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Dear Christian brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina (IEMA),
“This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life.”
Psalm 119:50
It was with great sorrow that I received the news of the passing of our brother Bishop Emeritus Aldo Etchegoyen. On behalf of the moderator of our Central Committee, Dr Agnes Aboum, and the fellowship of over 340 churches that we represent, I express our solidarity with the bishop’s family and with the IEMA, as well as gratitude for his life and work.
The repercussions of his passing are as wide and significant as his life’s journey. From many parts of the world, we have been seeing testimonies of lives touched by his ministry and pastoral work. These are concrete signs of an important legacy that he leaves to us all.
His relationship with the World Council of Churches goes all the way back to the late 1960’s, when he studied in our Ecumenical Institute at Bossey. His term as a member of the Central Committee between the Harare (1998) and Porto Alegre (2006) Assemblies is recalled by many of us because of his expressive voice advocating for strong involvement of the Council on issues of social ethics.
Bishop Ethegoyen’s life offers us an example of strong commitment to human rights and to the ecumenical movement. He was a faithful bearer of the responsibility to spread words that “preserve life,” in the words of the Psalm that I selected to open this letter.
About two months ago, in Buenos Aires, I had the chance to meet Bishop Etchegoyen again. He moderated a meeting between our delegation and several human rights organizations from Argentina. Once more, his passion for human dignity struck and inspired me.
I also take this opportunity to echo Bishop Frank de Nully Brown’s words of gratitude for the life of Bishop Etchegoyen and his tireless effort to defend human dignity above all else.
Blessed be the memory of Bishop Aldo Etchegoyen. He was a true witness for justice and peace.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary
