About fifty religious leaders, members of the recently installed IRI-Bogotá, participated last August 26 in a new training process of the Interreligious Initiative for Tropical Forests, IRI-Colombia.
Gathered at the Radisson Metrotel Hotel in the capital city, bishops, pastors, priests, missionary sisters and representatives of churches and confessional organizations had the opportunity to learn about the content and the work of IRI-Colombia.
had the opportunity to learn about the content and structure of the booklet “Environmental Bible Lessons”, a pedagogical document prepared by IRI-Colombia, with the objective of encouraging action in favor of the protection of the Amazon rainforests, based on the spiritual foundations inscribed in the biblical-theological faith.
“That is, to act in correspondence with that foundational mandate of respect and love for life and creation, and to recognize ourselves as part of it, as its caretakers and not its owners,” said Reverend Loida Sardiñas, presbyter of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Colombia and professor at the Javeriana University, in charge of presenting the pedagogical document.
In addition, the religious leaders participated in a practical workshop, which led to a reflection on the sectors and groups of society that should take part in the actions for the care of the planet, including indigenous, peasant and Afro-descendant communities, women, youth and children, religious and community leaders, urban communities, the government and the private sector.
During the exercise, led by educator and pedagogue Nigna Camargo, the members of IRI-Bogotá formulated strategies to establish a dialogue with these audiences and make visible the need to assume the moral and spiritual responsibility of caring for the planet, supported by the booklet “Environmental Bible Lessons”.
Finally, in a conference given by Diego Fernando Campos, biologist and Ph.D. in Ecology and Sustainable Development and professor at the Universidad Javeriana, the participants learned about the physical and ecological conditions and mechanisms that make possible the Amazonian flying rivers, which transport almost 30% of the water that feeds the moorlands of the Andean region.
The day was attended by about thirty churches and denominational organizations such as the Anglican Episcopal Church of Colombia, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox Catholic Church of Antioch, Central Baptist, Presbyterian; ACT Swedish Church, the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL), the Interreligious Council of Colombia (CIC), the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network, the World Council of Churches, Pastoral Social Caritas Colombiana, ACT Alliance, Religions for Peace, World Vision, Brahma Kumaris, the Interchurch Dialogue for Peace (DIPAZ), ACT Alliance and Fello, among others.
Reverend Loida Sardiñas during the presentation of the primer "Environmental Bible Lessons".
