Evangelical Seminary of Theology
Matanzas
EVENTS / FEBRUARY 2010
Credits
Contacts
Leadership
Professor
Interviews
BOOK
PRESENTATIONS
13TH
MEETING OF BACHELOR IN THEOLOGY PROGRAM
PRE-DISSERTATION
OF MASTERS THESIS AND DIPLOMA PAPERS
EXCHANGE
WITH CANADIAN INSTITUTIONS
ANUAL
THEOLOGICAL MEETING
2ND
MEETING OF MASTERS PROGRAM
ASH
WEDNESDAY
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING
DR.
JEAN ZUMSTEIN’S LECTURES
1ST
PROVINCIAL WORKSHOP OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP
VISITORS
SIGNING
OF AGREEMENT OF COLABORATION BETWEEN CUBA AND DM-ÈCHANGE ET
MISSSION
19TH
INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR OF HAVANA
BOOK
PRESENTATION
On
February 2 two books were presented in the library of SET on the topic of
addictions: Volver al abismo: un
abordaje pastoral del alcoholismo (Back to the Abyss: A Pastoral Approach to
Alcoholism) by Dr. Rene Krugger; and
¡Se puede dejar! Manual para vencer las adicciones (You Can Quit!: Manual to
Stop Addictions) by Dr. Darío Hernán Montagano. Both books were donated by
Dr. René Krugger, profesor and Director of the Library of the University Institute ISEDET in
Argentina.
Dr.
Marianela
de la Paz Cot, professor in our Seminary, commented about the book that,”Dr.
René Kugger portrays in his book Volver al abismo: un abordaje pastoral del
alcoholismo the dificult moments of the daily life of an alcoholic, and the
impact this situation has on the family. This leads us to reflect on this silent
disease, which spreads as an epidemic, attacking our society. By having an
awareness of these situations sensitive readers may be moved to try to become
agents of a healing pastoral to evidence that it is possible to walk the way to
healing.”
In
reference to “¡Se puede dejar! Manual
para vencer las adicciones” Dr. Paz stated,
“This Manual is the result of many years of intense work, where the autor
communicates in a clear, easy language the principles of the Word of God which
produces a deep transformation in addictive behaviors.”
13TH
MEETING OF BACHELOR IN THEOLOGY PROGRAM
The
13th Meeting of the non-residential program of Bachelor in
Theology was held from February 1-7. Students attended the courses
Christology and Educational Ministry II, taught by professors Clara Luz Ajo Lázaro and
Nelson Dávila respectively.
PRE-DISSERTATION OF MASTERS AND
DIPLOMA PAPERS
Students presented the first draft of
their Masters Thesis and Diploma Papers during February 9 and 10. After these
presentations, they will continue working in the next months, to present their
final papers from June 7-9 to the Staff of the Seminary, as a requisite to
obtain the academic Degrees of Bachelor in Theology and Masters in
Theology.
From the Masters program the following
students presented:
Sung Gi Kim (Presbyterian Church of Korea) the
thesis entitled: Diaconal Eclesiology: mission as
diacony.
Cándido Q. Fernández
Pérez (“Los Amigos”
(Friends) Quakers Church): A Theological Approach to Dulce María
Loynaz’s Work
Yodalis Rodríguez
Santiago (Free
Evangelic Church), presented his paper: Pastoral for Families with People
with Severe Mental Challenge.
Vivian Rodríguez Matos (Church of God) the paper entitled:
Intrafamily Violence.
Student from the Bachelor
program:
Asdrúbal Forte Verea (Fraternity of Baptist Churches)
presented the paper: Some Biblical Guidelines for a Just and Sustainable
Economy.
EXCHANGE WITH CANADIAN INSTITUTIONS
Brothers and sisters from the
congregation of the United Church of Canada at Wilmot, together with a
numerous delegation of theology students from the University of Saint
Thomas, both institutions from Fredericton, Ontario, visited the
Seminary from February 8-14. At the head of the group were professor Chris Levan
and professor Vallerie Ross. The most interesting thing about this group was
that people from diferent ages fraternized and enjoyed together a varied
and interesting program which allowed them to share with the community of the
Seminary, to know about the life in our churches and to appreciate Cuban
culture.
Doctor Dorcas Gordon from Knox
College, Toronto,
from the Presbyterian Church of Canada visited SET again from February 2-27
accompanied by a delegation of 17 sudents from different nationalities, and by
professors Bradley McLean and Nom Soon Song. During their stay they had some
educational activities, visited churches, and also went to diferent places of
cultural interest.
ANUAL THEOLOGICAL
MEETING
Over a hundred participants attended
the Anual
Theological Meeting held on February 11 and 12, dedicated to Apostle Saint
Peter. This year we had the 
pleasure
of receiving again the Bible specialist and Irish professor Dr. John Dominic Crossan, who presented
his book, co-authored by Marcus J. Borg, The First Paul: Recovering a Radical
Visionary related with the topic of this meeting.
