The World Council of Churches has appointed Jenny Neme of Colombia to be its deputy special envoy to the peace dialogue between Colombia’s government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebel group.

Neme is a member of the Colombian Mennonite Church and a former executive director of the Anabaptist peace organization Justapaz. She replaces Humberto Shikiya, the WCC’s special envoy for the past two years, who will transition to WCC senior adviser for peacebuilding in Colombia.

The WCC is a permanent accompanier in the peace dialogue together with the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the Roman Catholic Church.

“Jenny’s experience in peace and reconciliation work as a woman of faith, leading social and ecclesial processes in different territories of Colombia, will contribute in a distinctive way to the peace process,” Shikiya said. “Her status as a female leader committed to gender justice will bring that perspective to the different social dialogues on territorial transformations and the participation of women in the construction of peace.”

Additionally, the title of special envoy will now be held by Fernando Enns, a German Mennonite who has held various peace positions with the WCC. This change aims to integrate further the WCC’s commitment to Colombia’s peace process within its central decision-making structures.

The WCC team convened March 17-21 in Colombia for meetings with government and UN representatives.