Evangelical Seminary of Theology

Matanzas

 

EVENTS / September  2007

 

Credits       Contacts       Leadership       Professor       Interviews

 

 

*       OPENING OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008

*       GRADUATION AT SANCTI-SPIRITUS

*       OPINIONS OF THE FIRST-YEAR GROUP REFERING TO THE PROGRAM OF THE DEGREE ON THEOLOGY

*       RETIREMENT OF PRESBYTERIAN PASTORS

*       SEMINARY FOR TEACHERS OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS  

*       COMING EVENTS

 

 

OPENING OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008

 

On Monday, the 3rd of September, at the meeting room “Nice Fernandez” of the ETS, with a very simple ceremony, started the new academic year 2007-2008 with the presence of the Dean Francisco Marrero Gutiérrez, the Principal Reinerio Arce Valentín and the Presbyter-Pastor Daniel Izquierdo Hernández, the vice president to the Management Board who officially opened the academic year and welcomed there seven first-year students: Marlon Irragorry Martínez, Mayra Prado Ramírez and Enrique Rivero from the Reformed-Presbyterian church; Haydée Lugo Marrero and Santiago Rodríguez Rodríguez  from the Episcopalian church; Yuniel Madruga Castañeda from the Evangelical church and Yadira Mesa Arias from the ULAJE (Latinamerican Union of Ecumenical Youth)

 The ecumenical spirit of our institution is reaffirmed by the students who has registered the seven courses we offer, coming among other, from the following denominations, and ecumenical movements: The Reformed-Presbyterian Church,  Episcopalian Church, the Baptist Churches Fellowship, Church of God, the Quaker Friends, Reformed Christian Church, the  Soldiers of the Cross, Free Evangelical Church, Sinai Mount Church, Methodist Church, the Christian Pentecostal Church, Eastern Baptist Church, Supreme  Grace Church, the Salvation Army. The Independent Assembly of God, Interdenominational Christian Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Episcopalian Church of Uruguay, Methodist Church of Ecuador, the Episcopalian Church of Haiti,  Lutheran Church of Brazil, Presbyterian Church of Korea,  “B. Lavastidas” Center, the Kairos Centre, ULAJE and the Christian Institute of Gender.       

The same morning, in the meeting of the Board of Management were re-elected the Bishop Miguel Tamayo Zaldivar as president, the Chairman of the Synod of the Reformed-Presbyterian Church, Presbyter Pastor Daniel Izquierdo Hernández, as vice-director and Odette Naranjo Colón as secretary.

 

5

 

GRADUATION AT SANCTI-SPIRITUS

 

On the 18th of September, it was celebrated with a moving and solemn graduation ceremony the course 2004-2007 of the program of Biblical-Theological training for laypersons at the Reformed-Presbyterian Church of Sancti-Spiritus.

 

Were present the presbyter-pastor Daniel Izquierdo Hernández,  vice-president of the Management Board of the ETS, the Mth. Iván González Tassé, vice-dean and coordinator for this program, Professor Doctor Carlos Camps Cruell and Bachelor Norca Iglesias Zúñiga, chaplain of ETS who were welcomed by Presbyter-pastor Mirielys Negrín Navia and the brothers and sisters of the congration.

Fourteen students graduated. Out of them, ten women and four men, all members of the Reformed-Presbyterian and the Roman Catholic churches.    Doctor Carlos Camp addressed the speech to the students.

 

5

 

OPINIONS OF THE FIRST-YEAR GROUP REFERING TO THE PROGRAM OF THE DEGREE ON THEOLOGY

 

Every starting year, the ETS community, enthusiastically and curiously, welcomes the new students. In a break, we came closer to the group in order to find out their first impressions.

“We came here because we feel God’s call and we hope the subjects studied at the seminary will help us in our pastoral work and, also, to get the theoretical knowledge that we are missing. It’s a very good thing to share with people coming front other denominations, to learn to live with other points of view and with other personalities and other characters”.

They said that one of the biggest richness they have found in the institution is the library, the service offered, besides the amount of texts they can get, and have the chance of learning for making better their curricula”.

Another student said: “The ETS is a special place where we will discover and know who we are and how far we can go in order to make richer our experience of life. Through these studies we can wish to become better both spiritually and personally. The pastoral work requires knowledge. We need to find the answer to our inquiries and questions. We will get not just biblical-theological training but we will also have other subjects as Philosophy, History, Music, and so on”.

In our interview they told us their expectations are to leave the seminary with a more ecumenical vision to work with the communities.

Almost at the end of our interview, a student told us: “we are facing a new life, walking in other direction of the same way”.

5

 

RETIREMENT OF PRESBYTERIAN PASTORS

 

 From the 27th to the 28th of September took place at the ETS a retirement for females and males pastors of the Reformed-Presbyterian Church in Cuba.

