The World Council of Churches (WCC), in letters to Colombian president Gustavo Petro and to Colombian peace commissioner Danilo Rueda, expressed the WCC’s support and solidarity for peace-building in Colombia—and confirmed the WCC’s representation in the dialogue process between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) in response to an earlier invitation.
WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, in a letter to Petro, welcomed the commitment of the Colombian president to resume negotiations with the ELN.
“I take this opportunity to assure you of the WCC’s continuing and renewed commitment and solidarity, and of our support and accompaniment of the search for peace in Colombia,” reads the letter. “May God grant you wisdom and strength for the heavy responsibilities of leadership at this pivotal moment in Colombia’s history.”
In a letter to the leadership of the Roundtable of Dialogue between the Colombian Government and the ELN, WCC director for international affairs Peter Prove recalled that the WCC has over many years joined the people and churches of Colombia in their efforts for peace founded on justice.
“I hereby confirm that the WCC would be honoured to be represented on the Roundtable of Dialogue between the National Government of Colombia and the ELN, in order to offer our experience in peacebuilding efforts over the 74 years of WCC’s history,” reads the letter. “With all our member churches and partners around the world, we pray and hope that each step towards peace will create an environment in which the longstanding injustices and grievances which have fed the conflict in Colombia can be addressed peacefully and resolved sustainably.”