Five
lectures were given by Professor Dr. Crossan (three lectures), Professor Dr.
Dorcas Gordon from Knox College (one), and Dr. Adolfo Ham Reyes, professor of SET
(one). The questions and reactions of the participants enriched the reflections
dring this theological meeting.
Among the participants at the meeting
there were professors Christopher Levan and Vallerie Ross and students from St.
Thomas Universit from Federicton, New Brunswick, Canada; a delegation from Knox
College of 17 students from the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan and other European
countries headed by professors Bradley McLean and Nom Soon Song, from the
Presbyterian Church of Canada. Other delegations present in this meeting: a
group from the Presbyterian Church from Westminster, Minneapolis, USA, headed by
Reverend Tim Hart-Acheason; and a group from the Baptist Church from Port
William, Canada.
BOOK PRESENTATION: CAPÍTULOS DE UNA
HISTORIA DE AMOR: MÍSTICOS DEL AMOR (CHAPTERS
FROM A LOVE STORY: MYSTICS OF LOVE)
On the afternoon of February 9, the
book Capítulos de una historia de amor: místicos del amor (Chapters from a
Love Story:Mystics of Love) by Profesor Adolfo Ham Reyes, Theology PhD, and
Doctor Honoris Causa in Theology, was presented in the library at SET. The
presentation of the book was made by Reverend Raimundo García Franco, director
of the Center for Reflection and Dialogue of Cárdenas city, who stated that, “In
this text Adolfo presents the issue of Christian mystics in the midst of great
ignorance and confusion on this topic. This is an important contribution since I
believe it is the first book ever written in Cuba on this topic in the
Protestant area. The mystic teachings allow us to recover the value of
reflection and silence, even amid the most diverse
conflicts.”
On the other hand, the author of the
book commented,” I have wanted to present my fellow readers – specially those of
evangelical formation – this introduction to mystics, because in general we are
churches with lots of prejudices and ignorance on mystic phenomena. This is not
the case of the Roman Catholic Church and of the oriental Orthodox churches,
which have had a long tradition on mystics. I have done it by introducing nine
mystic men and women from different epochs and different religions. My purpose
is to evidence that this, in esence, is the same phenomenon, so that basically
there are no distinctions as to mystics, at least , among related religions.
Ince mystics phenomen are so varied nd complex, I have wanted to focus on the
mystics of love. This book also has an autobiographical implication, since due
to my long and full years, I have am more inclined to those richer dimensions of
faith, which make us feel our God deeply and nearer.”
2ND MEETING OF MASTERS
PROGRAM
The 2nd Meeting of the
Masters Program was held at SETon Februar 15-17. Professors Clara Luz Ajo Lázaro
and Alina Camps taught the subjects Panorama of Theology in Latin America and
the Caribbean and Methodology of Research I respectively. guest speakers
Dr. Jean Zumstein gve 
the lecture John’s Community,
and Pedro Carrasco, Sociology and Theology PhD from the French Swiss Reformed
Church taught the course What is This Thing Called Religion? This is the
fifth time that professor Carrasco visits us. He commented about this course,” I
was invited by SET and was sponsored by the Program of Academic Exchange of the
Mission Deprtment of the Protestant Church in French Switzerland (DM Èchange et
Mission). I worked with the students on the origins and causes of religion so as
to be able to reach a possible definition, useful in Cuba, of religion and the
religious phenomenon in general. This is a course that refers in a special way
to the great founders of sociology in religion, considering especially Weber,
Durkein, Marx and more recently Bourdieu. I wanted to present what the first
sociologist in religion stated. It was interesting, useful and very meaningful,
because they analyze religion from different perspectives: Marx from the
economic point of view, Durkein from the symbolic, and Weber from the
comprehensive sociology of rationality point of view. I focused on this last
one, becuse of the interesting aspect of having worked an idea of religious
field which uses in a critical way the thoughts of these authors as to their
idea of symbolic capital.”
ASH
WEDNESDAY
Liturgy time during Lent was initiated
by celebrating Ash Wednesday on February 17 in The Resurrection,
the chapel of our seminary. Professor and Rector Dr. Dorcas Gordon with
professors and students of Knox College from Toronto, Canada, presented a
renewed and beautiful program. At the end, the participants, forming a great
circle, maked one another with ashes thus recognizing in front of God our
fragility and humility.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING
The SET Board
of Directors led by its president Presbyter
Daniel Izquierdo
Hernández
met on Februay 23 in its first regular meeting of 2010. Aspects of the agenda
discused general reports of the Seminary during 2009, as well as other matters
of interest for the institution.
DR. JEAN ZUMSTEIN’S
LECTURES
Professor Dr. Jean Zumstein,
specialist in New Testament Theology visited us, and gave several lectures on
The Comunity of Jesus and The Gospel According to John for the
students of the Masters program from February 22 to 26. Internationally
renown on this topic, Dr. Zumstein also gave open lectures for the whole
community on the 25 and 26 of February. Zumstein was invited by the
Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Cuba and by SET as part of the activities
carried out by the academic exchange sponsored by DM – Èchange et Mission of the
Reformed Churches from French Switzerland.
1ST PROVINCIAL WORKSHOP OF
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Around one hundred brothers and
sisters from the Adventists of the 7th Day Church in Matanzas
gathered on February 26 and 27 at our Seminary to hold the 1ST
Provincial Workshop of Youth Leadership, directed by Pastor Rubén Recio
Martínez. This event was also attended by Pastor Ruber Álvarez, national leader
of young adventists and several members of the Conquerors of the Clover Club
from Havana. The objective of these workshops is to upgrade and train leaders
who are interested in working with youth and children in adventist
churches.
VISITORS
- We received
Reverend Tim Hart-Andersen, Pastor of
Westminster Presbyterian Church from Mineapolis, Minnesota, and a group of
brothers and sisters from this church. They interviewed and shared fraternally
with our Rector about the program of sister churches which they hold with our
Seminary.
- Brother
Ron Buckley, sister
Carol Buckley
and a group of brothers
from the Port
William
Baptist Church visited the Seminary on February 11, interested
in knowing the work of this institution. These brothers and sisters had the
oportunity to walk around the facilities of the seminary, and to share with
Rector Reinerio Arce and the SET community. Carol reminded us that she had
taught an English course for the students at the Seminary some years
ago.
- Christine
Muller and a group of brothers and sisters from the Luteran Church in
Leizing, Germany visited our Seminary on February 15. During their visit
they made a tour around the facilities of the institution and established a
dialogue with the administration of the seminary. They were interested in
knowing about theological education and the Church in Cuba. They also shared
during lunch with the students at SET.
SIGNING OF AGREEMENT OF COLABORATION
BETWEEN CUBA AND DM-ÈCHANGE ET MISSSION
Jacques Kung, DM-Echange et Mission
Secretary General visited our Seminary from February 22 to March 2nd,
accompanied 
by the Executive Secretary for Latin
America and in charge of this exchange, Ms. Nancy Carrasco Paredes, and Mr.
Bertrand Quantie, in charge of communication and animation of Swiss parishes.
The objective of this visit was to sign the agreement of cooperation between the
Cuban partner – the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba, Martin Luther King,
Jr. Memorial Center, Center Kairos and Set – and DM-Echange et Mission as
the other partner. During the ceremony, celebrated in the Nize Fernández Hall on
March 1st, the Secretary General Mr. Kung explained the importance
this exchange has not only for Cuban institutions, bu for his Department too,
due to the contributions both partners can bring for the efficient mission of
the Protestant Church in French Switzerland. Other 
speakers were Presbyter Francisco
Marrero Gutiérrez, General Secretary of the Synod of the
Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba; Joel Suárez Rodés from the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Memorial Center, and Reverend Francisco Rodés González, from
Kairos Center. On behalf of the Seminary Rector Dr. Reinerio Arce Valentín gave
the final speech, and analyzed the need of the Cuban parts, with the other
missions the Swiss partner has in Africa especially, to reflect on the mission
of the church in our world today. To close the ceremony, Mr. Kung was presented
with photograph of Matanzas Bay by artist Jesús Martínez, taken on
Resurrection Sunday at dawn.
19TH
INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR OF HAVANA
Students
and librarians from SET visited the old Cabaña Fortress on February
15th to go through the different stands and publishing houses which
exhibited their collections at the 19TH
International Book Fair of Havana. This year Russia was the guest country, and
it was dedicated to Dr.
María del Carmen Barcia and Dr. Reynaldo González.
The
stand of the Camino Publishing House, from the Martin Luther King,Jr. Center was
an obligatory stop during this tour, to browse over the books and acquire a
sample of their recent production on socio-theology and popular
education.
They
all enjoyed this visit which the seminary offered, where they visited places of
historical interest and obtained good literature by different authors, styles
and tendencies.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President of the Board: P.P. Daniel Izquierdo
Hernández, Th.M.
Vice-President of the
Board: Bishop
Miguel Tamayo Zaldivar
Secretary of the
Board: P.
P. Ismael Madruga Sotolongo , Lic.
lll
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: Marianela de la Paz Cot,
Th.D.
Daniel Montoya
Rosales, Th. M.
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.D, 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, Carlos Expósito Irarragorri, Lic. 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, Th.M. 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.
Director:
Reinerio Arce Valentín, Th.D.
Edition, Design and typesetting
Elizabeth González R., Ing.
Writing
Rosa Bahamonde
Fernández, Sc.M.
Elizabeth González R., Ing.
Photography:
Jesús Martínez
León
Calle Dos de Mayo Final,
Apartado 1439, Matanzas, Cuba
(: (53-45)
24-2866 ext. 34
(53-45)
290575
http://www.cuba-theological-seminary.com/
Hinicio