinthians 4, and Revelation 5, in which he affirmed that “the divine effort to reform the Church has never ceased and, in the heat of the historical and human conflicts which we experience, the grace of God never abandons it and, to the contrary, continues raising new and refreshing forms of experiencing the joy of salvation in Christ Jesus, translating it all into practices that are consequent with the values of his Kingdom." The homily concluded with the poem, “His banner over me is love,” by Guatemalan Presbyterian poet Julia Esquivel. As a corollary to the biblical reflection, the reading of the “Women’s Creed” followed, written

by Judith van Osdol, a former coordinator of women’s ministries and gender justice of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), and which affirms: “I believe in Jesus, who spoke of theology with a woman at the well, and confided to her for the first time that he was the Messiah, who encouraged her to go into the city and tell of the great news – the first woman preacher of the good news.” The solemn act of ordination was presided over by Presbyter Rubén Montelongo, president of the CMIRP, accompanied by the rest of the pastors who were joined by the other ordained ministers present. Different symbols and elements of the pastoral ministry were presented, such as the Bible, stoles, one of which was sent by Alison Young of the New Brunswick Presbytery in the United States, communion sets, crosses, and clerical collars. For the laying on of hands, the ministers, both men and women, of the churches represented took part.

The prayer was led by Presbyter Hugo Gallardo Duarte and the declaration of ordination was read by Presbyter Silfrido Gordillo Borralles, the CMIRP secretary, who presented the ordination certificates. The newly ordained pastors presided over the eucharist, accompanied by pastors and elders from the participating churches. A moving and solemn moment followed as “And we will go throughout the world with faith,” by Venezuelan Eseario Sosa, was sung. Following communion, the formal announcement of the organization of the Mexican Communion of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches took place, with the pastors and representatives of the member churches and congregations, including the Chiapas representation, gathered together. Letters of greetings and expressions of support were read, among them those from the Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Latin America (AIPRAL) and the Reformed Churches in Argentina. The AIPRAL letter said: "As you know, both the WCRC and AIPRAL, after much study of the word of God, have come to the conclusion that both women and men are called to God’s mission and the different ministries of the church. Therefore, we encourage our churches to meditate on this and become a part of a complete inclusion of women in all the pastoral ministries." That night, a greeting from María Arroyo on behalf of the PC(USA) was received. Prior to the singing of Martín Luther's classic hymn, “A mighty fortress is our God,” an especially moving testimony was given by host Anglican Bishop Carlos Touché, who shared his Presbyterian background and that of Rebecca Montemayor, who twelve years ago was ordained a Baptist pastor in the same Anglican Chapel.

Contending for water rights in Bolivia Presbyterian mission worker Chenoa Stock and Bolivian partners say responsible mining practices would prevent water contamination. Presbyterian News Service/ALC By Pat Cole orking alongside partners in Bolivia,, Presbyterian mission worker Chenoa Stock helps people speak up for their right to clean water. It’s a right that is threatened by mining, which if done irresponsibly can contaminate both ground and surface water. Stock works with Joining Hands for Life, a Bolivian network of churches and nonprofit organizations that seeks to bring attention to environmental abuses and advocates for change. Stock and Joining Hands for Life,

which is known by its Spanish acronym UMAVIDA http://www.umavida.org/ - are focusing on the Kori Kollo gold and silver mining operation near Oruro. “The community began to see issues with soil and water,” Stock says. “There are shortages in ground and surface water. People are experiencing health problems.” In addition, she says some animals are dying inexplicably and the reproduction cycles of livestock are abnormal. Stock is a facilitator with the Presbyterian Hunger Program’s Joining Hands initiative, which links Presbyterians in the United States with overseas networks like UMAVIDA. Two presbyteries, Cascades and San Francisco, are partnered with UMAVIDA. After prodding by UMAVIDA, the Bolivian government ordered an environmental audit of the area surrounding the Kori Kollo mine. It was supposed to be a 1½-year process, but delays stretched it into a three-

