Colombian Methodist Church speaks out in the midst of Civil Unrest

“We note with deep concern the dangerous and degrading situation of the socio-economic crisis, aggravated by Covid-19 and impacting the most vulnerable and the poorest among the people of our dear homeland.

We wish to make the following pastoral and prophetic statement:

“…if these were silent, the stones would shout out (Luke 19: 39-40 NRSV)”. Therefore, we want to testify the following with great incredulity and painful acknowledgment for our neighbours and ourselves:

We declare that the economic measures announced by the government, which according to experts, deepen inequality and injustice (in reference to the tax, labour and health reforms), persist in maintaining inequity, impoverishment and ignorance of the reality that we experience in our country every day . These measures favour the wealthy to the detriment of the middle and working classes. “

These are the words of the Colombian Methodist Church against the recent, unpopular tax, labour and health reforms that the vast majority of Colombians felt would plunge the country further into poverty and inequality. Large-scale protests against these reforms have been taking place in Colombia since the end of April. Colombians settled in other countries have also been organising protests in their country of residence.

While the government has now rescinded the tax reforms, promising to go back to the drawing board and work with social groups to develop new proposals, the protests have continued. Colombians are also protesting about the many other challenges facing the country. Some of these include the largely failed Peace Treaty, signed in 2016 with the world’s oldest guerrilla group (The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-FARC), ongoing insecurity and violence, the internal displacement of over 7 million Colombians and the impoverishment of many already vulnerable communities because of the pandemic. There are also hundreds of social activists that continue to be threatened and killed each year because of their work in fighting for their communities’ rights. Furthermore, the police have been heavily criticised and their actions condemned by many Colombians who have seen them use excessive force against protestors, even using even use live rounds during some protests that has led to the death of over 30 protestors. However, Colombians continue to denounce these challenges through largely peaceful protests.

The Colombia Methodist Church finished their statement with a call to all parties to:

“hold a dialogue  between equals- between the national government and the variety of groups that are  driving the protests. We insist on prudence and wisdom for all parties concerned and request that the use of violent force desist.  May arrogance, intervention by financial, ideological and foreign political powers be abandoned in all humility. This is about holding a genuine dialogue among fellow inhabitants, between civil servants and the entire population in a framework of legitimate protest. This would be the wise attitude that would lead us to reconciliation, unity, justice and finally, peace. “Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice…How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers…hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:20-22 NRSV)”.

Read the full statement in Spanish, from the Colombian Methodist Church here.

Let us pray for Colombia:

Dear Lord, we thank you for the largely peaceful protests taking place in Colombia, where your people are crying out for justice, unity and peace.

We join our brothers and sisters in Colombia as they cry out for their leaders to have an open, honest dialogue with their communities and social groups.

We pray that you fill the hearts of every political, financial, social and community leader in Colombia with a desire to seek equality and opportunities for all communities.

We pray that you protect all those protesting and that every protest would be undergirded by peace and a desire for unity among all people in Colombia.

We pray for the many different communities that the Colombian Methodist Church works with and pray that ongoing conversations between social leaders and the government will bring lasting, positive change to their lives.

We speak your peace, hope and love over all of Colombia and thank you that you hold its people in the palm of your hand.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.