During CESE’s most recent General Assembly, Anita Sue Wright Torres, a Presbyter from the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil: IPU) was voted in as the organization’s President for the 2024-2027 period. Anita is the youngest daughter of Rev. Jaime Wright and Alma Cole Wright, a missionary couple from the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. An exponent of the ecumenical movement in Brazil, Jaime was a great fighter against the military dictatorship (1964-85) and one of CESE’s founders.
Anita has followed her parents’ work, both as a missionary and in the defense of human rights, particularly following the arrest, torture and murder of Paulo Stuart Wright, her father’s younger brother, in September 1973 – one of more than a hundred people who were politically “disappeared” during the military dictatorship.
In 1988, the Rev. Jaime became the general secretary of the United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPU) and the family moved to Vitória (Espírito Santo). Thus began Anita’s career at the IPU, where she worked as a deaconess and is currently an elder, as well as a retired teacher. Her ecumenical practice includes involvement in the National Council of Christian Churches (Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil: CONIC), in both Espírito Santo and at national level, as well as at CESE itself, sometimes representing the IPU and sometimes CONIC.
Below are some of our new President’s views on issues such as human rights and the role of faith-based organizations in promoting them.
What is your assessment of CESE’s work in the defense of human rights?
CESE was established in 1973, in the midst of the military dictatorship; the defense of human rights has always been one of its main agendas, and is its principal hallmark, one kept alive over fifty years of excellent work.
How important is it for church organizations to adopt a human rights agenda?
Both CESE and CONIC are church organizations, whose agendas include the defense of human rights, an issue which the churches alone are often unable to handle and do not prioritize. I believe that the churches should follow the Gospel of liberation and base their actions on the example of our Master, Jesus Christ, who defended the poor, the oppressed, women, children and people denied their rights.
How do you see the current action of fundamentalist and ultra-conservative groups within the churches?
The current strengthening of fundamentalist and ultraconservative groups in the churches is sad and of great concern, and has even led to the creation of an “Evangelical Caucus” to defend their agendas at national level – this gives the impression that they represent all evangelicals, which is not true. The churches that constitute CESE are an example of this. First and foremost, we are Christians.
How can we reverse this and further connect the churches to the fight for social justice?
The great gap is a lack of staff training in our churches, especially for young people, about rights and relevant issues, such as racism, gender and the environment.
CESE was founded in 1973 by Christian churches to confront the military dictatorship; your father, Jaime Wright, was one of its founders. What does this mean to you and your mission as CESE’s President?
Entering the CESE house and seeing the plaque about the 1973 founders containing Jaime Wright’s name, demonstrates the importance of his participation in CESE’s journey. And leaving this same building as President makes me feel that the planted seed has germinated. This mission is not mine alone. It belongs to the entire Board. It belongs to all the people who work at CESE. Committed people in well-chosen partnerships to carry out significant work and fulfil our important mission.