The Rt Revd Francisco Duque is chairing the Colombian national reference group for the ecumenical accompaniment programme that provides a physical presence of peacekeepers to support communities caught up in the conflict.
The programme, known as PEAC, is an international ecumenical initiative which is being promoted by the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) in response to the request of communities affected by the conflict in Colombia. Communities have been caught in the middle of intense confrontations between illegal organisations and government forces over many years. This conflict has been fuelled by the illegal production and commercialisation of narcotics and the continuing inability of the state to protect its citizens.
Which is the structure of the programme?
The Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Colombia, the Rt Revd Francisco Duque chairs the national reference group which includes representatives from:
– CLAI-Colombia Roundtable
– The ACT-Colombia Forum
– The Inter-Ecclesiastical Justice and Peace Commission
– Representative of communities
There is also an international coordinator, Rev. Chris Ferguson, from the United Church of Canada and an international reference group formed by:
– Global organisations: World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance, World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
– Regional organisations: CLAI, the Regional Ecumenical Advisory and Service Centre (CREAS)
– Sister organisations: KAIROS Canada, Church World Service.
How can you support and participate in PEAC?
Churches, ecumenical organisations, co-operant agencies and all persons committed to the defense of human rights, to justice and to the pursuit of peace in Colombia can support and participate in the PEAC in the following ways:
– As international ecumenical accompaniers, serving in teams which will be present in the communities for three-month periods.
– By starting national committees in their own countries which will assist in the recruitment and training of accompaniers, as well as with advocacy related to the communities in Colombia.
– By contributing financially to support the presence of the accompaniers in the communities and to support the coordination of the whole EAPC project.
For more information contact Rev. Chris Ferguson at: cferguso@united-church.ca