Virtual Ecumenical Presence in the upcoming Election in Venezuela
Seven representatives of U.S. Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean churches integrate an international ecumenical delegation to observe virtually the Legislative Elections of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, to be held on Sunday, December 6, 2020. Valdir Franca and Christine Neufeldt, Area Coordinators for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A and the United Church in Canada, joined efforts with Catherine Nichols and Angel Luis Rivera-Agosto, from Global Ministries, representing four U.S. and Canada denominations in the virtual observation. From Latin America and the Caribbean, Medardo Gómez from the Salvadorian Lutheran Synod, Carola Tron from the Evangelical Waldensian Church of River Plate, and Lorenzo Mota King from the Social Services of Dominican Churches also participate in the group as international observers. The initiative responds to the call made by The Evangelical Pentecostal Union of Venezuela, our Global Ministries’ Partner in the country, to accompany them in that process. SURES, a Venezuelan organization for the defense of Human Rights in the country, guides the delegation into a whole new method of being a witness for peace, justice, and reconciliation in Venezuela’s historical moment.
The group had the opportunity to receive an Informational and Training Meeting on the Venezuelan Election Process on December 1, 2020. The Reverend Gamaliel Lugo, UEPV’s General Bishop and Bishop Exeario Sosa Ocanto, and Dr. Lucrecia Hernández, Director of SURES, shared valuable information with the group regarding the electoral process and its tangency with Human Rights as well as the free self-determination of the Venezuelan people. The group also agreed to make a joint statement to share its observations of that electoral experience to share with their own churches and ecumenical organizations. Along with this article, I am also sharing two written materials that were part of that Training.
May God accompany our brothers and sisters in Venezuela through this upcoming electoral process.
Read further about the elections in Venezuela:
Legislative Elections in Venezuela: Its Process and Its Challenges
Democracy and Human Rights: Legislative Elections in Venezuela