{"id":26369,"date":"2026-01-03T23:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T23:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=26369"},"modified":"2026-01-08T21:57:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T21:57:07","slug":"newsline-special-pastoral-response-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/newsline-special-pastoral-response-venezuela\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsline Special: A pastoral response to the removal of Venezuela President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and US military strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many of us woke up Saturday morning with news of the U.S. military strike on Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuela President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. We have received an official statement from the president\u2019s office of the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela (ASIGLEH) calling for calm, prudence and peace (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/official-statement-from-the-church-of-the-brethren-in-venezuela\/\">https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/official-statement-from-the-church-of-the-brethren-in-venezuela\/<\/a>). The WhatsApp Global Church of the Brethren Communion group has been active in calling for prayer and peace and standing in solidarity with the people of Venezuela. Denominational staff will continue to engage and encourage efforts of active peacemaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a historic peace church, we understand war and acts of violence as sin\u2014missing the mark that Jesus set before us to love our enemies. In all honesty and humility, we are challenged by this complex situation as we see many Venezuelans rejoicing at the removal of President Maduro, yet are concerned where U.S. intervention will lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As stated in the 1991 Annual Conference statement &#8220;Peacemaking: The Calling of God\u2019s People in History,&#8221; the Church of the Brethren is committed to \u201cencourage the demilitarization of international relations\u201d and \u201caffirm policies which foster human rights at home and abroad\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/ac\/statements\/1991-peacemaking\/\">https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/ac\/statements\/1991-peacemaking\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We pray for our brothers and sisters in the ASIGLEH for safety and the comfort of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also pray for courage to witness to the peace of Christ at this challenging time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We pray for and hope for a peaceful resolution for the Venezuelan people\u2019s choice of leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We pray that no lives will be lost, that the country of Venezuela will once again become stable in all aspects and that its citizens can live with dignity and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">May the peace of Christ reign in Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">David Steele<br>General Secretary<br>Church of the Brethren<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3 de enero de 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Una respuesta pastoral ante la captura del presidente venezolano Nicol\u00e1s Maduro y los ataques militares estadounidenses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Muchos de nosotros nos despertamos el s\u00e1bado por la ma\u00f1ana con la noticia del ataque militar estadounidense contra Venezuela, que result\u00f3 en la captura del presidente venezolano Maduro y su esposa, Cilia Flores. Hemos recibido un comunicado oficial de la oficina del presidente de la Iglesia de los Hermanos en Venezuela (ASIGLEH) que hace un llamado a la calma, la prudencia y la paz (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/official-statement-from-the-church-of-the-brethren-in-venezuela\/\">https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/official-statement-from-the-church-of-the-brethren-in-venezuela\/<\/a>). El grupo de WhatsApp de la Comuni\u00f3n Global de la Iglesia de los Hermanos ha estado activo, haciendo un llamado a la oraci\u00f3n y la paz, y expresando su solidaridad con el pueblo de Venezuela. El personal de la denominaci\u00f3n continuar\u00e1 participando y promoviendo iniciativas de construcci\u00f3n de paz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Como iglesia pacifista con una larga trayectoria, consideramos la guerra y los actos de violencia como pecado, como un alejamiento del ideal que Jes\u00fas nos propuso: amar a nuestros enemigos. Con total honestidad y humildad, nos sentimos interpelados por esta compleja situaci\u00f3n, ya que vemos a muchos venezolanos regocijarse por la destituci\u00f3n del presidente Maduro, pero al mismo tiempo nos preocupa ad\u00f3nde conducir\u00e1 la intervenci\u00f3n estadounidense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tal como se afirma en la declaraci\u00f3n de la Conferencia Anual de 1991, titulada &#8220;La construcci\u00f3n de la paz: El llamado del pueblo de Dios en la historia&#8221;, la Iglesia de los Hermanos est\u00e1 comprometida a &#8220;fomentar la desmilitarizaci\u00f3n de las relaciones internacionales&#8221; y a &#8220;apoyar pol\u00edticas que promuevan los derechos humanos tanto en el pa\u00eds como en el extranjero&#8221; (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/ac\/statements\/1991-peacemaking\/\">https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/ac\/statements\/1991-peacemaking\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oramos por nuestros hermanos y hermanas de ASIGLEH, pidiendo por su seguridad y el consuelo de Cristo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tambi\u00e9n oramos para que tengan el valor de dar testimonio de la paz de Cristo en estos tiempos dif\u00edciles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oramos y esperamos una soluci\u00f3n pac\u00edfica para la elecci\u00f3n de los l\u00edderes del pueblo venezolano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oramos para que no se pierdan vidas, para que Venezuela recupere la estabilidad en todos los aspectos y para que sus ciudadanos puedan vivir con dignidad y seguridad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Que la paz de Cristo reine en Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">David Steele<br>Secretario General<br>Iglesia de los Hermanos<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a>#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find more Church of the Brethren news:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/standing-committee-acts-on-new-business\/\">Standing Committee recommends adoption of four new business items, discusses relationship of the Church of the Brethren and Eder Financial<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/supreme-court-decision-on-tps\/\">Supreme Court decision on TPS for Haitians and Syrians will affect hundreds of Church of the Brethren members<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/kairos-center-issues-press-statement\/\">Kairos Center issues press statement on Supreme Court case in which Church of the Brethren joined amicus brief<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/board-approves-statement-of-intent\/\">Mission and Ministry Board approves statement of intent regarding future of the General Offices<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/intercultural-ministries-frontliners\/\">\u2018Frontliners\u2019 certified to serve in their districts on behalf of Intercultural Ministries<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many of us woke up Saturday morning with news of the U.S. military strike on Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuela President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. We have received an official statement from the president\u2019s office of the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela (ASIGLEH) calling for calm, prudence and peace<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"yes","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1703],"tags":[2353,1261,1468,3564,1263,1058,1898,3214],"wf_post_folders":[],"class_list":["post-26369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church-of-the-brethren-newsline","tag-asigleh","tag-general-secretary","tag-global-mission","tag-pastoral-response","tag-peace","tag-venezuela","tag-prayer","tag-impact"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26369"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26371,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26369\/revisions\/26371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26369"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=26369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}