(PNS) Five more Presbyterians have been commissioned by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Colombia Network to accompany Colombian church, union and displaced leaders who are threatened by death squads for their work in human rights.
At its May 9-11 meeting in Chicago, the network set eight different goals for its work, some intended to directly assist churches in Colombia, others targeting U.S. corporations for study. Jo Ella Holman, WMD’s liaison to the network, led a group discussion about reported abusive labor practices.
Continuing accompaniment — and stepped-up recruitment — were high on the agenda, as well as debate about how to address labor practices in Coca- Cola’s bottling facilities in Colombia, where some union organizers reportedly have been intimidated or killed. Sixteen U.S. Christians have completed accompaniment training so far, and a third training program is planned in Washington, DC, in mid-July.
Scheduled to go to Colombia are Jane Wood and Marilyn White, both members of the Community Church of the Servant-Savior in Houston, Texas; Cat Garlit Bucher of Grand Avenue Church in Sherman, Texas; Phil Gates of Trinity Church in Prescott, Ariz; and Gert Walsh of First Church in Sheboygan, Wis.
Ordained members of the network laid hands on the commissioned accompaniers during a short worship service at the end of the meeting. Also present for the service were the Rev. Milton Mejia, executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, and the Rev. Alice Winter, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) missionary who teaches at the Protestant seminary in Barranquilla.
Among its other goals, the Colombia Network cited:
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Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Colombian church next year with delegations and other activities.
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Urge U.S. Congressional representatives to help the Reformed University get accreditation from the Colombian government.
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Raise funds to help boost ministries of the Colombian church, particularly for the university and for work with the displaced.
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Continue recruiting accompaniers.
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Evaluate the existing accompaniment program and look toward its expansion in even more remote presbyteries.
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Organize within presbyteries and congregations to advocate changes in U.S. policies concerning Colombia — most notably its ongoing support of the Colombian military.
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Explore how WMD and the network can work together.
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Work with the denomination’s investment watchdog, the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI), which is monitoring the harassment and deaths of union organizers in Coca-Cola’s plants in Colombia.
