Evangelical Seminary
of Theology
Credits
Contacts Leadership Professors
Interviews
SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY EVOKES MEMORIES
FIRST MEETING ON MASTER'S DEGREE CURRICULUM HELD
AT THE SEMINARY
IMPORTANT FIGURE OF GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
VISITS US
STORYTELLERS COME TO THE SEMINARY
HISTORY SECTION II: OUR FIRST RECTOR
SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY EVOKES MEMORIES
On
the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of our seminary, we were
visited by Bernardo Erni, Ekkehard Zipser and Dorcas Gordon. Below are the
interviews they granted.
Bernardo Erni, pastor of the Evangelical Reformed
For many years, Bernardo has worked at the Missionary
Department of the Reformed Church of Switzerland, with which we work in collaboration,
and he is in charge of the relations of fraternity between the Reformed Church
of Switzerland and the Presbyterian Church of Cuba.
Motivated
by his visit to the seminary he said: "It has been very important for us
to maintain these relations with the seminary because it has been a way to
share richness and poverty with it. We have been able to help the Cuban
communities with some social projects, but
As
regards the seminary, he said: "I'd like to thank the seminary for doing
such an important work since it has been a home for people from my country who have
studied here. Their training here has helped them a lot, especially with their
spirituality.
Ekkehard Zipser, pastor of the
He
is the director of Missionary Work of Berlin, an institution that for many
years has cooperated with our seminary and groups different missions and
churches of
Doctor Dorcas Gordon, full professor of Biblical
Interpretation and Preaching at Knox College, Toronto,
Doctor Gordon tells us about the importance of the
interpretation of the bible, her work at
Our
curriculum is very traditional, but we are trying to introduce perspectives
from other parts of the world. Coming to the SET in February, 2008 to learn the
Cuban experience will be our next step. However, some of our professors will
come earlier in 2007 to make arrangements.”
FIRST
The 1st meeting on the Master's Degree Curriculum of the
2006-2007 academic year was held at the SET from November 13 to 23. During the event
several courses and subjects were imparted: Mission
and Deaconry, by Professor Daniel Montoya Rosales, Th.M.; Methodology of Research, by
The
eight students who enrolled for these courses come from the following churches:
the Episcopal Church, the
SEMINARY VISITED BY IMPORTANT FIGURE OF THE
Last November 9 our seminary was visited by His
Excellency Archimandrite Monsignor Timoteo, Vicar General to
In
addition to being active members of the ecumenical movement "True Life in
God", founded by Mrs. Vassula Ryden, currently Sofia Tsolis is President
of the Greek Community in Argentina and Caterina Ekaterini is in charge of an
orphanage in Bangladesh, India.
The
Greek delegation met with SET officials and had a detailed discussion about the
ecumenical education at both institutions.
AMBASSADOR OF THE FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
TO CUBA
On
Friday, November 17, His Excellency Mister Ulrich Lunscken, Ambassador of the
Federal Republic of Germany to
STORYTELLERS COME TO THE SEMINARY
Last November 4 the SET was visited by storytellers from
all over the country who came to the city for the 2nd Festival of Oral
Narrative called "Winter Words." We were honored by the presence of
leading figures of cultural life in our country that came to the seminary too.
Among them were present Mirtha Portillo and Lucas Nápoles, President and Vice
president of the National Section of Oral Narrative, a branch of the National
Association of Writers and Artists of Cuba. Also Lorenzo Jardines, Director of
the House of Traditions and the House of the Caribbean in Santiago de Cuba;
Marcela Sabio, a distinguished Argentine artist and a large group of local
orators.
The
visitors were welcomed at the Resurrection Chapel where they were informed
about the work that is done at the seminary and then took pleasure in seeing
the sights of the city and bay from a lookout. Next they saw the photographic
exhibit "Let There Be Light" by Jesús Martínez (Chuchi), a seminary
photographer; and finally everyone had a good time as they listened to the
narration of a popular story in a lively and fraternal atmosphere.
We
are grateful to "Esperanza", a local group of oral narrative and to
Ileana Hernández for giving the Evangelical Seminary of Theology another
opportunity to get involved in the cultural life of
Gallery of Rectors: Alejandro Alfredo Rodríguez
Our
previous newsletter provided some information about the activities carried out
on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of our institution, being
one of them the reorganization of the Gallery of Rectors. In order to
accomplish this task it was necessary to find new photos and summarize some
biographies. This history section is about Doctor Alejandro Alfredo Rodríguez
Maestro
Alfonso (Professor Alfonso), as he was called by everyone, was born in the city
of
Youth
associations, like La Unión Nacional de Esfuerzo Cristiano (The National Union
of Christian Effort), were fraternity schools that trained him for the great
teaching task he would carry out in
Another
determining factor that led to devoting his life to the Christian ethic was his
getting married to María Matilde lutzeen Weest, an extraordinaring woman who
was called “Mother” by everybody at the seminary because she was so
kind and solicitous.
In
1940 Alejandro Alfredo graduated from university and was awarded a doctorate in
philosophy and letters. Then he worked as the principal of the
In 1944
he dedicated himself fully to the ministry and began to study at
From
then on he devoted his life to teaching, writing and to oratory. He was admired
for being cooperative, humane and phillanthropic. And above all he had a deeply
rooted christian faith.
Information
about his work in the seminary and the Cuban church as well as his
international activity will appear in the next issue of this newsletter.
DEGREE
CANDIDATES RECOUNT THEIR EXPERIENCES
The degree candidates of
the 2006-2007 school year are approaching the home stretch. Therefore, before
they are affected by the pressure put by final exams and theses, we chose to interview
some of them and ask them about their seminary memories, and what this
institution has meant to them.
Sarahí García:
“We are not a perfect class, but we have always kept together. There have
been conflicts, but we have always found a way to resolve them. We have
tolerated each other and have learned to put ourselves in someone else's place
and see what it is like, so we haven't lost anything. Rather than losing, we
have learned to talk and grow as human beings, and accept who we are. The SET
has increased my awareness of commitment to the Church. Being a member of the
SET community has multiplied my dreams and projects. It is now my greatest
ecumenical responsibility.”
Roberto Cemillan: “I am going to miss my class. At first it was a period of
adjustment; we even had arguments. But we didn’t have to talk explicitly
about our class unity; it just sprang up spontaneously. I mean, solidarity was
felt everywhere and we all tried our best.
It
was difficult for me to attend a boarding school again, but I was always helped
by my class and the community. This made me change my way of thinking, which
shifted from scientific to being more abstract and imaginative. I am going to
miss living here a lot when I have graduated.”
Joammy González: “The
seminary has been a captivating experience for me, ‘a unique
experience’, as Professor
Castellanos would say. My previous studies were very different. My getting
involved with the seminary life was a difficult process. In the beginning I
felt disheartened, but my class went beyond my expectations. I used to be too
conceited, but being a student here helped me mature. And Roberto, one of my
classmates, played a key role in this process.
Frank Fernandez: (starts
talking by using his favorite phrase) “In
one way or another the SET made an impact on me. Senior students in
the seminary predicted that our class would split in the future, but it became
a tightknit group instead. This experience, which has an ecumenical nature too,
helped me deepen my faith in the God I believe in.”
Antonio Santana: My
seminary experience has been very significant for I have acquired a great many
skills for the ministry God has entrusted me with. I have also been able to
discern what is appropriate to be applied to the pastoral work I serve. And
there is something I have always had in mind as a student: my commitment to
transmit to others the knowledge I have acquired here, at any mission I feel
called upon to accomplish. I regret I couldn’t be a member of the
community of residential students at the seminary; the fact I live in town kept
me from having this chance. However, most importantly without a doubt has been
the opportunity I’ve had to acquire a biblical, theological and pastoral
training, a valuable education I will use to serve the Fraternity of Baptist
Churches.
Alison Infante: “How could I describe my seminary experience? It is
difficult. It is difficult because it is hard to describe what is deeply
moving. The experience of sharing with other people within an ecumenical
community has been the culmination of an important period in my process of
growing as a human being. Here I have rediscovered the secret of unity amid
diversity and love, because love can ease tensions and resolve differences; it
helps us see our differences as blessings and spiritual enrichment. Having
spent this time receiving my academic training, sharing love with Sarahí, my
wife; and serving the church, ecumenism and the people … ‘is an
adventure’, a phrase often used by Professor Castellanos, who has always
made a good impression on me.”
These
students remember some difficult times: when they were assigned their first pastoral
mission, or when a professor compared them to other classes. They also recall
the changes they experienced when modifications of their curriculum and the
seminary rules were made following the appointment of a new rector. At times
some of these students passed through tense situations for they didn’t
have enough money to pay their tuition fees. Others remember facing the
challenge of being mothers, students or their children’s teachers. They
are sorry their Methodist schoolmates have gone, and they miss friends who have
graduated already, but who are engraved on their hearts.
All
of these experiences will be engraved on everyone’s memory forever: We
will recall them when we see a picture or when we embrace a friend. We will
always remember them in the classrooms or as we work together to achieve our
goals, and especially in radiant smiles of satisfaction because our
dreams have come true.
Walking
around the seminary creates a feeling of mystery. In fact, it is a unique
experience for everyone, but particularly unforgettable for those who once made
a spiritual journey here and never tired of contemplating the city and the sea
from the top of this hill..
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
President of the Board: Bishop Miguel Tamayo Zaldivar
Vice-President of the Board:
Secretary of the Board: Odette
Naranjo Colón
-00-
Rector:
Vice-rector: Pablo
Dean:
Vice-Dean: Norca
Iglesias Zúñiga, B.Ed.
Chaplain: Wil
Arts Ph.M.
Clara L. Ajo Lázaro, Th.D, Theology,
VISITING PROFESSORS
Prof. lldefonso Acosta
Escobar Music, Prof. Wil Arts, Ph.M. Practical Theology, Dra. Mercedes Cárdenas Hodelins Complementary Courses,
Edition:
Elizabeth González R., Ing.
Writing
Elizabeth
González R., Ing.
Design and typesetting
José O. González, Lic.
Photography:
Jesús Martínez León
Calle Dos de Mayo Final,
Apartado 1439, Matanzas, Cuba
(: (53-45) 24-2866 ext. 14
7: (53-45) 25-3391
http://cuba-theological-seminary.org
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