Colombia

"We know that one of the strongest tools that Christians have is prayer. But prayer must be accompanied by action. The people must lead their government to sow justice and harvest peace."   - Ricardo Esquivia, Director of Sowing Peace, May 2007

Background: Colombia is a beautiful country, rich in culture, natural resources, bio-diversity and history. It is also a country devastated by a 40- year internal war which claims an average of 3,000 lives a year. Colombia faces the worst humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere and has the second largest population of internally displaced persons in the world, surpassed only by Sudan. North American policy has had a role to play in exacerbating the conflict, through silent complicity or overt military support. The interests of North America in the Andean country are diverse and complex, as is the background and history to the armed conflict. In heeding the call of our sisters and brothers to the South, we are invited to witness in our communities and to our governments on the policies that affect the global Body of Christ every day.

USA: Since 2000 the United States has provided nearly 5 billion dollars to the Colombian government ostensibly in support of the wars on drugs and terror.  Over 80% of this has been in military assistance—military hardware, helicopters, fumigations support, military training.  Church leaders in Colombia call this “fuel for the fire” of Colombia’s protracted armed conflict.  Since 1985, an estimated 3.6 million Colombians have been deliberately and violently forced from their homes.  Churches, leaders, and peace communities are often caught in the crossfire of warring groups.  

In the summer of 2001, in Nashville, at the request of the Colombian Mennonite Church, Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church delegates passed a resolution asking our government to halt military aid to Colombia and to provide more social and humanitarian aid instead.

"Colombia is living a particularly tense moment in history currently and although main stream media is telling the story of a Colombia with an improved security situation, a strong economy and in a time of post-conflict, we are seeing the opposite."

Here are resources to encourage your congregation to continue acting in support of your Colombian brothers and sisters.

October 2008: Handout: Support the Colombian Mennonite Church (55k PDF)

MCC: What you can do: Learn, share, pray witness

  Video: Colombian churches call for peace

Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia On May 20 and 21, 2007 thousands of churches and people of faith from the United States and Colombia are coming together to call for an end to the violence in Colombia. Mennonite Church USA encourages you and your congregation to take part. Read More... 2008 update 2006 event Mennonite Church USA Resolution and Resources    Nashville 2001 Columbia Resolution    Congregational Follow-up (120k PDF)    Bulletin Insert (44k PDF)    Sanctuaries of Peace Brochure e-mail for information about the "Sister sanctuary churches" program justapaz@colnodo.apc.org    Prayer for Colombia (69k PDF) Prayer for Colombia during the accelerated time of violence and state of emergency following the inauguration of President Uribe on August 7, 2002.

Pan y Paz 2003 North American Mennonites raised more money for this project than anyone even dared HOPE for last year--making this year's activities possible. In 2003, the Colombian Mennonite Church continues public invitations to nonviolence. Read More... 2008 update Other links Mennonite Agencies    Christian Peacemaker Teams Colombia    Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office    Colombia Free Trade: Whose Security?    A Prophetic Call: Colombian Churches Document Their Suffering and Their Hope Non-Mennonite Agencies    Center for International Policy    Latin America Working Group Colombia Update    Washington Office on Latin America    Witness for Peace Stories    COLOMBIA: Geography on your kitchen table by Matt Schaaf Fair Trade Coffee    Just Coffee: Caffeine with a Conscience    Sojourners