High-resolution versions of these photos may be used free of charge to accompany articles based on WCC press releases and updates covering the 1-21 November 2004 visit of WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia to Latin America. | |||
Santiago, Chile | |||
Minister secretary general of the presidency Eduardo Dockendorff with World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Members of the Pentecostal Church of Chile in Curicó making the offering during a worship service celebrating the visit from the World Council of Churches general secretary. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Bishop Ulises Muñoz of the Pentecostal Church of Chile prays during a worship service held in the church's cathedral in Curicó during visit from the World Council of Churches general secretary. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Chilean Pentecostal bishops and pastors meet with the World Council of Churches general secretary in the headquarters of the Social Aid Foundation of Christian Churches (FASIC) in Santiago. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
(From left to right) Rodrigo del Villar and Hernán Plaza, both survivors of the clandestine Villa Grimaldi detention camp located outside Santiago, explain how the camp operated to Bishop Emeritus Federico Pagura and Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, World Council of Churches president from Latin America and general secretary respectively. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
A model of the clandestine Villa Grimaldi detention camp, located outside Santiago. The watchtower was also a holding area, with one-metre square cells that held four prisoners at a time. At back left, another group of cells and areas where torture was practised. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Plaque showing the location of the access door to the clandestine Villa Grimaldi detention camp. "Here is where prisoners began their stay," says the inscription. "This door will remain closed forever." (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago Msgr. Sergio Abad, of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch with World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Montevideo, Uruguay | |||
The three co-presidents of the Jewish-Christian Brotherhood of Uruguay met with the WCC general secretary during his visit to Montevideo. (From left) Rev. Armin Ihle (Protestant), Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia (WCC), Bishop Luis del Castillo (Catholic), Notary Rafael Stawsky (Jewish). (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary's visit to Colonia Valdense. (From left) Rev Oscar Bolioli, president of the Evangelical Methodist Church in Uruguay, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary, and Rev. Hugo Armand Pilón, moderator of the Evangelical Waldensian Church of the River Plate. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Montevideo mayor, architect Mariano Arana, with Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Member of the Colonia Valdense congregation during a special service for the WCC general secretary's visit. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Buenos Aires, Argentina | |||
Meeting of the WCC general secretary with representatives from human rights organizations. Presiding the meeting is Bishop Emeritus Aldo Etchegoyen (standing). Etchegoyen is a member of the WCC central committee, and accompanied Kobia during his visit to Brazil and Argentina. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
WCC general secretary walks in the midst of a "picketers" demonstration. Excluded from the labour market, these demonstrators cut off streets, bridges and different routes in order to make their demands heard. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
Head of the city of Buenos Aires government, Dr Aníbal Ibarra, greets the WCC general secretary upon his arrival at the seat of government. Kobia was named a illustrious visitor to the city. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
Children at the La Tablada Disciples of Christ community centre. Some 90 children receive daily meals and help with school work, and some 15 young people receive job training. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
Marta Palma, responsible for the WCC Latin America office, explains the concept and how to participate in the "Mutirao" to Argentinean church leaders. The event will take place in parallel to the WCC assembly in February 2006. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
A group of Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo at a presentation on "Globalization and violence," by the WCC general secretary. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
One of the choirs which sang during a public ceremony in the city of Buenos Aires legislature at which the WCC general secretary addressed the topic of "Globalization and violence." (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
Dean of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) Dr Guillermo Jaim Etcheverri (right) and honorary professor of the university, the Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia (left). (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Worship, Dr Rafael Bielsa (first on left) welcomes the ecumenical delegation that includes (from left to right) Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the WCC, Rev. Juan Abelardo Schvindt, 2nd vice president of the Latin American Council of Churches; Bishop emeritus Federico Pagura, WCC co-president; Rev. Annedore Venhaus, vice president of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate, Bishop Nelly Ritchie of the Argentine Methodist Church, Elías Abramides, vice president of the Ecumenical Commission of Christian Churches in Argentina. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
