WCC news: WCC deepens commitment to peacebuilding efforts in Colombia

Since the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee met in Bogotá in June 2024, the WCC has intensified its engagement in Colombia’s ongoing search for peace. As an official Permanent Accompanier in the dialogue between the Government of Colombia and the EMC-FARC (EMBF) guerrilla group, the WCC continues to play a vital role in supporting peaceful solutions to longstanding conflict. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC  11 December 2025 The leadership supporting this work has evolved in recent months. Dr Humberto Shikiya, who previously served as WCC special envoy and representative to the peace process, has concluded his term in this role and will continue to serve as senior advisor. The WCC welcomed Jenny Neme, as the new special envoy and representative, working alongside Dr Fernando Enns, who shares the role to ensure strong representation both internationally and within the WCC’s governing bodies. Despite major progress, Colombia’s peace process faces significant challenges, such as the congressional and presidential elections scheduled for next year. A recent decision by the UN Security Council has resulted in a substantially weakened mandate for the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, raising concerns about oversight and protection mechanisms in the implementation of peace-related agreements. Still, the WCC and its partners remain steadfast. Together with the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, DiPaz (Inter-Ecclesial Dialogue for Peace in Colombia), and the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission – with whom WCC collaborates through a peacebuilding consortium – the WCC continues to advocate for dialogue and nonviolence as core principles for Colombia’s future. “Even in challenging contexts, our commitment to accompany the Colombian people in their pursuit of peace remains unwavering,” said the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. “We will continue standing alongside our churches and partners to support and uphold dialogue as the path to justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace.” In addition to being part of the consortium, the WCC considers collaboration at various levels and in different areas with the Catholic Church, other religious communities, and civil society organizations involved in peacebuilding processes to be crucial. As a global ecumenical organization, WCC also acts strategically by collaborating with the international community, making a difference and adding value at the international and continental levels. WCC and the Colombia peace process “a true witness of international solidarity” (WCC interview, 4 July 2024) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland