WCC executive committee to meet in Colombia to strengthen peacebuilding work

The executive committee will meet in Colombia at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia and to support the involvement of churches in peacebuilding and reconciliation. The program includes discussions, visits and celebrations with churches, communities and the government to learn more about working for peace in Colombia.

“The reason for our intuitive agreement to bring the WCC executive committee to Colombia is part of our mission as the WCC,” said Archbishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, president of the WCC central committee. “We recognize the important role that churches play in the peace process and we feel very ready to do everything we can to support all those who are committed to overcoming the conflict and violence in Colombia,” he said. -he adds.

In 2023, the WCC, together with the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, the United Nations Mission in Colombia and the Organization of American States, was named permanent accompanist of the peace talks with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) FARC-EP.

The meeting will be hosted by churches and ecumenical partners in Colombia, many of whom will accompany the executive committee as observers. Spiritual life includes praying every morning with different churches.

For Pastor Milton Mejia, coordinator of DiPaz, the main ecumenical peacebuilding platform in Colombia, the meeting of the WCC governing body in Colombia is “a sign of its commitment to continue to accompany the search for peace through dialogue and the Churches of our country working with communities that maintain experiences of peace,” he declared.

“We are sure that this meeting will be an opportunity to reaffirm the joint work commitments between the WCC and Dipaz that will strengthen the contribution to the hope for peace of the Colombian people,” added Mejia.

The executive committee agenda includes current business of the executive committee meeting, including receiving narrative reports on the 2023 program and audited financial reports, monitoring the implementation of WCC strategies, plans and of the 2024 budget and planning for 2025.