An Invitation to North American Mennonites

PAN Y PAZ (Bread and Peace)

In times of increasing violence Colombian Mennonites are taking a public stand for peace. You are invited to join them.

The intensifying crisis

Colombia is in the midst of a four-decade-old civil war and economic crisis. President Uribe won recent elections by promising a hard line against the guerrilla groups, thus approving a state of siege that suspends important constitutional rights. To force insurgent groups to negotiate, military violence has increased. In turn, the guerrillas are stepping up civilian attacks and kidnappings. Both the government and the illegal armed groups are pressuring civilians to take sides and participate in the conflict.

Escalating the conflict is the U.S. Plan Colombia aid package. Its stated aim was to reduce coca production, but mostly it benefits the military: to date, $2 billion U.S. in training, intelligence systems, and military hardware, including helicopters, guns, and spare parts. As of this summer, the U.S. government is allowing all counter-drug assistance provided in the past to be used to fight illegal armed groups.

Mennonites testify to God's way of nonviolence

In the midst of great injustice and violence the Mennonite Church in Colombia boldly lives out a faith of love and nonviolence. This 50-year-old body - including some 18 churches - refuses to accept the armed path as a way out of Colombia's crisis. Rather, the church is committed to caring for victims of violence and working toward a real peace-one with social justice.

For their stance they face real and immediate danger. More than 20 Christian leaders have been killed this year and armed groups are forcing churches to close. This summer, Gabriel Montes, a volunteer with Justapaz, the Mennonite peace organization, was killed.

As the conflict intensifies, Colombian Mennonites have felt called make a public declaration of faith, a witness to their government, armed groups, and other citizens.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002-the UN International Day of Peace and Nonviolence-the church will declare: "We will not fight. We will not side with any of the armed groups. Neither, however, will we stop caring for the victims or seeking a nonviolent alternative to war through confronting the death-dealing powers and dialoguing with those responsible for the bloodshed."

A fast for peace and life

On Sept. 15, 2002 the Colombian Mennonite Church will publish a declaration of faith and peace (see below) in Colombia's three most widely read newspapers (covering the whole country). It will invite participation in a Fast for Peace and Life, including a public event at Bogota's largest public plaza to break the fast with a shared meal: a reminder that food and peace go together. When material goods are shared, not only is there enough to go around, but it is also God's way of making justice and peace.

The church will place reminder announcements in the newspapers and on the radio during the days leading up the event.