Cuban Council of Churches celebrates 65 years

HAVANA, Cuba, May 31, 2006

Voicing her gratitude for all of those who “have accompanied us in this long ecumenical Taxi Heathrow Airport journey,” the president of the Cuban Council of Churches Pastor Rhode Gonzalez launched celebrations surrounding the 65th anniversary of this organization in the First Presbyterian Reformed Church of Havana. 

Pastor Gonzalez affirmed the fact that they are able to celebrate is because those who went before were clear about the CIC’s slogan: “United to Serve” which has been confirmed over the course of the decades as a Christian and Cuban commitment to serve the people.

The president of the CIC indicated that the celebration is not limited to one act but will be extended over an entire year of activities.

The Rev. Hector Mendez, moderator of the Synod of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church of Cuba and pastor of the First Church said that this same Church welcomed those who planted the seeds for the CIC 65 years ago.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the stage for such an important celebration,” he said. The origins of ecumenism on the Island date back to 1891, when some religious leaders began to raise the need to congregate, regardless of their theological differences, to adore the only God of History.

This effort gradually took on strength with missionary conferences from Evangelical Churches, pastors and ministers associations and the celebration in Cuban in 1929 of the Second Conference of Evangelical Latin American Churches. Finally, in May 29, 1941 the Cuban Council of Evangelical Churches was founded and its first president was Dr. Sterling A. Neblett.

Recently, the Religious Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party paid homage to CIC leaders for their decisive role in ecumenical activity, serving as a bridge of understanding between the authorities in the country, the Churches and other organizations.