Evangelical Seminary of Theology

Matanzas

 

EVENTS / MARCH 2008

 

Credits       Contacts       Leadership       Professor       Interviews

 

 

 

       A GROUP FROM WILMOT UNITED CHURCH VISITS THE SET

       THIRD MEETING OF THE BACHELOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

       INTRODUCTORY COURSES FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL’S TEACHERS

       LECTURE BY BISHOP FRANK T. GRISWOLD AT “MAURICIO LOPEZ” CHAIR

       PILGRIMAGE

       EASTER WORSHIP AT SET

       COMMEMORATION MARKING THE DAY OF ACCOMPANIMENT TO DISABLED PEOPLE

       MAKING DEEPER OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA

       A VISIT OF THE TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ATLANTA

       A VISIT OF THE REFORMED WORLD ALLIANCE

       A VISIT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES OF THE CARIBBEAN (CCC)

       COMING ACTIVITIES.

 

A GROUP FROM WILMOT UNITED CHURCH VISITS THE SET

 

 March 4^th to 8^th, Dr. Christopher Levan, Wilmot United Church’s pastor, Ethic and New Testament professor at the Saint Thomas University, in Canada and a friend of the SET, visited us together with a group of university students and members of his church in order to share with the community of the SET.  

 

   Talking about this visit, our friend Levan said: “The Wilmot United Church has fraternal relationships with the SET. Most of the people of this group are young people from the church. They use to study and to work. This visit is a special opportunity for them, since they can learn about Cuban culture and politic.”

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THIRD MEETING OF THE BACHELOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

 

   The third meeting of the Bachelor of Christian Education took place from the 10^th to the 14^th March at the SET headquarters. This time the participants had the subject “Educative ministry of the church III” emphasizing in the process teaching-learning and the curriculum, given by Prof. Rita Martinez Pichardo, from the Matanzas University and Nelson Davila Rodriguez from our staff. Over this meeting, it was also developed a work-shop oral story-telling leaded by the Ileana Hernandez, a specialist from Matanzas.

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INTRODUCTORY COURSES FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

 

   On March 7^th and 8^th, the introductory courses for Sunday school teachers continue developing in the following under-headquarters: Holguin, “Knowledge of the History of the Church” given by Carlos Molina Rodriguez: Santiago de Cuba gave “Knowledge of the Old Testament”  

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LECTURE BY BISHOP FRANK T. GRISWOLD AT “MAURICIO LOPEZ” CHAIR.

 

   Frank T. Griswold, the 25^th President Bishop and ex-Primate of the Episcopalian Church of the United States and Mrs. Barbara Brayer, his assistant for communication, were with us from the 21^st February to the 17^th March. On March 11^th March, in the evening, he gave the masterly lecture Pastoral formation, at “Mauricio Lopez” Chair. Professors, students and members of the community of SET attended to it.

   Bishop Griswold said I am very happy to be in Cuba again. I came here in 2006. I appreciate this invitation to the director of the Seminary to be at the SET again. Thank you for this opportunity! All people are very nice and very friendly, both students and professors, and also workers. I am much moved with the seminary students’ work.”

   All through the visit, he took an interest in the Christian-ecumenical life in Cuba.

He also lectured at “Mauricio Lopez” Chair on Christian spirituality, the pastoral practice and for the students of his denomination he talked about Anglican tradition. He taught at the Episcopalian Cathedral at Havana. He performed meditations and discussions with Episcopalian priests and bishops of Cuba and, in Cardenas, gave lectures to the seculars about the Christian life.

   Before saying good-by he wanted to state “I would not end without expressing how interesting have been the informal talks with the students and professors while sharing the table. “We look forward to getting back to the Seminary!”

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PILGRIMAGE

 

   Eleven years ago, we celebrate at Matanzas city, the Saturday before Palm Sunday, an ecumenical pilgrimage in order to remember the week of our Lord Jesus Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. This year summoned all people from Matanzas on Saturday the 15^th of March, it was followed the same itinerary which started at eight thirty in the morning with a twenty-minutes program arranged by each church. Usually, it consists of a song which is sung all the long of the walk, prayers, silence, readings and meditation on one of stations of the Way of the Cross. The first moment was at the Roman Catholic cathedral

“San Carlos Borromeo” of Matanzas. After the ending of the service, they went to the First Baptist Church. This station started at nine thirty. Next, they visited the Central Reformed-Presbyterian Church and then, arriving to the Roman-Catholic church “El Carmen”at 10 AM. And after that climbing up to the Evangelical Seminary of Theology where they also reflected on one of the stations of the Way of the Cross and they shared in the gardens –in small groups of seven people- their personal experience they got while going on the pilgrimage. The program ended at the Chapel “Resurrection” of the SET, where the presbyter Ofelia Ortega Suarez preached on the Gospel of John 19: 23-24: Jesus is left unclothed. After singing and having a prayer-request for the problems which as people and church are needed of God’s intervention, the journey was closed. This year we had the joy of walking with brothers and sisters from the Reformed-Presbyterian church of Varadero and his pastor, Presbyter Daniel Dopico, who also is Vice-president of the Churches Council of Cuba for the province of Matanzas and the special municipality of the la Isla de la Juventud.     

