A Colombian pastor was shot and killed in February as he left his church, local sources told World Watch Monitor.

Pastor Leider Molina, 24, had just finished preaching in his church in Caucasia, Antioquia state, on February 9.

Molina was known as a passionate preacher and an active youth leader working for his church and city, 670km north of the capital Bogotá, the source said.

The Caucasia region has suff ered an escalation in violence for the last four months, according to the source:

“Communist guerrillas, paramilitary groups, criminal gangs and drug cartels all see the Church as an enemy to be eradicated because, thanks to the preaching and courageous action of leaders and pastors, many young people have renounced armed conflict and illegal activities.”

Last September two other pastors in the region were killed. Pastor Galarza, a social and religious leader, was shot dead in front of his family; and Pastor Elfren Martínez Pérez, 55, was murdered outside his home after he refused to help members of a neo-paramilitary group with transport. (World Watch Monitor)

TAIWAN CHURCH LEADER MOURNED

The Rev Dr C M Kao, Asian church leader and human rights advocate, passed away in February.

In the 1970s, he served as general secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, which has been a WCC member church since 1951.

Kao was a vital voice within his own church and within the WCC in diaconal ministry, in witness for social justice and peace, and in work with indigenous peoples.

A strong promoter and mobiliser of the people for the cause of democracy and human rights during the authoritarian years of the 1970s and 80s, Kao was involved in issuing numerous statements and taking fearless actions, firmly adhering to his faith in Christ and played a key role in the democratisation of Taiwan, especially during his term as the General Secretary of the PCT. He, along with other church leaders, were imprisoned by the government of Taiwan.

A native of Tainan, Kao graduated from Tainan Theological College and Seminary before serving as a minister at indigenous churches. He served as the principal of Yushan Seminary, which later became the only school founded for indigenous Taiwanese.

His eff orts in promoting social harmony and happy families inspired the city of Tainan to create “Happy Family Day”and promote healthier families. In 2012, he was awarded an “Outstanding Resident”award by the Tainan government.

“His legacy as an inspiring Christian leader, a teacher and mentor with deep theological insight and one who stood firm for the dignity and rights of people, will continue to be a guiding light to all,” said the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of WCC. (WCC)

CYPRUS CHURCH PLEA

On February 14, the religious leaders of Cyprus issued a joint statement on the historic Church of St James in the island’s Buff er Zone. Torrential rains over the past weeks caused the collapse of the bell tower and part of the wall of the 10th century church.

Religious leaders and others had been

calling for reinforcement of the structure. As restoration begins, religious leaders urged that the rightful owners of all religious monuments in Cyprus be directly involved and consulted.

“With faith in God, we renew our joint plea since 2014 for the urgent need to appropriately reinforce and restore not only the historic monument of St James but also St George, both found in the green line of the Buff er Zone,” the statement reads. “The significance of a place of worship reaches far beyond the stones it is built of and its destruction disrespects our shared religious and cultural heritage.”

The leaders represent the five main religious communities of Cyprus. “In front of this tragedy, we ask once again for the full co-operation of all those involved and pray that the eff orts of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, that has agreed to take over the responsibility of these two Byzantine monuments since March 2017, are renewed with urgency with the support of all stakeholders including the rightful owner,” the statement continues. “Expressing our hope for a constructive and proactive way forward in protecting the historic monuments in the Buff er Zone, we pray to be spared from witnessing another place of worship in Cyprus fall to ruins.”

The Buff er Zone, established in 1964, divides the island of Cyprus between the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. (WCC)

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