Evangelical Seminary of Theology

Matanzas

 

EVENTS / SUMMER 2009

 

Credits       Contacts       Leadership       Professor 

    

 

*       COMMEMORATION AT SET FOR THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LATIN AMERICAN EVANGELICAL CONGRESS IN HAVANA

*       OPINIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS

*       THE SET WAS AWARDED WITH THE DISTINTION OF THE IBEROAMERICAN CONTEST OF ETHICS “ELENA GIL” 2009

*       PROFESSORS HANS SPINDER AND WIL ART GOING BACK TO HOLLAND

*       10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVANGELICAL CELEBRATION IN MATANZAS

*       AGAIN, PROFESSOR RENE KRÜGER IS VISITING

*       WORKSHOPS FOR PENTECOSTAL PASTORS AND LAYPEOPLE FRON MATANZAS CITY

*       AN USEFUL INTERCHANGE

*       THEOLOGICAL CONSULTATION “VALIDATION OF CALVINO´S THOUGHT FOR OUR CHURCH

*       PRESENTATION OF BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY

*       9TH BIBLICAL PASTORAL INSTITUTE AT SET

 

 

COMMEMORATION AT SET FOR THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LATIN AMERICAN EVANGELICAL CONGRESS IN HAVANA

 

For marking the date of that celebration of the Latin American Evangelical Congress in Havana which took place in 1929, the World Council of Churches, the Latin American Council of Churches, the Cuban Council of Churches, the Memorial Center Martin Luther King Jr., and the Evangelical Seminary of Theology of Matanzas, summoned important ecumenical leaders of the region and Cuba to reflect about the Latin American evangelical identity; the Christian unity and the integral mission of the church. These were the three main thematic lines of the important meeting at SET from 22 to 26 June.

With the title “Mission and Evangelization in Latin America and the Caribbean for the 21st century”, the 92 participants from churches and ecumenical movements -42 foreign people and 50 Cubans- reflected about the common interests of the challenges that the churches face as institution and community of faith in the fulfillment of its mission in the context of the present world economical crisis. They also carried out an updated analysis of the main lines of thought and actions arouse in that historical congress. In that occasion, for first time, leaders from the churches and representatives of the missionary movement gathered together in such an event totally leaded by Latin Americans and where it was expressed a call to build an integral church in the region to the service of God.

It was an honor to count on the presence of many brothers and sisters of the area, among others, Dr.Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the National Council of churches of Christ of the United States (NCC); Bishop Emeritus of the Methodist Evangelical Churches of Argentine, Federico Pagura; the Anglican Bishop Chairman of the CLAI, Julio Murray; the Regional Secretary of the Christian Conference of the Caribbean  (CCC), Reverend Gerard Granados; Reverend Carlos Emilio Ham, Executive for the Program of Deacacony for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

The schedule included magisterial lectures, group works, testimonial story-telling, and the spirituality moments in the morning liturgies.

This event was supported thanks to the contributions of the following organizations: World Council of Churches, Latin American Council of Churches, the Office for the celebration of Edinburgh 2010, the Protestant Association of the Churches and Missions of Germany (EMW), Bread for Everybody of Switzerland, Mission 21 of Switzerland, United Church of Canada, Evangelical Religious Entities Federation (FEREDE) and the Evangelical Seminary of Theology (SET).

With the issue of a final document and a liturgical celebration, on Friday evening, June 26, at Astral Cinema, in Havana ended the event which is also a previous Latin American meeting to the coming commemoration of the centenary of the World Missionary Conference in 1910, to take place in Edinburgh next year.

These days, Matanzas was Big Homeland: a point of meeting and of respect to the diversity held by the continent; a frank and renewed dialogue about such urgent matters for the church and its evangelizer mission.

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OPINIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS

 

During the breaks some world leaders offered some opinions to this bulletin, remarking the importance of the event to the mission and evangelization of the church in Latin America and the Caribbean. They spoke and discussed again the problems arouse at the Congress celebrated in 1929 without forgetting the important issue of the unity among the churches and the analysis of the present to definite how the different ecumenical movements are able to contribute, since the human perspective of the Gospel, to collaborate to solve the conflicts which are happening.. Their opinions reflected these ideas.

 

Nilton Giese, as the General Secretary of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), inaugurated this Congress with the theme “The Evangelical Option for the Poor and the Excluded Means for the Ecumenical Movement a matter of principles”... He remarked “it has to be an ecumenism for the service, taking care of the hope becoming fragile and the search of the lost hope, if we have into account that the pastoral emphasis, in this way, teaches us that the access to Jesus Christ is always done through historical and visible mediations.

