A piece of liberation theology brought to Germany

Three pastors from Brazil provided insights into liberation theology as well as the political situation in their country. Community was experienced through praying and singing together, discussions and creative design.

"Living with the unwanted, the shunned, the discarded is a challenge, because living together is conflict. Living together means learning, living together means discovery, living together means self-knowledge. Living together is demanding, but living together is the prerequisite for love."

These words come from Júlio Lancellotti. He is a Catholic priest in São Paulo, Brazil, and is known both as a "religious influencer" and for his social commitment in the country. At the ELM's Latin America Study Day, which took place in Neustadt am Rübenberge, his life and work was one of the examples of how the Christian faith is lived out in South and Central America. 31 interested people came together - including Superintendent Rainer Müller-Jödicke - to learn about Latin American spirituality in different ways.

Organiser Cristina Scherer, who is currently working for the ELM as an ecumenical exchange pastor from Brazil, opened the day with a prayer. The Gospel of Luke 15:8-10 is about the value of what we have lost sight of and find again after a long search. This can be things, people - or even faith.

In Latin America, many people have found a new approach to faith through liberation theology, which became popular in the 1970s. Cristina Scherer explained this in a detailed lecture. Liberation theology sees itself as the "voice of the poor" and wants to contribute to their liberation from exploitation, disenfranchisement and oppression. It interprets biblical tradition as an impulse for comprehensive social criticism. With a commitment to living faith in this world, liberation theology works for a grassroots democratic and partly socialist social order.

Pastor Helga Pfanemüller then described very vividly how people in Brazil live their faith in everyday life: "In addition to the church, the home is an important place where people come together with family, friends and neighbours: to eat, read the Bible together, sing, pray and celebrate. By sharing their prayers, feelings, thoughts, experiences and ideas, people realise that God is among them.

Pastor José Kowalska took on the role of "analysing the Latin American reality". He described Brazil - the country where he lived until recently - as a divided society. Divided between political camps, utilisation or protection of the rainforest, advocacy for the poor or isolation from them. The aforementioned Júlio Lancellotti is an example of people who take a stand for the weak in society. A law was even named after him that bans buildings designed to keep homeless people out of public spaces. The law was vetoed by President Bolsonaro, which was later overturned.

After a wealth of information and lively discussions, the afternoon programme focused on a creative approach to Latin American spirituality. Inspired by the art of Christian Chavarria Ayala from El Salvador, colourful crosses were made.

At the end, Cristina Scherer summed up the event for the team from ELM, which also included Kurt Herrera, ELM secretary for ecumenical cooperation with Peru and Brazil, and Verena Berndt, ELM secretary for international partnerships with a focus on Malawi, India and Brazil: "I think everyone felt very comfortable. There were great conversations and we laughed a lot." She also associates the day with the hope of having brought a piece of liberation theology to Germany.