   >From now, everyone is summoned to, in the coming 2009, celebrate the twelfth anniversary of this event which is supported by the Evangelical Seminary of Theology.

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   EASTER WORSHIP AT SET

 

   On March 23^rd, at the sun rise, a crowd of around 800 people met, since very early at the viewpoint of the Seminary to celebrate together Jesus’ resurrection, our savor.

   To participate joined to people of different confessions, ages; to pray, to sing together, without any denominational barrier, it is always stunning for the participants. The emotion felt at that moment is unique. All around is beautiful, mystic: the mist, the fragrance of the early morning integrating people and the nature around, the music, the words: everything gets a one-and-only dimension because all together –men and women- are the Christ’s body celebrating the overcoming the death.

   This year, Silvano Castelli, an Italian Franciscan friar and parish priest at the Roman-catholic church “Saint Peter” at Versalles arose in our spirit the true meaning Christ’s resurrection.

   This worship has been celebrated for more than sixty years at this same place and for people from Matanzas is a tradition and a truly instance of the interdenominational and ecumenical relationships which are more than a hundred years.

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VISITORS

 

   From North Carolina

            A group of brothers and sisters of the West Raleigh Presbyterian Church visited us. They were welcomed by Francisco Marrero Gutierrez, General-Secretary of the Reformed-Presbyterian Church. They share at the dining-room with professors and students of the SET.

 

From Calgary, Canada

   On March 26^th, Vallerie Ross and a group of elementary school teachers and art professors of Calgary, Canada visited the SET. In the evening they participated in the dance lesson led by Maestro Rene Castellanos.

   Vallerie, also collaborated in some activities of the SET and in the spiritual life, having in the evenings some moments of spirituality in the garden around the chapel.

 

From Belleville, Ontario, Canada

   A group of Canadian young people from the United Church of Belleville in Ontario, Canada, visited the SET on the 12^th of March and at lunch they share with the community of students and professors of the seminary.

 

From Iona, Scotland

   Thursday, the 27^th of March a group from the Iona Community* visited us and participated in a service at the chapel of the SET, marking the disable people day. They were welcomed by the Dean Francisco Marrero Gutierrez, General-Secretary of the Reformed-Presbyterian Church, with whom they had a talk about the work of the institution. They share some experiences from their community, being a healing community over all. Reverend Carolin Smyth was the group leader. She said “all people need to be healed: our body, our minds and our injured hearts; the same for our communities, countries and the Earth. During the celebration of healing services at Iona, there is a moment for requests and it is also offered the possibility to receive or to share the ministry laying the hands on them.’’

   After the lunch, they met the group Retal, not just for feeling affection for the arts, but also to show photos of Iona and its founder Reverend George Macleod. Together with this brothers and sisters we could feel the deep affinity existing among us. We said good-by with yearning to meet again.

 

   “The Christian Community Iona is an heiress of the Benedictine and Reformed      

 Celt tradition. It is found in an island with the same name, in Scotland. It was

 Founded on the ruins of an ancient Benedictine Abbey of Iona by the Reverend   George MacLeod , from  the Reformed Church of Scotland,  in 1938.The community is engaged  in the life in common, in the work for social and political changing and it is known by its determination to renew the church with an ecumenical  approach and exploring new and participative liturgical forms. The community has 240 members, 1500 associated members and 1500 friends. The members –men and women, ordinate and lay ones, from different backgrounds and Christian traditions—they live in whole Great Britain some ones out of the country. They follow the Rule of daily pray sharing time and money, regular meetings and actions for justice and peace, Every year many people visit Iona island for a one-day or more retreat.

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COMMEMORATION MARKING THE DAY OF ACCOMPANIMENT TO DISABLED PEOPLE

 

SERVICE AT THE CHAPEL “RESURRECTION”

   On the 27^th of March, at the SET it was marked the Day of Accompaniment to Disabled People. For this occasion, it was organized a service at the chapel “Resurrection”, taking part disabled people and brothers and sister of Iona community. The artist, Dayle Hernandez, talked about the meaning of the art for her and what she has experienced finding healing in her life. Reverend Carolin Smyth talked that as part of the Iona ministry, they have healing prayers every day.

 

“STATIONS”: AN ART EXPOSITION BY THE GROUP RETAL

 

   Thursday evening, March 27^th, professors Wil Arts and Hans Spinder, a Dutch couple, welcomed at their house and gardens, the art exposition “Stations” by the group Retal, made up of women from Matanzas.

   In an intimate ambiance, surrounded of paintings, tapestries, poems, printings and craftsmanship, the visitors walked trough the “stations” in an artistic environment full of Will’s words, the music on the Han’s saxo, the short-stories told by two story-tellers and the participant’s interchange of ideas about the meaning of the stations in our life.

