Genesis
The Salvadoran Liaison Committee of Emmanuel United Church is descended from the former Emmanuel El Salvador Associates Committee, formed in 1987 to sponsor two Salvadoran refugee families who had to flee El Salvador's Civil War.
Objectives
The Salvadoran Liaison Committee contributes to the mission and work of Emmanuel United Church in the following four areas:
- including the Salvadoran community associated with Emmanuel United Church in the life of the church;
- deepening our 20-year spiritual partnership with Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel of San Salvador;
- reporting regularly and providing learning activities about the situation in El Salvador; and
- advocating within Canada for systemic change in the economic, social and political situations in El Salvador.
Recent Accomplishments
December 2008 Emmanuel United Church Council approved draft Covenant Agreement/Acuerdo del Convenio with IBE
March 2008 Three members of the Committee travelled with Emmanuel's 17-member Christian Development Mission Trip delegation that completed the building of 10 houses in Alégria, Usulatan
February 2008 Received Congregational authority for 2008 Mission Trip participants to sign Covenant Agreement/Acuerdo del Convenio with IBE
November 2007 Screening of movie Romero, which depicts the conflicts that led to the civil war in El Salvador 1979-1992 and the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero
July 2007 Co-sponsored the Global Partnership visit of Pastor Miguel Tómas Castro from Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel, El Salvador
Priorities for 2008
The Salvadoran Liaison Committee will focus its efforts on the following priorities:
- Election monitors: to take part in the national election in El Salvador in March 2009. Members of Emmanuel United Church interested in participating will be invited to information sessions in early fall 2008.
- Housing ministry: continuation of Emmanuel United's participation in the build in Alegria for the very impoverished, including extending invitations to other United church congregations to contribute and participate.
- Education: focusing Emmanuel United's attention on charitable donations in support of educational bursaries, through awareness raising, a booth at Just Gifts and the White Gift Offering in December.
- Youth exchanges: the Committee is exploring how best to facilitate an exchange of two IBE youth to Emmanuel United this fall, and the possibility of an Emmanuel university youth exchange in December.
- Raising awareness: about the situation in El Salvador, to provide a context for our pursuit of justice with our partner.
For more information, please contact the Church Office.