year effort that concluded in 2012. The audit found no major environmental damage, but some experts, recruited by Joining Hands partners in the United States, concluded that the audit was inadequate. UMAVIDA continues to urge the government to force the mine’s owner, a Bolivian subsidiary of a U.S. company, to take corrective action. “We’re not against mining,” Stock says. “Mining is a huge part of Bolivia’s economy. We are asking for accountability and environmental justice.” The eventual goal, she explains, is stricter mining regulations and more diligent enforcement of international policies governing mining by transnational corporations. As she looks toward Bolivia’s environmental future, Stock is heartened by the positive response of young people who attend UMAVIDA’s “water schools,” where information about water sources is shared and the need to preserve these sources is

emphasized. She says she can sense that the young people see the need to make changes “one action at a time.” For Stock, the work of UMAVIDA is a quest to fulfill Jesus’ prayer that God’s will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. “It is a struggle to create a

world where there is abundant life for all—people, land, water, and all beings,” Stock says. “It is a struggle for justice that can be achieved only when we are bound together by our Christian hearts and kindred minds, proclaiming our faith in solidarity.” Source: Presbyterian News Service: http://www.pcusa.org/news/2012/11/13/contending-water-rights-bolivia/

UMAVIDA, Logo

LATIN AMERICAN ECUMENICAL NEWS • SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012

Founding of Mexican Communion of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches (CMIRP) marked by ordination of first women pastors

LATIN AMERICAN ECUMENICAL NEWS • SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012

6 latin america and Environment

Children´s Rights Rapporteur in Haiti learns about children living in domestic servitude Of major concern on a recent visit to Haiti was the Restavek system – a phenomenon which is a traditional part of Haitian culture in which young girls and boys work as unpaid household servants without access to education, contact with loved ones, or protection by the law. CWSLAC, Port-au-Prince osa María Ortiz is the newly appointed Special Rapportuer for the Inter American Commission on Human Rights to monitor the situation in Haiti as well as the rights of children and youth in Latin America. Of major concern on her recent visit to Haiti was the Restavek system – a phenomenon which is a traditional part of Haitian culture in which young girls and boys work as unpaid household servants without access to education, contact with loved ones, or protection by the law. For both societal and structural reason, including a lack of laws preventing such treatment of children and a lack of educational access in rural areas, the system persists today with thousands of children across the country denied their basic rights this way. The ASR network (Down with the Restavek System in Creole) was created in 2000 with objective of bringing together all the organizations that work on this issue to work together to eradicate this problem and to advocate with local and international authorities. During the meeting, the 18 members of ASR network gave some background to their work including the focus on education and awareness raising, and reintegration in

different neighborhoods of the capital Port-au-Prince and beyond. ASR President Jean Salomon spoke about the process they have begun of writing a draft protocol specifically on the protection of children living in domesticity which would define the role different parties play in the chain of protection and reintegration. Once complete, ASR will advocate that the government to adopt this protocol into Haitian legislation. For her part Special Rapporteur Ortiz complemented the network, highlighting the importance of organizations uniting and working together and thus having a stronger stand on the issue of child protection. She noted that a big difference between Haiti and surrounding

countries is the lack of a judicial system and framework for integral protection. She stated that in addition to government, teachers also play an essential role in child protection and express her happiness knowing that many fo the ASR network organizations work as a school and train many teachers. She also took time to explain how the Inter-American Human Rights system works and how ASR can use this system to strengthen its advocacy work and raise awareness internationally of the complex issue of children living in domestic servitude. She also reiterated her commitment to staying in contact with ASR members stating “This is only the beginning of our relationship”. Church World Service (CWS) has provided financial and technical assistance to the ASR network since 2009 and has also supported many of its members so they could participate in international conferences and exchanges with other organizations from the region that work in the defense of children’s rights Source: Church World Service Latin America and the Caribbean, CWSLAC: www.cwslac.org

