In a process of restructuring CLAI defines strategies and rescinds services of general secretary

In carrying out the mandate of the Latin American Council of Churches’ (CLAI) VI General Assembly, the second meeting of the CLAI board of directors that took place in Bogotá, Colombia from May 4-9, “defined strategies to make CLAI’s work more effective as a more dynamic, fraternal and closer continental movement in its mission with the churches and society,” says a May 12 letter sent to the member churches and organizations by President the Rev. Felipe Adolf.

The full text of the letter:

Dear sisters and brothers of the CLAI Member Churches and Organisms,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

After analyzing the structure and functioning of CLAI, the CLAI VI General Assembly held in Havana in May, 2013, proposed that the Statutes and By-Laws be revised and that an institutional restructuring be begun, for the purpose of strengthening its mission and commitment in response to the new social, economic and pastoral challenges for the churches and organisms of Latin America and the Caribbean.

In carrying out the Assembly’s mandate, the second meeting of the Board of Directors that took place in Bogotá, Colombia from May 4-9, defined strategies to make CLAI’s work more effective as a more dynamic, fraternal and closer continental movement in its mission with the churches and society. 

This process of restructuring requires a critical look at the institution’s structure and its lines of action. With that in mind an institutional evaluation will be carried out to deepen the strategic and programmatic orientation. The proposed restructuring will be presented to the Board of Directors at its next meeting in March, 2015.

In this context, the Board of Directors considered that a change in the office of the General Secretary was needed and decided to rescind the services of the Rev. Nilton Giese as General Secretary, to whom we express our gratitude for the time served while carrying out his ministry with CLAI.

Until such time as the Board of Directors has approved the restructuring plan, applications for the position of General Secretary will not be called for. In the meantime the Rev. Carlos Támez has been provisionally appointed as coordinator of the administration of the office in Quito and the accompaniment of the CLAI programs. 

It is of public knowledge that various church and ecumenical organisms have undertaken similar processes of restructuring because of strategic and financial reasons, to be able to respond to the new contexts and challenges of the Missio DEI.

The Board of Directors wishes to express its thankfulness to our member churches and organisms for their support and commitment during these 32 years of institutional life, and calls on all to work together to make CLAI a space for fraternal dialogue in favor of unity and solidary service.

We greet the member churches and organisms at this time of being on the way toward Pentecost.