The Challenge of Pluralism and Peace: The Changing Relationships Among the Churches in Colombia1

When one church predominates in any society, ecumenism is notoriously difficult. Colombia is no exception. The 1991 Constitution disestablished the Catholic Church and subsequent decisions create a new legal situation for the churches together. These changes, along with the particular Protestant bodies in Colombia, the climate of civil conflict, the unique history of the country and the diversity of its peoples create a new context in which the challenge of ecumenism develops. This essay is an outsider's perspective on the contextual development of ecumenism, its hopes and challenges, in the current situation. The time has come for common witness to replace competition.