ALC, São Paulo he distribution of Bibles by the 146 organizations comprising the United Bible Societies (UBS) reached a record high of 31.2 million copies in 2011, an increase of 11.2% in comparison to 2010. The greatest growth was in Africa and the Americas, with a distribution of 13 million copies, 3.6 million over the number of the previous year. Europe had a discreet increase of 2.7%, while in Asia and Oceania there was a decrease of 4.2%. When all forms of biblical literature distributed are taken into consideration, such as New Testaments, portions of the Bible, and selected

Love knows neither handicaps nor blockades Where there is love everything is healed, from the deepest wound of having a special child who grows up far from the preconceived norms of nature and society, to the barriers that are raised by policies and governments, because the sharing of mutual abilities and affection breaks down all exclusion and proclaims the Kingdom of God on earth. ALC, Havana From a news story by José Aurelio Paz for ALC.

ponsored by the Handicapped Persons Pastoral Ministry of the Council of Churches of Cuba (CIC), Jony and Friends from the United States have just finished a family spiritual retreat on the island which, with tears and laughter, has left a very important biblical lesson: Love can do everything, hope for everything, withstand everything … A total of 160 persons, including thirty families with a handicapped member, accompanying missionaries, and the retreat organizers, gathered together for four days during which they forgot about color, race, sex, country, age, and physical or mental limitations, to live out what the Kingdom of God will be like, where we will all be measured by our capacity to give of ourselves and love. The retreat coordinator, Baptist pastor Milagro Pérez Gómez, said to ALC that, “Many of the participants, both family members and collaborators, came with a very low self esteem in their expectations. They came loaded with their personal problems, but in the course of our sharing them

Rosa María Ortiz, center, with ASR network members in Haiti (CWSLAC)

Bible Society of Brazil (SBB) increased distribution of the Bible by 14.5% in 2011 A member of the worldwide United Bible Societies, the SBB (Portuguese acronym) distributed 6.783.255 complete Bibles to the Brazilian population, 14.5% more than in 2010.

Handicapped persons retreat in Cuba (José Aurelio Paz)

passages, there were more than 242 million copies made available in all the regions of Brazil. The UBS was created in 1946 with the purpose of developing strategies for mutual cooperation in the processes of translation, production and distribution of the Holy Scriptures. The 146 bible societies of the UBS work in more than 200 countries and territories.

Bible Society of Brazil, Logo (SBB)

The movement for the diffusion of the Holy Bible has its beginnings in 1804, with the founding of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Reading, England. The Bible Society of Brazil, founded in 1948, is a part of that movement.

and lessening their importance, we restored that feeling of hope in our being one single family under God’s protection.” Daniela Acosta, a young Hispanic from Texas and psychologist working with abused children, shared that the experience in Cuba has changed her. She had come to realize that just like a great baseball team, Cubans and North Americans can come together, leaving their differences to one side, to win the game of life through friendship and solidarity between countries. For the Rev. Noel Fernández, coordinator of the CIC Handicapped Persons Pastoral Ministry, “the differences in cultures and capabilities between Cubans and North Americans, has led to a sharing in which there have not been teachers and students, but rather that we have all learned.” Fernández pointed out that this was the first attempt by the Cuban pastoral ministry to work with missionary accompaniers, who would then train others in their communities to assist families with a member who is in some way handicapped. Bonnie Banker, the soul of the retreat gathering, as on many previous trips to Cuba to provide wheelchairs through the Jony and Friends organization she represents, highlighted “the metamorphosis of the four days, bringing to full joy the experiencing of the Kingdom of God on earth, and because of which each one of us upon returning to our communities is to share each testimony to our being able to know Christian unity beyond whatever barrier.”

latin america and Environment 7 LATIN AMERICAN ECUMENICAL NEWS • SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2012

