The
Indiana-Kentucky Synod has been in relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Chile (IELCH) for several years. IELCH is the governing church body
in Chile that is part of the Lutheran World Federation. The
IELCH currently has about 3,000 members, cared for by twelve pastors. Congregations
are located in the central part of Chile in the areas of Santiago and Concepción
and in the southern part of the country at Punta Arenas. Pastora
Presidente Gloria Rojas is the head of the Lutheran Church in Chile.
Nearly
15.4 million people live in Chile. Spanish is the official language. Ethnically,
Chileans are mostly white and white-Amerindian (95%) with Amerindians (3%) and
various other minorities. Chilean
religious practices are overwhelmingly Roman Catholic (89%) with some Protestant
(11%) and Jewish groups as well. The
Land: Chile
is located along the west coast of southern South America. It covers an area almost
twice the size of Montana. The climate is temperate with a desert in the North
and cool, damp conditions in the South. The terrain is mostly low coastal mountains
with a fertile central valley and rugged Andes Mountains in the East. Natural
resources include copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals and molybdenum.
The
IELCH is engaged in solidarity work and considers itself called to minister among
society's poor and oppressed. The IELCH continues to be very active in the
defense of human rights and serving the basic needs of people who are the "residual"
product of the present economic system. These ministries are carried out mainly
through the participation in FASIC (for human rights) and the Oficina de Diaconia
and the work done by EPES. The
mission of Education Popular de Salud (EPES) is to promote health education,
which is based on the participation of people in local communities. It understands
that health is not a privilege, but a right which people have. It uses methods
that are open, engaging ordinary people so that they claim their own rights and
work cooperatively for their own good and the good of the community. EPES
has trained Health Promoters who have become community developers.
Health is not understood only from a medical or clinical perspective, but in the
context of social, political and economic conditions. Health promoters have been
very active in the movement for justice for landless people who form the many
"poblaciones" (Shanty Towns) in the city of Santiago. Most of the health
promoters are women, and the program has empowered them to take control of their
own lives, often including becoming better educated. Another
outreach program of the IELCH is in the community of San Bernardino. A center
provides before school and after school educational programs and a nutritional
program for poor children in the community. The program has been supported by
Bread for the World and other sponsors.
Connections:
· Synod delegation trip to Chile in 2001.
· I-K welcomed Pastora
Gloria at the synod assembly in 2002.
· I-K provided 1,000 Spanish
language hymnals in 2002
· Funds to purchase 500 Bibles were sent in
2003.
Concerns:
Air pollution and water pollution (from raw sewage) are
the nation's largest environmental concerns.
Unemployment
(at 9%, 2000 est.) remains a stubborn economic problem. Congregations
of the IELCH are in an environment of poverty What
can we do in our companion relationship?
· Pray regularly for our
partners
· Learn about the culture
· Support mission work,
especially women's projects.
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