On May 19, 2011, Peace and Reconciliation (PAR) Community in the Province of La Union was formally organized. Pastors, bishops, and church leaders from the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) were joined with academic leaders, Christian NGO leaders, local government officials, police officers, and youth leaders. They all mutually agreed to be part of the Peace and Reconciliation movement in their province.
This meeting was preceded by a series of Peace and Reconciliation seminars and consultations facilitated by Peacebuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI). During the meeting, all the leaders actively expressed their opinions regarding peace and how they can attain peace in their own province. It was surprising that the police officers were very much involved in sharing the gospel to their people.
Upon recognizing themselves as individuals who were called to be peacebuilders in the name of the Prince of Peace, they immediately assigned core leaders that will represent each sector, to lead them in this movement. They will meet again next month to strategically plan for their next steps.
As Bishop Jun Tarlit, president of the Christian Leaders Alliance in Ministering La Union (CLAIM LU) stated,
“All our inputs are needed, but we need the prayer of God, the power of God to move us at the right place, at the right time. We are putting all our ideas together because we are a working force. We will continue uniting.”
PAR Community La Union was coordinated by Rev. Mariano Apilado, a native of Caba Municipality, Province of La Union. The meeting was hosted by Union Christian College, and some of their senior staff served as secretariat.
19 May 2011. San Fernando City, La Union Province