Gathering of Methodist pastors in Chile discusses the tension between Ekklesia and Church From September 4-6, the Methodist Church of Chile held the Institute of Methodist Pastors with the theme: “The Tension between Ekklesia and Church.” The gathering took place in the “San Ignacio de Loyola” Retreat House in Santiago. ALC, Santiago

early 80 Methodist pastors attended the national gathering. Also present was a Methodist delegation from Peru made up by Bishop Jorge Bravo and the Reverends Carlos Gastelú, Luis Baldeón, and Edilberto Huamaní, in addition to the Reverend Cristina Dinoto of the Argentinean Methodist Church. Dr. Nestor Miguez was the principal speaker during the three day gathering, which included devotional moments, work groups and plenary sessions. The themes of the presentations were: A Biblical-Theological

Approach to the Concept of Church and the Institutional Evolution in the New Testament; The Relevance of ChurchCommunity and the Instrumental Place of the Church-Institution, and; Church, Charisma, Tradition and Power. The participation of the Peruvian Methodist delegation was the result of an invitation by Bishop Martínez of Chile, as part of an agreement signed by both churches in January, 2012. The presence of the delegation from Peru was a reaffirming of the fra-

ternal bonds and willingness to work together in mission in the region. During the closing service of the gathering the participants were given diplomas. Speaking at the service, Bishop Bravo said: "We give thanks to the Lord for having given us this opportunity to be present at this annual event, and to Bishop Martínez for his invitation and cordial welcome." Source: Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America, CIEMAL

New Board of Directors of ALC to face changing challenges for communication

Gathering of Methodist pastors in Chile (CIEMAL)

LWF Illegitimate Foreign Debt Program offers a renovated and active webpage in Argentina The member churches of the Lutheran World Lutheran Federation (LWF) around the world have a tradition of being involved in issues related to foreign debt. In Argentina, the website of the Illegitimate Foreign Debt Program has been renovated and provides updated information and analysis. ALC, Buenos Aires

eginning in the 1980’s, LWF publications warned that the foreign debt was an obstacle to the development of the countries of the global south. Actions of incidence and awareness raising on the part of LWF member churches were increased prior to entering the new millennium and actively continue In the Latin American context, the involvement of the churches

LWF Argentina Illegitimate Foreign Debt

with the issue of the foreign debt became more profound as a result of the repercussions that the economic crisis of 2001 in Argentina had for the whole region. With the coordination of the LWF member churches in Argentina (the United Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Church of Río de la Plata), which have qualified specialists in the areas of information and analysis of the foreign debt, the commitment of the churches continued to deepen. Lutheran journalist Sebastián Barthes is responsible for the new webpage - http://www.deudailegitima.org/ - that has varied sections, archives, links, and daily news. In 2003, the Latin American Lutheran churches proposed the theme of “Illegitimate Foreign Debt” at the LWF10th Assembly as being a key matter of ecumenical concern. A year later, the LWF Latin American and Caribbean Leadership Conference began a

ALC Board of Directors with President-Elect Marcela Gabioud, center (ALC)

regional program in order to give operative attention to the issue. From then on, the program has been developed in the local, regional, and global contexts, advocating for the annulment of all illegitimate financial debts. In Argentina, two officers implement the Illegitimate Foreign Debt Program, supported by an advisory board made up of representatives of the two LWF member churches in the country. With regards to strategy, direction and information, the program answers to the LWF Latin American and Caribbean Leadership Conference. The program has been working for four years, during which time it has gathered together an important group of experts as consultants and who represent it at the local and regional level. The main work axes as defined by the Illegitimate Foreign Debt Program are, research, awareness raising, and incidence.

