Doing Theology Abroad, Colombia, 2003

Ron Stutzman, professor of anthropology, led a group of 12 Goshen College students to Bogotá, Colombia, for a "Doing Theology Abroad" course in May 2003.

Students attended classes taught by Goshen College graduates Peter (1967) and Paul (1969) Stucky at the Anabaptist/Mennonite Seminary in Bogotá. The Stuckys have North American roots, but were raised in Colombia and are leaders in the Mennonite Church there.

The three-week May term course examined Anabaptist theology and peace-building values with the backdrop of the current political situation of Colombia, where violent armed conflict between several military and paramilitary groups has terrorized the people for decades. Topics of the course included the structures of international relations that cause warfare, the impact of U.S. aid to Colombian guerillas that seeks to prevent drug traffic and the larger U.S. anti-drug campaign, the challenges of justice advocacy and the ways in which the church can build peace and solidarity with the victims of war.

The students lived with Colombian Mennonite host families while in Bogotá.

Goshen College also has been connected to peacemaking efforts in Colombia through the work of Janna Bowman, a 2000 graduate who now works with Mennonite Central Committee and Witness for Peace, international humanitarian organizations; Janine Martin, a 2001 graduate who worked with Justapaz until May 2003; and Jonathan Horst and Ben Horst, 2002 graduates who worked with Christian Peacemaker Teams, an organization that practices nonviolent intervention in areas of conflict.