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Email to FriendColombia diocese's care for neediest affirmed by Presiding Bishop
"It is our ministry to take the Church out of the sacristy and into the local communities," Colombia's Bishop Francisco Duque-Gomez said during a clergy gathering with the Presiding Bishop.
Lay leaders also joined in thanking Jefferts Schori for her solidarity in their outreach initiatives, which assist "significant numbers of children and 'tercera edad' [older adults] in providing nutrition they would otherwise do without," the Presiding Bishop said.
Duque, a trial attorney and specialist in social sciences, and his wife, Blanca Echeverry, also a professional advocate for human services, welcomed Jefferts Schori and her husband Richard Schori, a retired mathematician, to Bogota.
Also joining with the Presiding Bishop in mission dialogue were the Rev. Juan Marquez, partnership officer for Latin America and the Caribbean; the Rev. Canon Brian Grieves, Director of Peace and Justice Ministries; and David Copley, mission personnel officer, all based at the Episcopal Church Center in New York.
The delegation visited pastoral ministries and missions in which the diocese and its 21 congregations are working to eradicate poverty and hunger, promote basic education and the dignity of women, reduce infant mortality and improve maternal health, improve sustainability and other programs, both in the capital and in other areas vulnerable to displacement, poverty, violence, and violation of human rights.
Visits with Colombian ecumenical and interfaith leaders, and the President Álvaro Uribe Vélez of the Republic of Columbia, further underscored the importance of partnerships serving people in need.
Jefferts Schori and Uribe Vélez discussed the Colombia-USA Free Trade Agreement and the government's programs addressing poverty and violence.
Present at the Catholic conference center were leaders from the Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Mennonite Churches and a Muslim Imam, who were welcomed to the conference center by Monseñor Fabián Marulanda
"Do you advocate -- together -- with the government to promote a justice agenda?" Jefferts Schori asked the group. "So much of humanity is suffering. You all have a dream for a better world and you will be in my prayers, you and the people of this country."
Jefferts Schori presided at a Eucharist along with Duque and other clergy and laity of the diocese. She preached a message of hope to the clergy and the community who work for the welfare of those less fortunate, and invited them to work for unity and diversity even in the midst of conflict in the country.
The Presiding Bishop was presented with a certificate of appreciation for her historic visit.
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