Feature story
As executive committee member Rev. Karin Van Den Broeke, from the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, shared in her sermon at IPC Comunidad de Fe, the World Council of Churches has already, for a long time, been committed to Colombia.
She reflected first on the theme from the WCC 11th Assembly in 2022, “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity."
She said: “We did realize that there are so many places on earth where there is no peace at all. Where ‘reconciliation’ sounds wry and where ‘unity' seems to be completely out of view.
“However, we went back to the history of the World Council of Churches. In 1948, in Amsterdam, representatives of 147 churches decided: ‘we intend to stay together,’ while they gathered under the theme ‘Man’s disorder and God’s design.’ It is especially when man’s disorder is visible, that churches need to bring in the message and the methodology of hope, of love, of trust.”
Van Den Broeke added: “And now we are, as the executive committee of the Council, in Colombia. Representing the Council that grew out to a fellowship of 352 churches at the moment. The assembly in Karlsruhe reaffirmed that we, as Christians worldwide, are on a pilgrimage. We now call this pilgrimage a Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity.”
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Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the WCC central committee, attended the worship service at the lutheran church "El Redentor", from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia, accompanied by other members of the WCC executive committee and staff.
Marcelo Schneider/WCC
She also reflected that the peace process in Colombia is inspiring for other churches across the world. “We are here in Colombia. To share bread with you. To listen to your stories and to celebrate that in the end we all share the love of Christ and the peace of Christ,” said Van Den Broeke.
She thanked all the brave people of Colombia for keeping in mind that love is needed when we aim for justice and peace. “May I thank God for unlimited love on our pilgrimage through a world with so many places of deep darkness,” she said. “May we all be blessed, every day and every night, every minute of our lives, with the Holy Spirit who invites us to companionship with all of our neighbors.”
WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay also shared a greeting on behalf of the global fellowship.
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The Greek Orthodox Parish “Santa Laura Montoya" welcomed members of the WCC executive committee and staff.
Neal Presa/WCC
WCC executive committee member Joanes Owino Siang’a, from the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, in a sermon at the IPC Betania, preached on peace and reconciliation. “Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today, we come together at an important time in Colombia,” he said. “The journey for peace promises healing, reconciliation and a new beginning for all.”
Siang’a said: "Brothers and sisters as social negotiation continues, let us focus to the Word of God, which gives us guidance, encouragement and hope.”
The WCC executive committee also toured the city of Bogotá, which was busy with families, local people, and visitors.
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Some member of the WCC executive committee, the general secretary and members of the staff attended the worship service at the Comunidad de Fe church, of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia.
WCC
The WCC executive committee is meeting in Bogota from 6-11 June, where the governing body is focusing on the business of the WCC and on absorbing the life and witness of churches at the heart of the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity.
Churches visited included:
Presbyterian Church of Colombia – Betania
Presbyterian Church of Colombia – Comunidad de Fe
Greek Orthodox Parish “Santa Laura Montoya
Mennonite Church of Teusaquillo
Lutheran Church El Redentor
Colombian Methodist Church in Bogota
San Pablo catheral, Episcopal Church in Colombia
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Members of the Betania church, from the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, some members of the WCC executive committee and staff.
IPC
