Newsletters

Date: August 6th 2008

"NOT MY AGENDA"
by Accompaniers Judy Sheppard Bierbaum and Beth Beall

Being an accompanier is about letting go of one's own agenda. It's about letting go of what we think this experience should look like and be like. Being an accompanier is about opening ourselves to the Spirit, who takes us deeper into the mystery of being loved and of loving our sisters and brothers. Below are our initial reflections on "Not My Agenda" (NMA).

N is for "Not Accepting the Status Quo."
El Colegio Americano is a very reputable Presbyterian school in Barranquilla. The school has been in existence since 1889, and serves children and youth ages preschool through 12th grade. Grounded in the Reformed theological tradition, the school seeks to help students discern and live into God's call upon their lives. We met with the principal, who said, "The young people who graduate from this renowned school will go on to be successful in their careers. Yet at the same time, we want them to be people who question the status quo, people who question the rules. Learning to question such things is part of their education here." We give thanks for this school, as it seeks to follow Jesus, who questioned the status quo and who was willing to break any rules that kept people from experiencing God's love.

M is for "Mike."
We met a 21-year old U.S. college student named Mike who was visiting Barranquilla with his professor (a native of Barranquilla who now teaches in the U.S.). We sat at table for several hours with Mike, his professor, and two leaders from the Presbyterian Church here, discussing (in Spanish!) theology and politics and everything in between. Mike shared that, previous to this trip, he was very much asleep to the issues of Colombia and the role of the United States in those issues. He shared that he is seeing himself and the world and God and… so much… anew. To be with Mike was to be with someone who is experiencing conversion. To be in the presence of conversion, to be in the presence of the Spirit transforming someone, to be in the presence of God as God works with that person's humble "yes": to be in such a presence is itself profoundly transformative and hopeful.

A is for "Actions for Peace."
We worshiped on Sunday with the Presbyterian congregation in Pital, a small and beautifully verdant town outside of Barranquilla. The sermon, delivered by a deacon, focused on how we respond to conflict: conflict in the world at large, conflict in Colombia, conflict in our homes and families, conflict within our own hearts. Judy is a psychotherapist who works in the areas of trauma and non-violent conflict resolution. At the invitation of the pastor, we will return to Pital in the near future so that Judy can facilitate a workshop at the church with congregants and other community members. The workshop will help all of us to explore more deeply the practice of non-violent conflict resolution. We give thanks for God's people in Pital, as they seek to build a culture of peace.

"You are here to be present, you are here to listen, to learn what is going on in the churches and in the country. Because you are here, we know that we are not alone. Because you are here, we know that there are many people who want life to be better for us" (Presbytery staff person, describing the goal of the accompaniment program).