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Tuesday November 6, 2007

Hector Mendez, moderator of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Cuba. [Foto:ALC]
Hector Mendez, moderator of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Cuba. [Foto:ALC]

I do not believe in super-pastors” said Cuban Presbyterian leader

José Aurelio Paz, HAVANA, Cuba, November 2, 2005

“I do not believe in super-pastors, but in the effectiveness of shared work between the Taxi Heathrow Airport pastor and the community, where each has the space to develop their God-given gifts,” said the Rev. Hector Mendez during a celebration October 30 for his 40 years in the ministry.

During the worship service held in the First Presbyterian and Reformed Church of Havana, the 65-year-old leader spoke about the meaning of these 40 years dedicated to God and the community, the search for an indigenous Church and about powerful testimonial and service vocation.

“I have lived them in fear of God. In constant learning about the teachings of Jesus Christ in the face of any challenges, seeking to solve problems and conflicts from a perspective of reconciliation,” said Mendez who has been the moderator of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Cuba since 2004.

He has also held key roles in the ecumenical world. He was one of the leaders of the Latin American Union of Ecumenical Youth (ULAJE), a founder in Cuba of the Christian Youth Association (ACJ), a board member of the Latin American Council of Churches and a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee.

Since 1991, he has been pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Havana, an enclave in the center of the city in one of the poorest neighborhoods. For the past 10 years, together with his congregation, he has developed a project called Telephone Friend, which provides accompaniment and pastoral and psychological counselling. The church also sponsors a baseball team made up of community workers as well as a children’s team and a community library.

In the worship service, Mendez, accompanied by his wife Oneida Padilla, received two plaques in recognition of his pastoral work. Other guests include Pastor Rhode Gonzalez Zorrilla, president of the Cuban Council of Churches and the Rev. Carlos Camp, secretary general of the Presbyterian Synod.