The ecumenical organizations that make up the Latin America and Caribbean Communication Agency (ALC) ratified their support of the agency’s communication project, while pointing out the need for a new communication strategy with impact on human development in a time of changing technologies. ALC, Buenos Aires By Claudia Florentin.

resent at the 2012 ALC Assembly held in Buenos Aires on October 25, were delegates from the member organizations: Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Latin America (AIPRAL), Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean (CIEMAL), Ecumenical Regional Center for Consultancy and Services (CREAS), Forum of Lutheran Communicators (FLUC), and the World Association for Christian Communication-Latin America Region (WACC-AL). The Board of Directors elected by the ALC Assembly is comprised of Marcela Gabioud (WACC-AL) as President and Nilton Giese (CLAI) as Vice-President, with Rony Marquardt (FLUC), Treasurer; Daniel Favaro (CREAS), Secretary, and; Darío Barolin (AIPRAL) and Heideide Torres (CIEMAL) as Members. Following the assembly, ALC President-Elect Marcela Gabioud said: “it is important to point out

that the ecumenical organizations and churches need to be aware of their role in society of raising specific social problems and their representation of those issues. They are to speak of development with the objective of improving the quality of life of the people, sharing stories of how their work has an impact on daily life and transforms behaviors, and understanding that communication for rights is part of the change that we look for. Communication needs to be, once and for all, a necessary axis for the work of the ecumenical movement and where the participative building of communication strategies becomes a work tool incorporated into the process of planning." According to Gabioud, ALC also needs to adapt to this new situation “and we hope to do it with the Board of Directors so as to strengthen the bonds between the organizations that make up the consortium, and those who receive the e-mail dispatches and read the webpage, to continue building an agile and sustainable communication tool, that can be important for the telling of what happens in our region, and in our ecumenical churches and organizations. The challenge is to think of ourselves as communication, not so much with the instrumental vision that validated its use in the recent past, but as the building of a communication that is broader, more durable and fundamental for the bringing about of the social changes that we work toward.”

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Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) accompaniment visit to Paraguay The continental ecumenical organization visited churches and ecumenical bodies in the country from September 3-4, prioritizing the hearing of different points of view in relation to the destitution of the country’s former president, Fernando Lugo, in June, 2012. CLAI/ALC, Asunción

n a letter to the churches and ecumenical bodies in Paraguay, the Secretary General of CLAI, Rev. Nilton Giese states that: “Being the ecumenical organization that CLAI is, and as pastors, we have been thinking and dialoguing about how to accompany you at this time. The events of the last months in your Republic of Paraguay, which have implications for our region and continent, challenge us to draw near to you in dialogue. And so we proposed a pastoral visit September 3-4, with the purpose of listening and dialoguing about what occurred and to together find agreement as to the role of the churches in the reaffirming of democracy. The visit prioritized the hearing of different points of view in relation to the destitution of the country’s former president, Fernando Lugo, in June, 2012.” Reporting on the results of the visit, Giese says: “We heard that the religious leaders had a certain fear of President Lugo's administration with regard to the authority of the State over the churches. We also heard the frustration of those same leaders in relation to the attention on the part of the State to issues such as agrarian reform and legislation on indigenous lands.” The report continues by pointing out that there are other religious leaders who understand that what happened in Paraguay on June 22 was

CLAI accompaniment visit to Paraguay, 2012

a parliamentary coup, adding that the Roman Catholic Church actively participated but then recognized in a letter by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Paraguay dated August 31, 2012, that it was a mistake to have pressured President Lugo to resign. As a result of the visit, the following joint agreement was reached: 1. The constituting of an Ecumenical Observatory in preparation for the presidential election process in Paraguay. Objectives: - Accompany the investigations into the fatal events in Curuguaty - Accompany the discussions about the Río Tinto and its regional implications - Accompany the internal agrarian and making them visible at the international level - Make known and actively participate in the Semillas Foundation for Democracy Electoral Watch, that will supervise campaign expenses, providing a monthly report, provide online information through Facebook and Twitter, and press for the approval of the Election Financing Law presently being debated in the Senate. - The constituting of a team of

