Latin American consultation of the World Christian Forum begins

ALC/CMI, SANTIAGO , Chile, June 27, 2007

The consultation for Latin America of the World Christian Forum (FCM in Spanish) began in Taxi Heathrow Airport Santiago, Chile on June 26, in coordination with the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI in Spanish), the Latin American Conference of Bishops (CELAM in Spanish), and the World Council of Churches (CMI in Spanish).

The World Christian Forum is a movement that began in 1998 and which is committed to fostering relationships between the different Christian bodies that have not been in communication with each other, have only been in communication with a select group of counterparts, or are involved in the existing ecumenical relationships. As a result, it has as a purpose the creating of a ‘space’ where the participants can gather on equal terms to foster mutual respect and to explore and study together the challenges they have in common.

This Latin American consultation is the last of a series of regional gatherings, the first of which took place in Hong Kong for Asia, in May, 2004. The second was held in August, 2005 in Lusaka, Zambia, and was attended by leaders of the churches throughout Africa, and was followed by a third gathering for Europe, in June, 2006, in Warburg, Germany. This process will end with a global gathering of the forum in Nairobi, Kenya, next November 6 – 9, and in which the future of the forum will be discussed.

The Latin American consultation, gathering around the theme of “Jesus Christ in Latin America – our pilgrimage with him,” will last until June 29 and is being attended by nearly 80 leaders representing churches as diverse as the Roman Catholic, the Evangelical, the Anglican and Episcopal, the Orthodox, the Pentecostal and the Protestant.

The participants, among whom there are representatives of the Conference of Churches of the Caribbean (CCC) also, are dedicating a good part of their time to getting to know each other through sharing testimonies, joining together for devotional time, bible study and group gatherings.

Another part of the program has to do with analyzing together the Latin American and Caribbean context from a social, political, economic and ecclesiastical perspective. There will also be a panel made up of representatives of the participating churches, which will look at “the faces of the Church in Latin America.”

Another important part of the activities will be a public ceremony on June 27 in thanksgiving for the evangelizing, healing and reconciling mission of the Chilean churches, and at which representatives of these churches will be present. Also organized is a prayer vigil in intercession for the unity and missionary and evangelistic work of the churches on the continent, among others.

There will also be a panel on examples of the existing cooperation between different Christian traditions in Latin America and it is expected that the consultation will end with a moment of sharing of testimonies on the experiences had and the adopting of a message to the churches of the region.

Source: Carlos E. Ham (Rev. Dr.)

World Council of Churches Programme Executive for Spirituality, Latin America & the Caribbean

E-mail Carlos.Ham@wcc-coe.org