Samuel Kobia greets Archbishop Kirilos Douomat, Metropolitan of the Patriarchat of Antioch, during the reception offered in the San Martin Palace by the Worship Secretary, Ambassador Guillermo Oliveri. Between them, Lic. Elías Abramides, vice president of the Ecumenical Commission of Christian Churches in Argentina. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
A moment during ane ecumenical celebration at the beginning of the WCC general secretary's visit to Buenos Aires. The celebration took place in a Christian Biblical Church congregation, and was presided by Pastor Hector Petrecca. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
El secretario de la región rioplatense del Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (CLAI) animó litúrgicamente la celebración ecuménica con la que dio comienzo la visita del secretario general del CMI a Buenos Aires. La celebración tuvo lugar en una congregación de la Iglesia Cristiana Bíblica que preside el pastor Héctor Petrecca. The secretary of the Latin American Council of Churches' (CLAI) River Plate region at an ecumenical celebration marking the beginning of the WCC general secretary's visit to Buenos Aires. The celebration took place in a Christian Biblical Church congregation, and was presided by Pastor Hector Petrecca. (c) WCC/Adrián Stehlik |
Porto Alegre, Brazil | |||
Leaders from Brazilian churches during an ecumenical celebration in Porto Alegre on 9 November, 2004. During the celebration, local churches expressed their commitment to the WCC Assembly to be held in February 2006. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Members of the Assembly Planning Committee and WCC staff visited the Pontifical Catholic University of Porto Alegre and inspected the site where the Council’s Assembly will take place in February 2006. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
The chapel of the Pontifical Catholic University of Porto Alegre where the WCC Assembly will take place in February 2006. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia visits the Pontifical Catholic University of Porto Alegre where the Council’s Assembly will take place in February 2006. He was accompanied by Marta Palma, WCC secretary for Latin America. In the background is thelocal Assembly coordinator, Pastor Rui Bernhard. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
The president of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession of Brazil, Pastor Walter Altmann (right), accompanied WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (left) during visits to state and municipal authorities in Porto Alegre. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (left) speaks with the governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Germano Rigotto (right). (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (left) speaks with the mayor of the city of Porto Alegre, Joao Verle (right). (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
The Catholic Archbishop of Porto Alegre, Dom Dadeus Grings (right) accompanied WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (left) during visits to state and municipal authorities in Porto Alegre. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia tries a ‘cimarrao,’ a very popular infusion in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, under the watchful eye of Bishop Aldo Etchegoyen, member of the WCC Central committee, who is accompanying Kobia on a trip to South America. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (left) visits the headquarters of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran confession of Brazil's theological school, close to Porto Alegre. Dean Prof. Dr Lothar Hoch (center) and Vice Dean Prof. Martin Volkmann (right) explain the school's work. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Pedro Acosta Leyva, a member of the Church of God (Pentecostal) in Cuba and Selenir Goncalvez Kronbauer, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, are students at the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran confession of Brazil's theological school in Sao Leopoldo. Both participate in an "Identity Group" designed to create space for Afro-descendants within the Lutheran Church. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Bust of reformer Martin Luther, inauguraed on 17 October, 2004 to celebrate the 180th anniversary of German migration to Brazil and the Lutheran presence there. Behind the bust, the headquarters of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran confession of Brazil's theological school in Sao Leopoldo. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Salvador, Brazil | |||
Market day. All kinds of second-hand articles are bought and sold on the street. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Ecumenical celebration in Catholic parish Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in Periperi, Salvador. The Bible is carried to the altar by a small dancing procession accompanied by music. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Participants in an ecumenical celebration in a Catholic parish Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in Periperi, Salvador. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Members of the choir in the Catholic parish Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in Periperi, Salvador, pray during ecumenical ceremony. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia greets the congregation during an ecumenical celebration in the Catholic Parish Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in Periperi, Salvador. Beside him, Rev. Antonio Olivera, parish priest, and Marilía Schüller, responsible for the Programme to Combat Racism. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Another musical group that accompanied the ecumenical ceremony in the Catholic parish Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in Periperi, Salvador. Many of the participants are wearing the red sash of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Heart. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Representatives from church communities and grassroots organizations enter the Dom Helder Cámara parish centre in Periperi, Salvador where they discussed the next WCC assembly, to be held in February 2006 in Porto Alegre. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia greets Atamira Cecília dos Santos (Mae Tatá), the Mae de Santo of the Casa Branca “terreiro”, founded some 200 years ago and considered the oldest in Salvador. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Three generations of Candomblé pose for photographs for a tourist flyer in the Casa Branca “terreiro”, founded some 200 years ago and considered the oldest in Salvador. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Christianity and Candomblé. Jaciara Ribeiro (right), Mae de Santo of the terreiro Axé Abassá de Ogum, tells of her struggle in the courts to obtain compensation for derogatory comments in a newspaper affiliated to a religious organization. Rev. Jorge Costa, of the Orthodox Syrian Church (left) expressed support for all religious expressions and rejected all discrimination. The two were participating in a meeting of representatives from Christian churches and Afro-Brazilian religions with Samuel Kobia (center), WCC general secretary. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia visits the Northeast III Regional meeting of the National Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB), where he spoke with the general secretary and the person responsible for ecumenism in Bahia, Bishop Dom Paulo Romeu Dantas Bastos (right), with the second vice president of the Latin American Bishops’ Conference (CELAM) Archbishop Dom Geraldo Lidio Rocha (left), and with Archbishop Dom Itamar Vian (centre). C/Juan Michel |
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia met with the president of the National Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB) and the archbishop primate of Brazil, Dom Geraldo Magela. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Brasilia, Brazil | |||
WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (left) with the vice president of Brazil José Alencar (right). (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Participants in the meeting of ecumenical leaders with the Brazilian vice president praying at the end of the meeting. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
The Roman Catholic archbishop of Brazilia, Dom Joao Braz de Aviz (left) with WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia (right). (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Rev. Ervino Schmidt, general secretary of the National Council ofChristian Churches in Brazil (CONIC), pleads for more time for a campaign to get people to hand in their guns that aims at disarming Brazilian society. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
La Paz, Bolivia | |||
Founder. Pastor Fermín Siñani has led the IELB congregation in Calasaya since he founded it in 1969, 35 years ago. (c) WCC/Juan Michel
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Television. Kobia is interviewed by journalist John Arandia in the program “Que no me pierda” on national Network One. Marilia Schüller, responsible for the WCC Program to Combat Racism acts as interpreter. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Meeting legislators: Kobia and local church leaders meet with senators and congressmen, the majority indigenous, in the Senate Chamber in the Bolivian legislative palace. From left to right: Marilia Schüller, Samuel Kobia, Carlos Intipampa, pastor Emilio Aslla (IELB), senator Marcelo Aramayo Pérez. From the back, to the left: indigenous representative Isabel Ortega. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Indigenous representative Isabel Ortega and WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia in the Portraits Room of the Senate Chamber in the Bolivian legislative palace.
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Inculturation. WCC general secretary participates in a Christian ceremony to remember the dead in the cemetery in Kheasqapa, some 150 kilometers from La Paz. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
All ages. Families of the deceased head to cemetery on November 2 at mid-day at the end of the All Saint’s Day festivities that began a day earlier. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Pioneer work: In Ancoraimes, located 70 kilometers from the capital, Kobia visited the Franz S. Beck Hospital. Created by the Methodist Church in the 1950s it was the first in the area and provide care to several surrounding districts. “Today the most common illnesses we treat are pneumonia, diarrhea and infant malnutrition,” said Dr. Marleny Jaimes, a general practitioner. The hospital staff also vaccinates and monitors newborns and provides family planning orientation, all within a multicultural focus. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
IELB church in Calasaya, some 60 kilometers from La Paz. “This is the best church we have in this district,” said Church treasurer Pastor Rufino Tito Aguilar. “In other communities the brothers and sisters do not have benches to sit on.” (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
5,000 meters above sea level. Leaders from Council member Churches in Bolivia welcome WCC General Secretary in the international “El Alto” Airport in the city of La Paz. From left to right: Samuel Kobia, Eugenio Poma (responsible for the WCC and Latin American Council of Churches indigenous peoples program) Carlos Intipampa (bishop president of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Bolivia), and Juan Miguel Parrapo (vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bolivia). (c) WCC/Juan Michel |
(c) WCC/Juan Michel |
Welcome in "El Alto". Kobia greets those who have ocme to meet him. |
Welcome. With the help of an interpreter, Kobia speaks to participants at a reception in his honour. (c) WCC/Juan Michel |