Lizcano, Gloria (1950-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Feb 6 p. 1, 2

Birth date: 1950

text of obituary:

President attends funeral after Colombian tragedy

By Janet Plenert

For Mennonite Church Canada

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia's president attended a Mennonite funeral last fall after a church member was killed when struck by a motorcycle in the president's motorcade.

Gloria Lizcano, 55, a mother and dedicated church volunteer, died instantly on a Saturday night in November while walking home from church with a stack of bulletins to fold for the next day's worship service. The motorcycle struck her as it rounded a corner.

The funeral was held Nov. 28 at Teusaquillo Mennonite Church with President Alvaro Uribe Vélez and his wife, Lina Maria, in attendance.

They listened to a sermon that condemned violence as a way to resolve conflict and pointed to the gospel's way of restoring and reconciling relationships.

The president's bodyguards waited outside in response to parishioners' request that there be no guns in the sanctuary.

Colombian Mennonite Church President Peter Stucky described Lizcano as a humble servant of the Lord. A hard life did not stop her from patiently serving others and being an eager helper.

Pastor Jairo Roa spoke about the value of service to others, the first being last and the rejection of violence.

Stucky later wrote about the funeral: "Isn't it ironic that the president came to the funeral of the mother of a conscientious objector? Also, it is ironic that the president came to a Mennonite church which has been critical of his political agenda."

He added that he thought the presidential couple felt welcomed.

Observers said it was characteristic of the Colombian Mennonite Church that the congregation used the opportunity of a presidential audience to say Jesus shows a better way.