Back to home

Thursday October 25, 2007

[Foto: M. Quintero]
[Foto: M. Quintero]

The Venezuelan Evangelical Pentecostal Union celebrates half a century of its existence and witness

Carlos Ham and ALC/CLAI, MARACAIBO, Venezuela, August 28, 2007

From August 23 to 26 in the city of Maracaibo, the Venezuelan Evangelical Pentecostal Union Taxi Heathrow Airport (UEPV in Spanish) celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation, which coincided with its XLIII National Convention and the II Latin American and Caribbean Bolivarian Evangelical Congress.

The central theme of the event was, “Evangelical Pentecostal Spirituality and Bolivarian Commitment.” Over 500 participants were present, among them delegations from the different congregations in the country and a significant number of foreign visitors, among whom were officials, leaders and members of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ Church in the United States, officials from the Latin American Biblical University (UBL in Spanish), the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI in Spanish), and the World Council of Churches.

In welcoming the participants, the Reverend Gamaliel Lugo (photograph), Presiding Bishop of the UEPV, recalled the I Congress held in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1979, inspired by the Letter of San Cristóbal, Venezuela, published the year before and which at that time already referred to the “great need for the peoples of Latin America to come closer together under the Bolivarian ideal.”

In panel discussions, presentations, Bible studies and sermons, very different but equally relevant matters were considered, such as: the global reality and the transforming spirituality in the present moment of Latin America and the Caribbean; the Bolivarian Pentecostal spirituality, liberation theology and the liberating ecumenical commitment; the Christianity and Socialism of the XXI century; the Afro-descendent pastoral care; the ecumenical theological education and social transformation in Latin America, among others.

The event was also an opportunity to celebrate the 45 years of partnership in mission between the UEPV and the Disciples of Christ Church and the United Church of Christ. The book, “Sharing God’s Mission: Disciples and Pentecostals in Venezuela” by Carmelo Alvarez and published by CLAI, which was presented on the historic occasion, was greatly appreciated.

At the end of the Convention the statutory elections took place and the Reverend Gamaliel Lugo was reelected as Presiding Bishop of the UEPV, and the Reverend Eseario Sosa Rodríguez as Vice-President. In the Congress’ final document, the participants reaffirmed their Pentecostal identity and committed themselves to continue contributing toward transformation and social justice by means of a praxis and theological reflection from a liberating ecumenical perspective.