Delia Leal of Guatemala will focus on female empowerment, income inequality

October 2, 2017

Rev. Delia Leal. (Photo provided)

The Rev. Delia Leal is the regional coordinator for the Women’s Ministry program in Mexico and Central America with the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA). Currently a pastor for a Baptist congregation, Leal will speak to U.S. congregations and organizations this fall as part of the 2017 International Peacemakers with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. This is her second visit as an International Peacemaker; she also participated in the program in 2009.

 During her four-week visit, she will talk about the work that the Presbyterian Church supports and carries out in Guatemala and Central America through CEDEPCA, one of its two mission partners in Guatemala.

“Thanks to CEDEPCA and the PC(USA) in Guatemala, we work to transform the lives of people who are in despair, and help them recover hope and justice,” Leal said. “The support of the PC(USA) in Central America is a sign of life and life in abundance because it builds a more just world.”

Guatemala, bordered by Mexico to the north and west and Belize, Honduras and the Caribbean Sea to the east, is the most populated country in Central America. The region’s rich history dates to 1,200 B.C. and includes the classic Mayan civilization.

But the country’s recent legacy includes a brutal 36-year internal armed conflict between guerrilla factions and the government. With the largest economy in Central America, Guatemala is subject to internal corruption and exploitation by transnational companies harvesting the country’s raw materials for biofuels production and extracting precious metals, according to Leal.

“We’re continually encouraging people to nonviolently fight for the ecosystem’s rights, but it’s exhausting and risky,”  Leal said. “We’re in a constant search for spaces of dialogue in order to stop the megaprojects: hydroelectric plants, oil pipelines and the planting of African palm for cooking oil. These projects have little consideration for ramifications to local communities and allow the rich to get richer while the majority become even more impoverished. The challenge is to find creative ways to change this reality.”

Being a female clergy member in Guatemala brings its own set of challenges. Leal is often the only female pastor among her colleagues, and breaking down fundamentalist ideological structures and stereotypes is something she deals with daily. She persuades male religious leaders to allow women to rejoice in their faith without being oppressed or subordinated by pursuing gender equality and by combining feminist theology with pastoral action.

“Civic organizations are important,” Leal said. “By encouraging women to participate in local committees and become empowered, we help further the rights of women.”

Leal’s association with CEDEPCA, a nonprofit organization that promotes education, accompaniment and safe reflection spaces to women and men of diverse Christian traditions and communities, changed her life and her approach to theology.

 “Originally my background was in fundamentalist theological studies; however, when I started working with CEDEPCA 25 years ago, it changed my perspective to one of a liberating faith,” Leal said. “I also began to guide a congregation, and my pastoral actions changed from service inward to service outward, to the community.

“The challenges in Guatemala are to give hope during despair. The country is in a lamentable situation; the government has poorly enforced laws so it wears people down. Despite that, we need to build spaces of justice and peace for everyone. I hope that people feel encouraged and enthusiastic about the work and the support that PC(USA) provides, and bear witness to what it does in our region. PC(USA) teaches that Christian faith brings about changes for people in the here and now, not just in the afterlife in heaven.”

Leal is one of 15 Peacemakers who will be visiting churches and institutions this fall. According to Carl Horton, coordinator for the Peacemaking Program, only a few openings remain in this year’s schedule. Click here to apply to host a 2017 International Peacemaker.

Scott O’Neill, Communications Associate and Project Management, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Today’s Focus:  2017 International Peacemaker – Rev. Delia Leal of Guatemala

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Mission Co-Workers

Richard Welch, Guatemala
Debbie Welch, Guatemala
Leslie Vogel, Guatemala

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Susan Reimann, BOP
Jon Reinink, PMA

Let us pray:

Dear God, thank you for raising up prophets in our midst to bring us good news. Accompany them in their journeys and strengthen their ministries. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 62; 145
First Reading 2 Kings 17:24-41
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Gospel Reading Matthew 6:25-34
Evening Psalms 73; 9