Nonviolent Action in Colombia

The ecumenical advocacy platform DIPAZ (Inter-church Dialogue for Peace), which IELCO is a founding member, has been developing this year what will be called the “School for Nonviolent Action”. One of the three areas of focus for the work of DIPAZ is Anti-militarism and Nonviolent Action, and the School is being developed as a way to offer society other means of social struggle.

As Colombia is in a process of implementing the peace agreement it signed at the end of 2016 with the FARC guerrilla group (now a legal political party), and is in the process of negotiating with the ELN (National Liberation Army), it has been identified that the time is now for developing different methods.

As part of the process of developing the School, DIPAZ held a public forum on Monday, April 23^rd. Invited speakers and panelists from around Colombia as well as other parts of Latin America and the world shared their thoughts around the question: “What are the challenges and the opportunities for nonviolent action in the Colombian context of post-accords”? We also listened to examples and 

experiences from Colombian communities around nonviolence and efforts they have already begun.

During one of the panels representatives of CONPAZ (communities building peace
in the territories) sang their movement hymn, before they shared their experience
of nonviolent resistance in Colombia. Photo from DIPAZ.

Thanks to the Colombian Seeds of Freedom Network, after the forum we handed out a plant and/or a
small package of native and organic seeds. On each bag of seeds and each plant was written the name
of one of the more than 280 community leaders and human rights defenders that have been
killed in Colombia since the signing of the peace agreements. Photo by Katie.

A very special highlight of the forum was world-renowned singer Anthony Brown (www.anthonybrownbaritone.net) ho told stories and sang songs of peacebuilding around the world.

Anthony Brown singing a song about the experience of the nonviolent movement
of Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Katie

We were fortunate to spend some time with Anthony while he was in Colombia. It was very inspiring to listen to stories of his peacebuilding work all over the world.

One of the songs Anthony sang is titled "Make Them Hear You", here are the powerful lyrics:

Go out and tell our story

Let it echo far and wide

Make them hear you

Make them hear you

How that justice was our battle

And how justice was denied

Make them hear you

Make them hear you

And I say to those who blame us

For the way we chose to fight

That sometimes there are battles

That are more than black or white

And I could not put down my sword

When justice was my right

Make them hear you

Make them hear you

Go out and tell our story

To your daughters and your sons

Make them hear you

Make them hear you

And tell them in our struggles

We were not the only ones

Make them hear you

Make them hear you

Your sword can be a sermon

Or the power of the pen

Teach every child to raise their voice

And then my brothers, then

Will justice be demanded

By ten million righteous men

When they hear you

I’ll be near you, again.

Foundation Camino de Emmaus

This past weekend I kicked off my work with the Foundation "Camino de Emaus" (Emmaus Road). Since I have been in Colombia, every year I have lead a workshop with the students in elementary school who receive scholarships from the foundation.

The group of elementary students from Los Llanos

This year is part two of the 10 Life Skills. Last year we looked at self-awareness, emotions, and assertive communication. This year we are looking at the next three skills: stress management, inter-personal relations, and creative thinking. IELCO is also beginning to implement "Safe Church" policy, called the Child Protection Policy. Last weekend was the first of these retreats and we started in The Plains (Los Llanos). As you can see from the photos, I had a great groups of kiddos.

This girls in this photo were in one of the activities about inter-personal relationships. They had to draw each of their favorite animals while both using the same marker at the same time. 

Each of the children received a little container of play-dough to play with practicing creative thinking as well as stress management. 

The children are studying the booklets about the Child Protection Policies. We then played jeopardy to see how well they understood (they did a great job). 

National Day of Remembrance and Solidarity with the Victims of the Armed Conflict

In Colombia, April 9^th has been declared The National Day of Remembrance and Solidarity with the Victims of the Armed Conflict. On this day in 1948, Jorge Eliecer Gaitán, one of the most charismatic leaders of Colombia, a lawyer and ex-mayor of Bogota committed to social justice, and a presidential hopeful, was assassinated on the streets of Bogota. The violence that Colombia is still suffering today can be traced back to the consequences of this tragic event of 1948.

Yesterday (April 9^th), we attended an ecumenical commemoration, to remember the victims of the conflict, to ask for forgiveness as churches for involvement (consciously or unconsciously) in the violence, and to look forward to the challenges in building peace in Colombia.

Gloria Gaitán (daughter of Jorge Eliecer Gaitán) is distributing the communion bread.

Listening to one of Gaitán's famous speeches with the family was a moment of raw emotion.

Pastor Nelson Celis of the IELCO was invited to offer the opening prayer at the event:

Let us pray:

In the love that brings us together today, God the Father/Mother,

We make of our prophetic voice, a permanent prayer:

the historical claim that, even though hidden and silenced,

Truth seeks light, and memory longs for reconciliation.

This is the time, caring and near God, to rejoice,

from our diversity, and in the coming together of sincere spirits,

to strive in the search and the finding of justice,

in the communal construction of a stable and lasting peace,

in the inclusive design of the pillars of a new generation.

Our heart is ready for selfless service:

to the cause of the helpless, the poor and the marginalized,

to be a challenging presence that remembers the struggles of the martyrs,

for much is the blood poured into this earth that screams: Never again!

We remain motivated by the rising hope,

Working on all fronts in compassionate harmony,

to put into action the curtailed longings of those who,

like Gaitán, had the certainty that “the people are superior to their leaders”,

and they reaffirmed it with their dedication. This certainty comes now to our days as a

powerful and lasting inspiration.

God of mercy,

Our prayer is addressed to you with a voice that, although calm,

is not uneasy, because we trust in the change that is happening.

It is a reality, and today, it is symbolically represented here:

in the diverse sectors and expressions of society that don’t get tired

of demanding justice, of keeping memory as a bulwark,

of taking their just claims and shaking up the corrupt establishment.

You, you listen to all, You, you are a God who draws near to everyone,

that's why we cry out to You, that's why we come before You,

stripped of hatreds and vindictive intentions,

to ask for Your support, in the cause of those, while forgotten by the State,

are always present in the voice of those who speak on their behalf.

Accompany us in our cause, which is none other than that of the Kingdom,

which Christ himself proclaimed! Kingdom of Justice, peace and reconciliation.

To find the power of your Word, loving God Mother/Father,

we can help restore those who have been harmed

and, with our transforming actions, we accept as our own,

the slogan of Father Camilo, that blessed prophet who taught us

that “Love’s effectiveness is not achieved but with revolution.”

In your hands we are a renewed strength, in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Easter (Pascua)

On Friday we wrote about living into the reality of this broken world as we remembered the death of Jesus. Today, Easter Sunday, we remember that death does not have the final word. God's project of LIFE continues to flourish and struggle against death in this world.

This photo of Pastor Angelica Bernate during her Easter sermon this morning. 

Thank you for journeying with us this Lenten season.