WCC News: In Colombia, WCC executive committee will focus on life and witness of churches

From 6-11 June, the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee will meet in Bogota, Colombia, where the governing body will focus not only on the business of the WCC but also on absorbing the life and witness of churches at the heart of the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. The Casa de Nariño, official residence of the President of Colombia. It houses the main office of the executive branch and is located in the capital city of Bogota. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 29 May 2024 The executive committee is meeting at the invitation of the Presbyterian Church in Colombia and in support of the churches’ involvement in peace-building and reconciliation. The programme includes discussion, visits, and celebrations with the churches, communities, and government to learn more about the work for total peace in Colombia.  The meeting is a significant encounter on the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. “The reason for our intuitive agreement to bring the WCC executive committee to Colombia is part of our mission as WCC,” said Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee. “We acknowledge the important role the churches are playing in the peace process and we feel a great readiness to do whatever we can to support all those who are engaged overcoming conflict and violence in Colombia.” The business agenda includes receiving 2023 narrative programme reports and audited financial reports, and monitoring the implementation of WCC strategies, 2024 plans, and budget and planning for 2025. The meeting is hosted by the churches and ecumenical partners in Colombia, including DiPaz, a national ecumenical platform of churches and faith-based organizations that promote dialogue for peace in Colombia. The Swiss ambassador will host a welcome reception for the executive committee with different embassies, representatives of the Colombian government, and church leaders. The spiritual life includes prayer each morning with different churches. The Colombian Ministry of Interior, through the Office of the Deputy Minister for Social Dialogue, Equality, and Human Rights, will host a session on the importance of international engagement for peace-building and social cohesion. Also on the agenda is monitoring the implementation of WCC strategies, the 2024 budget, programme work, membership matters, and the Green Village property development project. The executive committee will also issue statements on public issues affecting the life and witness of the churches. In 2023, the WCC, with the Colombian Episcopal Conference, United Nations Mission in Colombia, and Organization of American States, has been appointed as a permanent accompanier for peace talks with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) FARC-EP. During the executive committee meeting, Dr Humberto Martin Shikiya, WCC special envoy for the peace process in Colombia, will lead a session presenting the work of the WCC, churches, and partners in the peace process. WCC at peace dialogue table with UN Security Council in Colombia (WCC news release, 15 February 2024) WCC sees firsthand those most affected by conflict in Colombia (WCC news release, 15 December 2023) WCC general secretary speaks before Colombian senate (WCC news release, 15 December 2023) WCC appointed as permanent accompanier in Colombian peace talks (WCC news release, 21 September 2023) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland