Evangelical Seminary of Theology

Matanzas

 

EVENTS / JANUARY 2006

 

Credits       Contacts       Leadership       Professor       Interviews

 

 

 

*       SET WORKERS TOUR HAVANA

*       ARCOIRIS PROJECT CELEBRATES EPIPHANY

*       SET VISITED BY THE MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT OF PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF SWITZERLAND

*       SEMINARY VISITED BY PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS OF THE UNITED THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

*       CONFERENCE ON EMPIRE HELD AT THE SET

*       ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT THE SEMINARY

*       BOOKS DONATED TO THE OUR SEMINARY LIBRARY

*       HISTORY SECTION II

*       UPCOMING EVENTS

 

 

SET WORKERS TOUR HAVANA

On December 28 the workers of the Evangelical Seminary of Matanzas and their relatives had a wonderful time as they visited places of interest in Havana City. The excursion was organized by the SET administration as part of the holidays and on the occasion of the upcoming Epiphany.

Back from such a relaxing tour the SET workers felt refreshed and ready to work harder for their beloved institution.

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ARCOIRIS PROJECT CELEBRATES EPIPHANY

On January 6 the boys and girls of the Arcoiris Project celebrated Epiphany with their parents and teachers. Toys and balloons livened up the activity, and the children had lots of fun as they played games and sang songs.

In addition, as part of the Epiphany celebration, but on January 13, the Arcoiris Project organized an excursion to Havana City. Both children and parents enjoyed themselves at Jalisco Park (an amusement park). They also had a great time watching a dolphin show at the National Aquarium and the acts performed by the National Circus. For many of these children the tour of Havana was an unforgettable experience because they got to know new places they would like to see again some day.

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SET VISITED BY THE MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT OF PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF SWITZERLAND

Nancy Carrasco, a representative of the Missionary Department to Latin America of the French-speaking Churches in Switzerland (DM-échange et misión), visited the SET on January 19 and 20. Carrasco was accompanied by Martin Schreiber, Secretary General of UNITE, a platform the DM-échange et misión is part of. The UNITE is the direct interlocutor of COSUDE, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

During their brief, but fruitful visit, Carrasco and Schreiber met with the leadership and professors of the seminary in order to consolidate ways for interchange and collaboration, so that relations between the SET and the francophone churches of Switzerland are strengthened.

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SEMINARY VISITED BY PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS OF THE UNITED THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

From January 21 to 27 the SET was visited by students from the United Theological College of the United Church of Canada, which is affiliated with the school of Theology of Montreal. The purpose of this visit was to study and reflect, as part of the students’ preparation for the ministry.

The students were headed by Professors John Simons, Anita Mack and Doctor Philip Joudrey, Rector of Le Séminaire Uni Montreal. Dr. Joudrey stated that the most significant experience for them was the opportunity to exchange views about the current challenging aspects of two different cultures and contexts.

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CONFERENCE ON EMPIRE HELD AT THE SET

A conference marked by a sincere spirit of solidarity was held at the SET on January 23 and 24. Students from the Theological College of Montreal and the Evangelical Seminary of Matanzas took part in the meeting whose main theme, In the Shadow of Empire, became a matter of intense debate. Issues like the implication of US imperialism for our region, and the consequences of an imperialist system and the hegemony of its transnational companies, were looked at from theological, political, historical and sociological perspectives.

On the first day of the meeting Doctor John Simon Macmillan, rector of the Anglican Seminary of the Theological College of Montreal, presented a paper. On the second day, three more papers were presented: two of them by Professors Ofelia Ortega Suárez and Odén Marichal Rodríguez; and the other by Álison Infante Zamora, a student of theology.

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ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT THE SEMINARY

Nelson Dávila Rodríguez, Master of Education, is a professor of the Chair of Practical Theology at the SET and coordinator of the “Rafael Cepeda Clemente” School of Christian Education. About this school he said: “The School of Christian Education was established as a branch of the Chair of Practical Theology at the SET. It is aimed at providing pastors, seminary students, Sunday school teachers and church leaders with courses, workshops and seminars in order that they can develop and improve their teaching skills. These courses are imparted by seminary professors and others from other schools in the country, who take into consideration the needs of local churches.”

