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Latin American Council of Churches – CLAI Brasil – meets at the national headquarters of the Methodist church for election of new board of directors
08 de August de 2018The National Headquarters of the Methodist Church, in São Paulo (SP), received, on August 3rd, the meeting of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI). The meeting was attended by representatives of churches and member organizations of the Council to discuss, among other topics, the election of the new board of the organization. The Methodist Church was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Episcopal College, Pastor Giselma de Souza Almeida Matos, and Honorary Bishop Stanley da Silva Moraes. Methodist Bishop Paulo Ayres was also present at the meeting, but representing the Ecumenical Presence and Service – KOINONIA and the Ecumenical Institute of Post-Graduation in Sciences of Religion IEPG-UMESP.
The meeting was also attended by Sonia Mota, the Ecumenical Coordination of Service (CESE), Pastor Joel Zeferino and Josileide José dos Santos, from Brazilian Baptist Alliance (ABB), Presbyter Anita Sue Wright Torres from the United Presbyterian Church (IPU), and Rev. Lúcia Dal Pont Sirtoli from the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (IEAB), who also represented the Center for Biblical Studies (CEBI).
The National Council of Churches (CONIC) was represented by Rev. Márcio, from the Evangelical Lutheran Confession Church in Brazil (IECLB). The group was attended by Rev. Luiz Carlos Ramos, representing the Brazilian Ecumenical Center for Pastoral Experiences (CEBEP) and José Carlos Dionízio, from the Community Education and Training Program (PROFEC). The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ecumenical Center for Evangelization and Popular Education (CESEEP) and guests who work with CLAI.
SEE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US
CESE was set up during the most violent year of the Military Dictatorship, when torture had been institutionalized, when arbitrary imprisonment, killings and the disappearance of political prisoners had intensified. The churches had the courage to come together and create an institution that could be a living witness of the Christian faith in the service of the Brazilian people. I’m so happy that CESE has reached its 50th anniversary, improving as it matures.
You have to praise CESE’s capacity to find answers so as to extend support to projects from traditional peoples and communities, from family farming, from women; its recognition of the multiple meanings of the right to land, to water and to territory; the importance of citizenship and democracy, including environmental racism and the right to identity in diversity in its discussion agenda, and its support for the struggles and assertion of the values of solidarity and difference.
I am a macumba devotee, but I love being with partners whose thinking is different from ours and who respect our form of organization. CESE is one such partner: it helps to build bridges, which are so necessary to ensure that freedom, diversity, respect and solidarity can flow. These 50 years have involved a lot of struggles and the construction of a new world.
When we hear talk of the struggles of the peoples of the waters, of the forests, of the semi-arid region, of the city peripheries and of the most varied organizations, we see and hear that CESE is there, at their side, without replacing the subjects of the struggle. Supporting, creating the conditions so that they can follow their own path. It is this spirit that we, at ASA, want you to maintain. We wish you long life in this work to support transformation.
Over these 50 years, we have received the gift of CESE’s presence in our communities. We are witness to how much companionship and solidarity it has invested in our territories. And this has been essential for us to carry on the struggle and defence of our people.
In the name of historical and structural racism, many people look at us, black women, and think that we aren’t competent, intelligent, committed or have no identity. Our experience with CESE is different. We are a diverse group of black women. We are in varied places and have varied stories! It’s important to know this and to believe in us. Thank you CESE, for believing in us. For seeing our plurality and investing in us.