May 17, 2005
by Alexa Smith

CHICAGO – Five more Presbyterians have been commissioned by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Colombia Network to accompany Colombian church, union and displaced leaders who are threatened by death squads for their work in human rights.

At its May 9-11 meeting here the network set eight different goals for its work, some intended to directly assist churches in Colombia, others targeting U.S. corporations for study about reported abusive labor practices.

Continuing accompaniment – and stepped-up recruitment – were high on the agenda, as well as debate about how to address labor practices in Coca-Cola's bottling facilities in Colombia, where some union organizers reportedly have been intimidated or killed.

Sixteen U.S. Christians have completed accompaniment training so far, and a third training program is planned in Washington, DC, in mid-July.

Scheduled to go to Colombia are Jane Moore and Marilyn White, both members of the Community Church of the Servant-Savior in Houston, TX; Cat Garlit Bucher of Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church in Sherman, TX; Phil Gates of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Prescott, AZ; and Gert Walsh of First Presbyterian Church in Sheboygan, WI.

Ordained members of the network laid hands on the commissioned accompaniers during a short worship service at the end of the meeting. Also present for the service were the Rev. Milton Mejia, executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, and the Rev. Alice Winter, a Presbyterian Church (USA) missionary who teaches at the Protestant seminary in Barranquilla.

The accompaniers go to Colombia in teams of two for month-long stints with the PCC, which is headquartered in Barranquilla, a port city on the northern coast. The church deploys the teams as needed, with union officials, displaced communities and churches under threat.

The accompaniers serve as international eyewitnesses and file reports with the church that are forwarded to human rights organizations.

The program has been under way since December 2004, coordinated by the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF), a pacifist group within the denomination that has long backed accompaniment as a strategy to deter violence.

"In the first instance, these threats are not personal," the Rev. Dick Junkin, a former accompanier from Hunt, TX, said during a panel discussion. "The real threat is to a better world ... and to those who are doing the work to make the world better. The real threat is to what we perceive as the kingdom of God. ... And (the opposition) is doing anything it can to keep that kingdom from coming into existence."

The PCC's Barranquilla office has been under constant government surveillance. The life of its executive secretary, the Rev. Milton Mejia, has been repeatedly threatened, as well as those of his wife and two young sons.

Mauricio Avilez, a 25-year-old law student and church volunteer, was jailed for more than four months after a paid informant accused him of involvement with guerrillas. He is still living in hiding even though the charges have been dismissed.

A pastor, the Rev. Jesus Goez, is living with threats as well. He was forced to leave his Cartagena parish to protect the lives of his family after unidentified men beat up his 15-year-old son and promised that Goez' coffin is ready and waiting.

Another volunteer, Guillermo Larios, is in jail now on similar charges, but Mejia told the Presbyterian News Service that the PCC is anticipating that those charges also will be dropped.

PPF is seeking volunteers for its third training session, and will continue placing accompaniers until the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Worldwide Ministries Division (WMD) completes its search for a full-time accompanier to live in Barranquilla and coordinate delegations of U.S. Presbyterians in Colombia.

Both Anne Barstow (annebarstow@peoplepc.com), who is handling PPF's recruitment efforts, and Junkin, who led PC(USA) delegations in Central America in the 1980s, said delegations are essential to reducing the fear of U.S. citizens traveling to Colombia. Junkin said delegations to Central America gave U.S. Presbyterian a history with the region – and when accompaniers were needed in the 1980s, the church was flooded with volunteers.

"Trying to build a base of concern takes years," said Barstow, noting that she has been trying to do two things at once – educate and recruit. "We've got to figure out a better strategy," she said. "We run into a stone wall with fear, and, I understand that.

"However, the accompaniers who come back don't feel that what they've done is irresponsible at all, but very reasonable. The question is: How to get through that barrier?"

Among its other goals, the Colombia Network cited:

• 1. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Colombian church next year with delegations and other activities.

• 2. Urge U.S. Congressional representatives to help the Reformed University get accreditation from the Colombian government.

• 3. Raise funds to help boost ministries of the Colombian church, particularly for the university and for work with the displaced.

• 4. Continue recruiting accompaniers.

• 5. Evaluate the existing accompaniment program and look toward its expansion in even more remote presbyteries.

• 6. Organize within presbyteries and congregations to advocate changes in U.S. policies concerning Colombia – most notably its ongoing support of the Colombian military, despite its spotty human-rights record – and to help the Colombian church, making it a prayer priority.

• 7. Explore how WMD and the network can work together.

• 8. Work with the denomination's investment watchdog, the Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI), which is monitoring the harassment and deaths of union organizers in Coca-Cola's bottling plants in Colombia. MRTI also has raised questions during Coca-Cola shareholders' meetings.

Moore, a former Presbyterian missionary in Cameroon, told the networkers that she'd like the PC(USA) to launch a full-blown boycott of Coca-Cola, based on labor practices at its bottling factories. "I don't see why we can't boycott," she said.

That question was set aside after Lois Baker of Monroe, WI, said the network needs to wait on MRTI's recommendations. "Starting a boycott may not be the smartest way to go," she said. "They may not sit down and negotiate then."

WMD has established 21 networks in recent years for presbyteries, congregations and individuals engaged in mission activity abroad. This is the second gathering of the Colombia network. About 50 Presbyterians took part – about twice as many as last year.

Presbyterian News Service