international and national ecumenical observers - Register this team of observers in the Electoral Council of Paraguay - Hold a seminar prior to the elections called for April, 2013 - Coordinate the presence of the observers throughout the country. 2. Provide reliable information to the churches about the social and political conflicts in the country. - The Committee of Churches for Emergency Aid (CIPAE) is to decide what person will assume responsibility for that information task, providing weekly news to the Latin America and Caribbean Communication Agency – ALC, the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) press services, the CIPAE communications media, the community radios in Paraguay, church bulletins, and the social pastoral ministry of the Roman Catholic Church in Paraguay. 3. The churches and ecumenical bodies in Paraguay, and outside of the country, will be responsible for opening spaces in the media within their reach, so as to make visible the electoral situation and the conflicts in Paraguay through April, 2013.

Honoring Argentinean Methodist Bishop Emeritus Federico Pagura From page 1

ical memory of those men and women that preceded us and who made an extraordinary contribution in the struggle for human rights and justice in Latin America. "And if we are to center our attention on someone when remembering, it is precisely on Bishop Pagura,” he emphasized. Sintado said that the new generations may have heard of

Pagura, but perhaps have not come to know him through his ministry, and because of that the book tries to transmit Pagura’s ministry. “This is precisely the meaning of ‘tradition,’ to pass on examples and testimonies to the new generations. It seems to me that what is important in the commitment of these new generations is to discover two things: first, that we are not the first and neither are we the ones who discovered the witness to the gospel in the struggle

Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) Mesoamerica Region supports peace processes in El Salvador and the region At its Mesoamerica Regional Consultation held in San Salvador from September 20-22, in preparation for the VI General Assembly to take place in Havana, Cuba in February, 2013, CLAI expressed its support of the truce between the principal gangs in El Salvador, and recognized the mediating roles of Catholic Bishop Fabio Colindres, Chaplain to the Armed Forces, and Raúl Mijango, former Salvadoran guerilla commander. ALC, San Salvador By Rafael Menjívar Saavedra for ALC.

epresentatives of the CLAI member churches of Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, took part in meetings with Colindres and Mijango in the Episcopal Anglican Church of St. John Evangelist, to learn more about the process of the truce which they consider to be an instrument that can also work in the countries of the region where similar histories of violence are being experienced. In an official statement entitled “From Violence to Dialogue in El Salvador," CLAI points out the great importance of this truce process in El Salvador that has so far lasted for six consecutive months, yet maintains that it needs the commitment on the part of the Salvadoran State and its institutions to modify the conditions of poverty and exclusion that have contributed to the serious situation of violence that the country is undergoing. According to the CLAI statement, "The situation is made even worse within the prisons as a result of the inhuman conditions that the inmates

live in.” El Salvador is considered to be one of the most violent countries in the world, where even though a Peace Agreement was signed in 1992 between the government and the guerilla forces, bringing to an end a twelve year civil war in which more than 75,000 persons died, the presence of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio18 gangs during the last two decades in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, has put life in jeopardy. In March, 2012, these principal gangs began a truce declaration that through September has lasted for six months, with National Civil Police statistics showing 5 to 15 violent deaths per day. "We call on all the churches to join this initiative and creatively and courageously propose, with faith in the help of God, this process that is just beginning. We ask of the international community that it be guarantors of this vital process for the Salvadorans and for the Mesoamerican Region," says the CLAI statement. The statement also expresses the pastoral solidarity of CLAI with the families that are victims of the violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, and adds that it will declare a day of prayer for the peace process, committing itself to make known this concrete expression on behalf of life. The CLAI regional pre-assembly ended on Saturday, September 22, with important agreements reached, among them the names of those to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors to be held at the continental ecumenical body’s VI General Assembly in February, 2013 in Havana, Cuba.

for human rights, and; second, that there have been those men and women who have known how to incarnate a faithful witness to that gospel,” he added. "In this tradition of the men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, today we want to say: Federico Pagura, your work has been the work of inspiration for thousands of men and women in Latin America and we want it to continue to be so,” concluded Sintado. Salvadoran peace mediator Monsignor Fabio Colindres