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for their members and the affected communities. R\u00F3ger Araica affirms that a similar phenomenon occurred in Nicaraguan Evangelical churches (1999: 205).\u000ASEPAL (Servicio Evangelizador para Am\u00E9rica Latina), gives examples of the Evangelical growth and social concern with the following data. At the end of 1983 the Evangelical population represented a million and half, there were 7,500 churches, they had three hundred radio programmes, five radio broadcasting stations, a hundred and two schools and education institutions, forty-seven bible institutes or bible schools, five theological seminaries and fifty service entities (SEPAL 1983: 10, 11, 125-136).\u000AA small group of Guatemalan Evangelicals related mostly to the historical Churches and para-church organization, started to reflect about social responsibility and the political participation of Evangelicals. The NPCs were in emerging and consolidating. In 1984 the National Commission for Social Responsibility was set up.24 This commission was born within the context of general suspicion and rejection of everything that was not evangelism. Also, the analysis about the social task emerged in the theological context of pre-millennialism which characterized the majority of Evangelicals, and the generalized fear generated by the violence of the armed conflict. The reflections were more related to social responsibility and political participation of Evangelicals. The discussions and social projects were launched at micro-ethical levels. It could be said that the earthquake, the centenarian celebration of the Evangelical Church and the arrival of Rios Montt to the presidency of the country in 1982, awakened in the Evangelicals the need to get involved in some social programmes as well as in the political arena.\u000A24 The commission was integrated by leaders of some para-ecclesiastical entities and some pastors (Minutes of the Structure for the National Commission for Social Responsibility Guatemala, 8th of February 1984) The theme of social action of the church had been treated earlier by Miguel Suazo in the Central American Congress organized by the Central American Mission In \u2018Creciendo en Cristo\u2019 CONCA, Guatemala 3-9 December 1972. The general purpose of the Commission was to \u2018stimulate the leadership of the Guatemalan Evangelical church to reflect about social responsibility as individuals and as a group, providing opportunities for dialogue and discussion\u2019 (Comisi\u00F3n Nacional sobre Responsabilidad social, 1984). This commission organized several consultations in 1985, 1986 and 1988. On the other hand the first Consultation of the Guatemalan church took place from 18-20 of October, in San Rafael Hortencias, Mixco \u2013 Guatemala\u2019 coordinated by the Chapter of the Latin American Theological Fraternity. After the peace treaty was signed with the Guerrilla and the army in 1996, some entities such as the Permanent Evangelical Forum, World Vision of Guatemala, the Mennonite and Presbyterian, CIEDEG and other Christian institutions, pushed for some consultations and projects in favour of the culture of peace in the country24. Unfortunately the commission on social responsibility disintegrated and as a result there were no more consultations.\u000A58\u000A 


































































































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