06/07/2026
𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐲𝐚, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒, 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
During the World Methodist Council meeting to be held this August, Humberto Shikiya—a lay member of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina, and partner and director general emeritus of CREAS—will receive the prestigious 2026 World Methodist Peace Award. Established in 1976 and previously awarded to prominent figures such as Nelson Mandela and the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, this award recognizes Shikiya’s commitment to peacebuilding, justice, and reconciliation in Latin America, particularly in his current role as an advisor and facilitator in the Colombian Peace Dialogue Tables.
In 2022, the newly elected President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, invited the World Council of Churches (WCC) to accompany the country's peace process. Shikiya’s appointment as WCC Special Envoy for the peace dialogues in Colombia reflects his more than 20 years of work in the country alongside churches and ecumenical networks. His career also includes contributing to the development of the Public Policy on Freedom of Religion and Worship under Juan Manuel Santos' administration in 2018, which formally recognized all religious actors as peacebuilders.
𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Shikiya’s vision and witness have been foundational to CREAS in developing its strategy focused on peacebuilding and reconciliation. This approach strengthens cooperation among churches, faith communities, faith-based organizations, and community groups to foster leadership and implement localized actions led by faith actors.
In particular, Shikiya has inspired and guided Ikuméni—the Ecumenical and Interreligious Best Practices Laboratory—which has already trained more than 500 young leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean in a culture of peace, reconciliation, dialogue, hospitality, and cooperation through local and community initiatives.
By granting this distinction, the World Methodist Council honors Humberto Shikiya's lifelong journey of commitment and service. In receiving the award, he reaffirms CREAS’s commitment to continue working toward a just and lasting peace rooted in faith, ecumenism, interreligious cooperation, and community service.
Ikuméni Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Argentina World Council of Churches Humberto Martin Shikiya