 

Twenty-five brothers and sisters attended to this event whose main moment was a panel about the 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUTONOMY OF THE PRESBYTERIANISM IN CUBA. Other matters of general interest were also handled in an environment of opening and mutual respect for the other.

 

5

 

SEMINARY FOR TEACHERS OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS  

 

It was held from the 28th to the 29th of September, at ETS a seminary for female and male teachers of Sunday schools of the Reformed-Presbyterian Churches of the Presbytery of La Habana coordinated with the Christian Education School “Rafael Cepeda Clemente” of this institution. In this event participated the churches of La Habana, Luyanó, Guanabacoa, San Nicolás de Bari, Güines, Los Palos, San Antonio de los Baños and Nueva Paz. It was coordinated by the Christian Education Committee of the Presbytery, emphasizing in the work with the adolescents, the young people and adults.

 

5

 

COMING EVENTS

 

15-20 October                        III Meeting OF NON-RESIDENTIAL BACHELOR DEGREE

 

29-31 October                        MEETING ABOUT ETS’S MISSION

 

5-15 November                      I MEETING OF MASTER’S DEGREE

 

19-23 November                    I MEETING OF SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

  

5

 

INTERVIEW TO STUDENTS

 

JEAN-FILS CHERY, HAITIAN

“I did my degree on Theology at the Faculty of Theology at the Episcopalian University of Haiti. I devoted my time to the pastoral work at church. Coming to Cuba was a decision taken by my seminary’s Dean. He chose me for coming to Cuba in order to do a mastery on Theology to work as a professor, afterwards.

I’m from Haiti. A country where poverty is a fact, as in many other countries.  I wonder how churches can help to change such a situation. I have found out a great deal about this issue on the Neo-liberal Economy Programs and this is precisely the subject I would like to develop in my thesis. I hope this would be helpful to many Christians, to Humanitarian Organizations, and to many good will people defenders of the human rights. It would be also helpful to many first world countries to know they should not impose a program that does not match to the necessities of the poor countries.

For me, Cuba is a great experience. Cuban is very hospitable. I feel here at home. All people help me with the Spanish, so now I am starting to understand and also to participate.

In the Caribbean, Cuba is a different country. I think the way of life here is an example for the leaders of poor countries, to take more suitable decisions for the human and social development. Cuba is the only country in the Caribbean with a so high schooling rate. In other countries de Adjustment Programs do not allow the governments to give an answer to their obligations of food, health and education for the people.  The state can not answer to those necessities.

I think churches can help to show people that their situations are not the God’s will but it is a human situation and that this is a sin. The church should denounce this, if not it is supporting the poverty in the world. The church must be a mobilizing strength, a place of meeting where the poor people could claim what they want. It should be their spokesperson. The church can give a big strength to the poor people. This is a good way to announce the good news.”

 

 

JASON DE OLIVEIRA, Brazilian

“I came to Cuba as a part of the existing interchange between my institution and the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Matanzas. I was having my fourth year of studies at the Escola Superior de Teologia of San Leopoldo, Porto Alegre, Brasil. Besides, I have always liked very much the world history. I have also wanted to come to Cuba to know closely its history.

Cuba is a very sticking phenomenon because here socialism exists and Fidel Castro is a worldwide personality. The socialism is something alien to the capitalist countries so we have a created image of the socialism in Cuba without a true base, so I am very interested to know Cuban reality.

This seminary is very similar to the one of Brasil. Both, they are small, very similar, with the same dynamic of life. I have been very welcomed for all. Living together with the students of this seminary is very open and quite.  I feel at ETS a home spirit. To study in an ecumenical seminary like this one is a very good thing. I have a before experience with ecumenism and it is very good for me to know other experience of faith and culture.

I have loved to make deeper my biblical-theological knowledge through the subjects I am having.  Finally, I love to have meals together in the dinning room.

I have disposition for doing social work and I think during my staying in Cuba I will learn much in this concern”.

 

5

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

    President of the Board: Bishop Miguel Tamayo Zaldivar

 Vice-President of the Board:  P.P. Daniel Izquierdo Hernández, Lic.

Secretary of the Board: Odette Naranjo Colón

-00-

Rector: Reinerio Arce Valentín, Th.D.

 Vice-rector: Pablo Odén Marichal. Th.M

  Dean: Francisco Marrero Gutiérrez, Th.M.

 Vice-Dean: Iván González Tassé, Th.M.

Chaplain: Wil Arts Ph.M.

 

5

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.

 

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, 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.

 

5

 

Director:

 Reinerio Arce Valentín, Th.D.

 

 

Edition, Design and typesetting

 

   Elizabeth González R., Ing.

 

Writing

 

Rosa Bahomondes, Sc.M.

 

   Elizabeth González R., Ing.

 

 

Photography:

 

Jesús Martínez León

 

5

 

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.com

 

Hinicio

5