Colombia Task Force Update

Colombia Task Force December 2018 Report to Seattle Presbytery Executive Board

The Columbia Task Force will foster and oversee the covenant relationship between the Presbiterio de la Costa and the Seattle Presbytery. This partnership began in 2016.

Focus of the partnership:  Based on John 17:21, that they may all be one, and through the unique missions of our Presbyteries, we covenanted by the guidance of the Spirit to partner with one another in these areas:  

·       Ecclesial engagement through the sharing of liturgy, worship resources, biblical and theological reflections, pulpit exchanges and internships.

·       Educational engagement through partnership with Seattle Pacific University.

·       Diakonia engagement through a mutual vision of accompanying the stranger in our communities and presbyteries as we pursue together the work of advocacy, humanitarian relief, reconciliation and sustainable development.

Task Force members: Doug Early, Staci Imes, Eliana Maxim, Renée Notkin, Mark Zimmerly

2019 Seattle Presbytery Colombia Delegation:   Steph Boyer, Doug Early, Tali Hairston, Nancyrose Houston, Paul Kim, James Kumin, Aleco Maxim, Renée Notkin, Leigh Weber

This year our delegation, representing 7 of our Seattle Presbytery churches, as well as Seattle Pacific University and Soundview Camp, will spend time in Barranquilla and outlying communities during the week of February 4-11.  We will strengthen our relationship with our brothers and sisters of the Presbiterio de la Costa, through immersing ourselves into the community life of 7 churches and accompanying them in their ministry of Diakonia (accompaniment and advocacy work in their neighborhoods). Some of our focus will be with Venezuelan immigrants, displaced campesinos (farmers), and outreach to children and youth. We will divide our time between city and rural neighborhoods. We are especially excited to spend time with the pastors and elders of each community through bible study, conversation and prayer.  During our time, Nancyrose Houston will interview for possible summer staff at Soundview Camp for 2019 and Paul Kim will make preparations for the second year of the partnership between SPU’ s SPRINT program and Corporación Universitaria Reformada (Reformed University) of the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia (Presbyterian Church of Colombia) in Barranquilla.  In addition to the 2019 Delegation, Doug Early, Ben McConaughy and Renée Notkin will attend the Colombia Mission Network in Bogota, February 1-3, 2019.

We are grateful for your partnership in prayer as we prepare for our trip, spend time in Colombia in February and pray for the Spirit’s guidance as we grow in faith and love together as God’s people of hope and reconciliation.

With deep gratitude,

Renée Notkin on behalf of the Colombia Task Force