   This exposition was open until the 3^rd of April. It was admired by visitors from the city, Canada, the United States, Holland and Scotland.

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MAKING DEEPER OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA 

 

   >From the 6^th to 8^th March, Riukah Unland visited the SET. She is the coordinator for the program People in Mission, from the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relationships Unity of the United Church of Canada. This program facilitates the relationships among the between the members of the United Church of Canada and the corresponding institutions, through visits and interchange of groups and individuals. 

   Director Reinerio Arce Valentin largely talked with Riukah about the work and the teaching programs at the SET and about the relationships between both institutions, since Cuba is one of the most visited countries by the United Churcg of Canada.

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A VISIT OF THE TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ATLANTA

 

   Representing “Trinity”, the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, Georgia, visited us again from the 8^th to the 12^th of March, Steven Darse and group of brothers and sisters from this church. Historically, they have kept fraternal relationships with the SET. The visitors, concerned to know our teaching work, met with Reinerio Arce Valentin and professors.

Referring to the impressions of their visit, Steve told: “I which my church to continue developing the relationships with this institution. The SET is fundamental for the churches in Cuba since the increasing of Cuban churches needs trained pastors and in particular this institution trains leaders for they could suitable carry out the work in the churches. We understand the big difficulties the Cuba people and we wish to help the SET in the work with the churches.”

   Throughout their staying, they visited churches and places of interest.

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A VISIT OF THE WORLD REFORMED ALLIANCE

 

   Dr. Lidia Castell, specialist in Juridical Science, Moderator of the Synod of the Spanish Evangelical Church of Barcelona and member of the Central Committee of the World Reformed  Alliance. She arrived to Cuba together with her family and two lawyers, members of the Supreme Court of Barcelona in order to participate in the Congress of Cultural Patrimony which took place at Havana from 17^th to 21^st March. To visit our seminary and some Reformed-Presbyterian churches was a part of her schedule. Dr. Castell told: “We are feeling a strong impression with this seminary, over all with the programs you offer for the training of the laity and besides, the emphasis on the ecological subject. We want to appreciate all your kindness.”

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A VISIT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CARIBBEAN CHURCHES (CCC)

 

   On the 7^th of March, Reverend Canon Knolly Clarke of the Anglican Church of Trinidad and Tobago (of the church in the province of West Indies) visited the SET

   Canon Clarke has been an ecumenical leader in the Caribbean and one of the driving force of the Caribbean Theology together with the already deceased Dr. Idris Hamid and Roy Neehall and Leslie Lett and Dale Bisneauth from Antigua and Guyana respectively. 

   This was his first visit to the SET and to Cuba for attending, as a representative of General Secretary of CCC, Reverend Gerard Granado, to the recent Assembly of the Council of Churches of Cuba.

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COMING EVENTS

 

   May 2^nd and 3^rd            

Meeting of the Sunday school teachers training course in Holguin

 

   May 2^nd and 3^rd              

Meeting of the Sunday school teachers training course in Santa Clara

  

   May 5^th – 9^th

4^th meeting of the non-resident Bachelor of Christian Education Course

 

   May 9^th and 10^th

Meeting of the Sunday school teachers training course in Santiago de Cuba.

 

   May 12^th-16^th                  

4^th Meeting of the Bachelor of Theology Course

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INTERVIEW TO MARIA MORALES AT THE SET

 

   We welcomed Mrs. Maria Morales who will stay at SET from the 2^nd March to the beginning of May. She is the assistant of the Programs for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relationships Unity of the United Church of Canada. Her presence has special significance to our seminary, since she is one of the friends from the Canadian churches which are sympathetic to Cuba and to the SET. Throughout this visit she will collaborate together with her husband David Reid in the teaching of English at the Seminary.

   Talking about her work she said: “The Justice Unity has in charge to deal with work of justice in and out of Canada. It looks after the refugees. Most of them come from countries with violence or exclusion. I also work with the human rights and with the global relationships out of Canada, in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. We have relationships in all these areas and some of them are bilateral.

 

   In Latin America, we have relationships with the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), the Latin American Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches (CIMAL) and with other organizations in countries like Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia.

 

   In urban areas, in Canada, there are thousands of homeless. We work with matters related to the economy, the housing and the health in order to make better the life conditions for these people.

 

 Smiling, she finished saying, with her typical modesty: “I had been in Cuba as a tourist, but I have not could know the work which is done by the different institutions we are interested in. Now, with this visit, I have had the opportunity to appreciate the work of the Cuban institutions which with we have relationships: The SET, Martin Luther King Center, the Reflection and Dialogue Christian Center.”      

 

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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

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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: Iván González Tassé, Th.M.

Chaplain: Wil Arts Ph.M. and Norca Iglesias Zúñiga, Lic

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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.

 

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.

 

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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

 

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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://www.cuba-theological-seminary.com/    

 

Hinicio

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