And he added: “Currently 31 students in Havana and 24 others in Matanzas are taking an introductory course for Sunday school teachers. This course lasts three months and the students come from the following churches: the Presbyterian-Reformed Church, the Fraternity of Baptist Churches of Cuba, the Church of God, the Interdenominational Christian Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Also an intensive course called A Pastoral for People Who Have Disabilities is being taught. The course, which began on January 30 and will finish on March 27, is also intended for people interested in this kind of work. One of the main aims of this course is to have the students reflect on the presence of disabled people in the evangelical churches of Cuba; people who are hearing or visually impaired, or people who are unable to walk. Besides, the course aims to get the students to learn about the physical and psychological characteristics of these people, as well as to provide them with strategies to ease the integration of the disabled into society and thus into the church.  The accomplishment of these aims provides possibilities for debate, which help find new strategies for evangelization and education. This will guarantee the presence and participation of people with disabilities in religious communities.”

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BOOKS DONATED TO THE OUR SEMINARY LIBRARY

Recently the SET library received a valuable donation from Julio de Santa Ana. Doctor Adolfo Ham Reyes, head of the Chair of History and Philosophy of the SET, commented on this generous gesture: “It is really wonderful that our library can have these books donated by Professor Julio Santa Ana, one of the most prominent protestant theologians and thinkers in Latin America. He worked zealously in such important fields as ecumenism, the church and social problems, philosophy and sociology of religion, liberation theology, and the like. Many of the books have become more valuable for they contain notes made by Professor Santa Ana himself or dedications written by their authors. Our library was short of books in some fields such as literature in French, and many of the books donated are written in French, and also in Portuguese. We want to thank Professor Santa Ana for his generosity. In 2000 Reverend Jorge González made an important donation to the SET. He provided our institution with literature on the Old Testament and Biblical archeology. So Profesor Santa Ana’s donation was just what our library needed to become the best in Cuba in the fields of ecumenism, sociology, philosophy and sociology of religion.”

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HISTORY SECTION II

Gallery of Rectors: Alejandro Alfredo Rodríguez Hidalgo, our first rector (End of Section II)

Our previous issue dealt with Maestro Alfonso Rodríguez Hidalgo’s work at the SET. In this issue we will reflect on his activity in the Cuban church.

We are going to start by reflecting on the fact that his academic work cannot be separated from his ecclesiastic work. As he expressed in a letter he wrote to Reverend Raúl Fernández Ceballos on May 12, 1956: “The idea is to set aside a reasonable amount of time for the presentation of the work of the Seminary as part of the work that is carried out in every church in Cuba.”

We do not intend to examine all the ecclesiastic duties Maestro Alfonso performed in Cuba or abroad, but the most fundamental aspects of his organizational work. He always highlighted the importance of local churches and ecumenical work. In his opinion, they nourished evangelism in Cuba.

He devoted most of his attention to these local churches when the Construction Plan of the Presbyterian Church of Cuba was implemented in the former provinces of La Habana, Matanzas and Las Villas. Then he dedicated himself to dealing with everything concerning this great task: money raising, plots of land, construction work, title deeds, and so forth. But his effort was rewarding; from 1952 to 1956 a great many churches were built.

When he wrote a letter to Doctor Emilio Rodríguez Bustos on December 29, 1956, he expressed satisfaction as he said: “I believe this plan has already yielded positive results to such an extent that more has been invested in church construction in the last 25 months than over the past 25 years.”

Maestro Alfonso threw all his energies into ecumenical work, and the SET students played a key role in this endeavor. He worked tirelessly on the training of seminarians, the organization of institutes for laypersons and pastors at local churches, and on an intensive Christian education.

Maestro Alfonso’s ecclesiastic work and academic activity should be appraised as a whole for they are inseparable. As an educator he trained ministers and laypersons, but at the same time he guaranteed the churches for the evangelization he loved so much.

