May 20, 2006
Dear Friends,
May 21 has been designated as a day of prayer for Colombia and
May 22 a Day of Action for Colombia. I hope that when you share
this with your congregation you’ll express the appreciation
Colombian Presbyterians feel for concerned Americans who are accompanying
them in so many different ways. Some have come to Colombia. Others
do advocacy work in the States. And others are standing behind
the church in Colombia, remembering the needs of this country
in prayer. Each of these ministries is vital to the work we do
here.
First prayer request
May 28 is Colombia’s presidential election. There are three
major candidates and several minor ones. Much attention will be
focused on this election because President Uribe is running for
a second term. While many feel that Colombia’s situation
has improved since Uribe was elected four years ago, human rights
workers note that the violence continues with a changed appearance.
There are some three million displaced persons living in rough
camps with a minimum of aid. Only Sudan has more internally displaced
people. If no candidate wins a majority next Sunday, there will
be a run-off election later. Please pray for the presidential
election and the problems of violence.
Second prayer request
A specific case of the problem of violence and human rights
violations concerns one of our Presbyterian ministers. I mentioned
Milton Mejía in my February
newsletter as one who had in the past received death threats
for his work in defense of human rights. Shortly after I sent
my newsletter, the threats started again. The church here is now
seeking to get Milton and his family away from these threats and
up to the States for a year or so. We are hoping that one of our
Presbyterian seminaries in the United States will be able to help
with a scholarship so that Milton and his wife, the Rev. Adelaida
Jiménez, can do advanced studies. They would also be available
to speak in churches and share about the situation in Colombia.
I’ll have more about this in my next newsletter, due to
come out shortly.
Third prayer request
Renewal of accreditation. The Reformed University where I teach
is one of the most important peace projects of the Presbyterian
Church of Colombia. We bring together students from many different
denominations and help them to understand the role of their congregations
and their own role as church and community leaders in Colombia’s
struggle for peace. The School of Theology was approved initially
in 2002 for a period of three years. Government representatives
from the Ministry of Education came last week to review our situation
and hopefully renew our approval for a seven-year period. They
appeared to be favorably impressed with what they saw, and we
are anticipating renewal of our accreditation.
The representatives from the Ministry of Education did express
concern about the shortage of qualified professors on our faculty.
I am the only professor with a doctorate, and the only specialist
in Old Testament studies. As you know, it has been a long time
since I have had a furlough. I am presently scheduled to be in
the United States next year visiting churches and speaking about
the work of mission in Colombia and around the world. But there
is no one to take my place on the faculty, and the visitors from
the Ministry of Education said that under these circumstances
our approval cannot be renewed unless I am available to teach
on the university faculty next year. The PC(USA) staff in Louisville
has been informed of this development and is studying how to respond.
I will let you know.
Along with the renewal of accreditation for the School of Theology,
the Ministry of Education checked out two new programs that are
ready to be initiated: one in international finance and one in
law. Please pray that all three programs—theology, finance,
law—will be approved promptly. We are hoping that these
new programs will provide sufficient income to make available
more scholarships in the School of Theology.
Fourth prayer request
Your PC(USA) staff in Louisville provides excellent support for
missionaries and partner churches around the world. We in Colombia
are especially grateful to María Arroyo, the area coordinator
South America and the Caribbean. I’m sure you are aware
of the downsizing of national staff of the church in Louisville,
made public on May 1. The goal was to make the church more streamlined
and efficient, more responsive to the needs of local churches
and presbyteries—but now more work falls on those who remain.
I could not do my job here in Colombia without support from María
and her administrative assistant, Sonia Neves. The Presbyterian
Church of Colombia and the Reformed University of Colombia know
that they can call on María and Sonia and receive their
full attention and support—and this is a source of strength
for all of us here in Colombia. When you pray for Colombia this
Sunday remember to include María, Sonia, and other fine
men and women on the staff in Louisville as well.
Pray also for our PC(USA) moderator, Rick Ufford Chase, who made
a visit to Colombia one of the top priorities and helped to set
up the accompaniment program described in my
February newsletter.
And please pray for the next General Assembly of the PC(USA),
coming up soon in Birmingham, Alabama. The Rev. Milton Mejía,
mentioned above, will be there, and so will I, when GA holds a
special ceremony recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Presbyterian
Church of Colombia. Milton and I will also be at the breakfast
meeting of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowshp during GA. Perhaps
we will see you there?
This Sunday I hope you will also pray for those individuals whose
jobs had to be sacrificed in the May 1 downsizing of the national
staff. Seventy-seven people, many of whom had given long years
of faithful service to the church, suddenly found themselves unemployed.
A number of these were my good friends who had provided support
for my work and the work of the church in Colombia, and my heart
goes out to them. We understand why the downsizing was necessary,
but these men and women will be missed. One special case does
stand out. Award-winning journalist Alexa Smith of the Presbyterian
News Service has provided many insightful and moving news stories
about Colombia, the Middle East, and other parts of the world.
She has performed an incomparable service helping churches and
presbyteries in the United States understand the problems that
challenge our worldwide mission involvement and building support
for mission across the PC(USA). Colombians believe in Alexa and
trust her, and for that reason they open themselves up to her
as a representative of the PC(USA).
Thank you for your concern for Colombia and for the work of the
Presbyterian Church in this country. It means a great deal to
all of us here to be able to count on your prayers and support.
Blessings on you,
Alice Winters
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
48 |
