Kobia Concludes Latin America Visit in Chile
The Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia completed his 20-day visit to Latin America with a message to strengthen the ecumenical movement in the region with Pentecostal involvement.
"Through a new openness to ecumenism, the dynamism and energy of Pentecostalism can significantly enrich the search for unity among Christian churches," said Kobia after meeting with a group of bishops and pastors representing Chilean Pentecostal churches.
Meanwhile, Kobia took note of the division that continues to remain within the Chilean church.
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"We are a diverse church but one that seeks reconciliation under the illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit," said one of the meeting participants.
Participants to the meeting with Kobia included representatives form the Pentecostal Church of Chile, the Pentecostal Mission Church, the Free Pentecostal Mission Church of Chile - three WCC member churches. Other participants included representatives from the Methodist Pentecostal Church, the Communion of Brothers, the Universal Apostolic Mission, the Ebenezer Pentecostal Church and Filadelfia, the House of Youth.
In addition to emphasizing ecumenism in diversity, Kobia and other participants took note of the economic inequality that continues to pervade throughout the Chilean community.
"Few crumbs fall from the table of the lords," said one of the participants.
"They want to show us that everything is fine in Chile, but those of us who work in the poor neighborhoods know it isn't so," said Rev. Gloria Rojas, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile.
The WCC general secretary concluded his Chile meeting by visiting the Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago Msgr. Sergio Abad, of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. The two men discussed issues such as Christian emigration from Palestine and the status of Jerusalem.
