July 11, 2007

Jesus prayed, “that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me.”
(John 17:22,23)

One face, many voices, many spaces, many gaps

Friends,

The flight attendants prepared us by dimming the lights, ending all services, and taking their seats. Fifteen minutes of deep silence, profound reverence, breathtaking amazement. For me flying over the vast snow-capped Andes is always a moving spiritual experience that words cannot describe. Our creator God is great. God’s creation is magnificent. Suddenly the magic ended and we made our quick descent into the freezing chills of Santiago, Chile.

Front row (left to right): German Brizuela, Dora Canales, Maria Arroyo, Sherron George. Back row: Les Sauer, Manuel Gajardo, Gaston Ramirez, Lee Iverson.

During the next few days, I and my colleagues from PC(USA)’s World Mission staff, Maria Arroyo and Les Sauer, were graciously hosted by mission co-worker Lee Iverson and our partner church, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Chile (IEPC). We went to many places and heard many voices—lunch in the home of Roma (Gypsies) near Viña del Mar who are translating the Bible and the Jesus film into Romany, visits to schools and a maternity hospital run by Chilean Presbyterians, to a new private university with Presbyterians on the board, and to an ecumenical seminary.

We met and shared several delightful meals with the executive committee of our partner church. Together with the IEPC, we had conversations with another denomination, the  Presbyterian Church of Chile (IPC). The latter invited me to preach in their Sunday morning worship service, and John 17 was my text. Jesus sends the church in mission and prays that we may be one.

I also had the privilege of giving a lecture at the Miguel de Cervantes University on the roles of women in Presbyterian and Lutheran churches in Latin America, which sparked much interest. And we managed to squeeze in an afternoon at the Global Christian Forum, a consultation with World Council of Churches’ leadership, which brought together over 60 Latin American participants from WCC member churches as well as Roman Catholic and Pentecostal dialogue partners. The theme of the Forum is “One Face Many Voices.”

On the clear and frigid June days as we bundled up and scurried from place to place to hear many voices, the forbidding Andes were always there, inspiring and overwhelming me. It has become a symbol for me of my work as regional liaison in South America. The Andes stretch from Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego in Chile and Argentina for 5,000 miles. One continuous range in seven countries. So is the church. One Body. One Face. Many Voices. Many Spaces. However, there are also many gaps. We joyfully nurtured the partner relationship between the PC(USA) and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Chile. We dreamed of reconciliation and reunion as the two Presbyterian denominations met together with us. We experienced the greater diversity in the One Body as we listened to testimonies in the Global Christian Forum.

As a theologian and seminary professor, I was especially invested in the visit of PC(USA) personnel and IEPC representatives to the Evangelical Theological Community of Chile (CTE). It was formed in 1964 by Methodist and Lutherans to prepare pastors for the historic Protestant churches and to offer theological training to Pentecostal denominations. Presbyterians in the United States supported the CTE, and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Chile became a member. During the military dictatorship, the WCC, Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, and the Basel Mission of Switzerland began to provide support to this courageous haven of theological formation. In those trying days, the CTE never closed its doors. The PC(USA) continues to stand in solidarity with this struggling theological institution.

Today democratic rule has returned to Chile, Pentecostal denominations have experienced phenomenal growth, many new seminaries and universities have opened in Chile, and the Evangelical Theological Community, with reduced international financial support, has been going through a crisis and seeking to identify their particular contribution to theological education in support of the seven member churches and other churches in Chile. Two major challenges before them are the need to seek government accreditation for their university-level course and the reformulation of their extension program, which serves churches throughout the country and better prepares lay members for mission.

Dora Canales and Pedro Correa, leaders of the Evangelical Theological Community.

We gathered at the Theological Community for a round table discussion with Dora Canales, the rector, and Pedro Correa, the academic dean, and some students. The challenges are many. How do we maintain close relationships with our historical Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Methodist members and attract more and more Pentecostal members? How do we attain financial independence? The majority of students today are laity who seek preparation for their ministry and not pastors seeking ordination. With limited resources, should we concentrate on preparing pastors or offering extension courses for lay members?

Back in Brazil now as I reflect on the rich experiences, recall the many voices, and write my feedback for the Theological Community, the precious images renew me—one continuous towering Andes chain which graces the diverse countries along western South America and one body of Christ in Chile, in Latin America, in the United States, and around the world which witnesses to God’s love when we become one.

May God answer Christ’s prayer “that they may be one, as we are one.” May we all become part of the answer and bridge some of the gaps.

Your partner in Christ’s service,

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 38