(Professor Sonia Montes de Oca)

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UPCOMING EVENTS

 

From February 19 to March 1, 2007

 

Second Meeting on Master’s Degree

 

 

From March 5 to 9, 2007

 

First Session of Part-Time Access Course at the SET, Matanzas

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CANADIAN PASTOR INTERVIEWED AT THE SET

Pastor Christobal Levan, of the United Church of Canada, is a professor of Ethics and New Testament at Santo Tomás University. While visiting the SET recently, he gladly agreed to be interviewed. Below is what he opined:

“I am a pastor of the United Church of Canada. My church in Friendrikton is a congregation that has maintained special relations with the SET. We have an interest in knowing more about the Cuban context, the challenges and obstacles in the Cuban churches. We’d also like to know about Christians in other countries because even though we are different, it is our one wish to keep our identity, and that binds us together.”

“I am interested in teaching New Testament because the social and political context in Cuba is more propitious for theological discussion. In Canada we don’t talk about the 21st century context, so I’d like to learn how people in Cuba today can talk about important things by studying the biblical texts. Nowadays we are living Jesus’ movement, both in Cuba and in Canada. The difference is we are the privileged ones, whereas you are the ones who are facing difficulties. Finally, I’d like to add that Cubans are very spontaneous and warm.”

 

 

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

    President of the Board: Bishop Miguel Tamayo Zaldivar

 Vice-President of the Board:  Carlos Camps Cruel, D.Ped.

Secretary of the Board: Odette Naranjo Colón

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Rector: Reinerio Arce Valentín, Th.D.

 Vice-rector: Pablo Odén Marichal. Th.M

  Dean: Francisco Marrero Gutiérrez, Th.M.

 Vice-Dean: Norca Iglesias Zúńiga, B.Ed.

Chaplain: Wil Arts Ph.M.

 

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FULL PROFESSORS

Clara L. Ajo Lázaro, Th.D,  Theology, Sergio Arce Martínez, Ph.D, Theology, Dora E. Arce Valentín, Th.M,   Biblical Sciences, Reinerio Arce Valentín, Th.D, Theology, Carlos M. Camps Cruell, Ped.D. Theology,  Alina Camps Iglesias, Lic,  Complementary Courses, F. René Castellanos Morente, Ph.D,  Biblical Sciences, Nelson A. Dávila Rodríguez, Sc.M. Practical  Theology, Marianela de la Paz Cot, Th.M. Practical Theology,  Iván González Tassé, Th.M. Practical  Theology,  Adolfo Ham Reyes, Ph.D. Philosophy and History, Odén Marichal Rodríguez, Th.M. Philosophy and History, Francisco Marrero Gutiérrez, Th.M.  Biblical Sciences, Héctor Méndez Rodríguez, D.Min. Practical Theology, Daniel Montoya Rosales, Th.M. Practical Theology, Ofelia Ortega Suárez, D.D.h.c. Theology, Pedro J. Triana Fernández, Th.D. Biblical Sciences.

 

VISITING PROFESSORS

Prof. Ildefonso Acosta Escobar Music, Prof. Wil Arts, Ph.M. Practical Theology, Dra. Mercedes Cárdenas Hodelins Complementary Courses, Esther Fuentes Oliva, Th.M. Practical Theology, José O. González Martínez, Lic.  Complementary Courses, Carlos R. Molina Rodríguez, Lic. Philosophy and History, Sonia Montes de Oca Castellanos, Lic. Complementary Courses, Orestes Roca Santana, Lic Biblical Sciences, Dr. Min. Francisco Rodés González Philosophy and History,  Daylíns Rufín Pardo, Th.M. Biblical Sciences, Prof. Hans Spinder Philosophy and History,  Iraida Trujillo Lima, Lic. Complementary Courses.

 

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Director:

 Reinerio Arce Valentín, Th.D.

 

Edition: 

   Elizabeth González R., Ing.

 

Writing

 

Rosa Bahomondes, Sc.M.

 

   Elizabeth González R., Ing.

 

 

Design and typesetting

 

 José O. González, Lic.

 

Photography:

 

Jesús Martínez León

 

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Calle Dos de Mayo Final, Apartado 1439, Matanzas, Cuba

(: (53-45) 24-2866 ext. 14

7: (53-45) 25-3391

set@enet.cu

http://cuba-theological-seminary.org

 

Hinicio

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