 

The renowned Latin American theologian Luis Rivera Pagan presented a lecture: “The Dialogue between Theology and Literature Becomes Urgent”. On this matter he said: “In Latin America, the dialogue between Theology and Literature becomes urgent because of the obvious interests that both have in the mythical memory and the utopic dream of the people, living out of the west modernity. It is missing, I repeat, the relative absence of interest, on the side of the Latin American Theology for the modern literature of the continent. I miss it because of the simultaneity of its international and renown boom, because of its relevance for the religious and ecclesiastical concerning about their themes and finally because of the boldness to do challenging and heterodox statements, theologically transgressor.”

 

Bishop Emeritus of the Methodist Evangelical Churches of Argentina, Federico Jose Pagura, is one of the founder chairman’s of the ecumenical movement and of the human rights in Argentina and in the Latin American continent. Bishop Pagura was the first chairman of CLAI (Latin America Council of Churches) and ex-chairman of the World Council of Churches. “For me –he said to Acontecer- the first important element of this meeting is that it has obligated us to review and to analyse the proceedings of the 1929 congress to verify how its far-sightedness and conclusions have been taken seriously during these long eighty years. Secondly, to listen to the records and the papers we have having in these sessions have updated us about the most important happenings in our countries, churches and ecumenical movements. Thirdly, it seems to me, this summon has been very opportune because it is not limited to recall and celebrate the past, but to know which are the challenges of this historical moment we are living not just in our particular countries but overall in our Latin American continent and the Caribbean, in the life and in the future of the Humanity”, he concluded.

 

The Cuban theologian and executive for programs of deaconry for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Council of Churches, Carlos Emilio Ham stated: “We thanks God because it has come to be a reality this dream that started some four years ago in the framework of the 13th World Mission Conference, organized by the WCC, which took place in Athens, Greece, in May 2005,. The World Mission Conference which took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1910, marks the start point of the contemporary ecumenical movement. Although there were among the delegate’s American missionaries serving in Latin America, the Latin American continent was excluded because it was considered “Christian” or “Evangelized” due to the strong Roman-Catholic presence. These missionaries came back to New York and organized the Cooperation for Latin America Committee (CCLA) having the responsibility to coordinate congress of mission in the continent.

The first one was totally conceived and organized by them in Panama, in 1916. In 1925, another one was organized in Montevideo, Uruguay where the Cuban participation started; in 1929, it was celebrated the Hispano-American Evangelical Congress of Havana for the Protestant churches of the Caribbean. As its name shows, this congress opens a new chapter in the search for the Latin American Protestant identity, being planned and organized by Latin American people. Then, the importance of the Congress of Havana was to get together for the first time the Latin American Protestants as protagonists of the mission, walking with their own feet, without the American guardianship as it was done in previous congress.

As it happened in the Edinburgh conference to a world level, now does the same in Latin America for many people. Now, on commemorating its 80th anniversary, we have gathered together with the aim to fulfil an analysis of the Latin American context in which the church carries out its mission; to critically analyse the mission and the evangelical evangelization in Latin America in the last eighty years; to reflect about the potentialities, difficulties and challenges for the Latin American churches in the fulfilment of its evangelizing  and transforming mission; and to take a Latin American contribution to the process of celebration of the Centenary of Edinburgh in 2010.

It has been very impressive and comforting the so big participation of brothers and sisters representing different churches from different Latin American and the Caribbean countries. It has been a happy coincidence that during the programming of this commemoration we will also be recalling the 10th anniversary of the Cuban evangelical celebrations.”

 

The Roman-Catholic Trinidadian Theologian Gerard Anthony J. Granados, General Secretary of the Caribbean Churches Conference with its head-quarters in Trinidad-Tobago, said: “At the opening I said I am here to participate in the Conference, but my presence here is also an expression of solidarity with the countries of the Caribbean and Cuban people. The Caribbean Churches Conference (CCC) has accompanied and supported Cuban people during many years about different matters, specifically in relation with the blockade. It is very important to strengthen the ecumenical relationships among the churches of the region, not only because it is the Lord’s wish, but also because it is important for us –as a Caribbean country- the region integration to reach the welfare of all people.

The major approach of this Congress was the definition of the mission: what exactly is its meaning for this century and for this region. Lastly, I would like to remark that it was very important for me the presence of Pentecostals and Catholics in this event. I am Catholic and, however, I am participating in an Evangelical Congress. I think it is necessary the commitment to keep on working together. Yesterday, in my presentation, I suggested some conjoint actions for the United States Council of Churches, for the Caribbean Conference of Churches and the CLAI, with the purpose to support the eradication of the illegal blockade to Cuba and the return to this beautiful country the 5 prisoners, unjustly in jail in the United States.

 

The Brazilian lay Methodist theologian Magali Do Nascimento Cunha, member of the Central Committee of the WCC and a professor of ecumenism in the Faculty of Theology in the Methodist University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She explained to us: “This activity has been very important to renew the unity of Latin America, to understand its present to think in the future. It has not been a nostalgic recall. We have read the present and we have been able to think the future for our churches. There is a crisis of unity among the churches, there are tensions and conflicts. This Congress has allowed us to understand this crisis. For me, the most important thing is the theme of the unity of all churches because there are many prejudices of one against the other, although there also are political and theological tensions which could be overcome. The theme of the mission was relevant: a church without a mission it is not a church, the mission is the heart of our existence. This event motivated us to work in many thematic we have to make deeper. I will share with my colleagues in the Faculty of Theology all the matters we have discussed here about the mission and I think it could be of benefit to the WCC all we could share.”

 

The Argentinean Pentecostal pastor Hector Osvaldo Petreca, chairman of the Biblical Christian Church of Argentina. He is also a member of the Central Committee of WCC and a professor at Biblical Seminary of Pentecostal Faith. He said “The history is useful to find a position in this event: we have recalled in the past, we have analysed the present and we have seen how to act in the future. The Jesus Christ’s church has passed through several split process and this kind of meetings hep us to reflect about the future and to think how to plan our work through a recovering and an emphasis on there values which are losing themselves these days. As a Pentecostal, we emphasise much spirituality and the evangelization. God dreamed to have a family that could happily and relaxed live. After that, with the time Jesus Christ came

And the church took form and in it the dream of God comes true. Our work is to go to the lost world to recover those who never should go there, that is the emphasis. We are all sons of the same Father but with different mother. We have to start by the unity of the spirit, the unity of faith and then the unity of the body. We have to have hope, we should intend to be part of the same body, and if not the church does not move forward much, it is impossible to be joined in separate pieces”.

 

The Methodist Peruvian Indigenous Maria Sumire, Parliamentary of the Republic of Peru, expressed: “we have the original believing which is not opposed to Christianism, but it is given in a mutual respect to the worship. Over all is our Mother Earth, the natural resources: the water that is a God’s creation. I think it is important where this Congress of Christian churches is taking place, in Cuba, a very different place to the other countries. Besides, this event is taking place in a moment with a whole world situation, I mean the material and spiritual crisis, that is marking this approach within what is relationship God-Human being, Earth-Human being and a situation of neo-liberal governments in Latin America, just thinking of material things, not of people. But now, we have, in Bolivia, an indigenous government giving hope to the indigenous people who is participating in the politics and in the economy that have been denied to us 517 years ago.

At the present Congress we have seen some matters about identity, mission and that we have to continue strengthening the ecumenical and human movement which within the churches. The indigenous have more contribution to the creation, and from the Methodist church Wesley we say “The world is my parish”

It seems to us, if Cuba could be without a blockade and it would think more in agriculture and it did not depend on the consumer society, it would be other thing because agriculture is the spinal column of the state development... We are working in the association Andean women that are composed of Christian women and with them we work in the politic economy and the practice of our spirituality”.

 

The Nicaraguan Feminist Theologian Blanca Cortes, Dean of the Evangelical Faculty of Theologian Studies of CIEETS (Inter-ecclesial Center for the Social and Theological Studies). She expressed: “I think that this celebration more than a celebration, has been a time for reflecting about the situation and the context of our churches, not so much to deal with the history but to build commitments to face challenges. I have learned with a pleasing certitude that many problems have been solved; we can observe an advance in the issue of the ecumenism: there is recognition of the diverse protestant identities and affirmation of the Latin American church’s prophetic strength for our context. However, we can realize some matters that are still present as questions to the today’s church. One of the themes is the participation of the women in equity. That was a question arisen in the 1929 Congress and now we are making the same question: how long the gender equity will be a problem to the churches and in the every day spaces in Latin America?

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THE SET WAS AWARDED WITH THE DISTINTION OF THE IBEROAMERICAN CONTEST OF ETHICS “ELENA GIL” 2009

 

The management board of Felix Varela Center granted the Evangelical Seminary of Theology the distinction of the Iberoamerican Contest of Ethics “Elena Gil” 2009, at awarding ceremony, taking place in Havana, on Friday, June 19. This distinction was granted by the dedication of the SET, during more than 60 years, to the training of Cuban and Latin American church leaders from an ethics and theological point of view centered in the affirmation of a full life for everybody and the respect to the nature rights. For establishing a strategy and an approach that complete the work for a Cuban society every time fuller together with the solidarity and the theological and pastoral accompaniment to the churches and to the ecumenical movement for the global justice and for becoming, since its condition of a training and developing center, an actor with impact in the Cuban civil society that contracted all its efforts to offer a reply of action and hope to our people

Sixteen years ago, Felix Varela Center, summoned for the first time the Iberoamerican contest of Ethics “Elena Gil” to recognize the efforts and dedication for the promotion and maintenance of a humanistic ethics, of that ethnicity coming from the times of Felix Varela who extolled what new call “homeland with love” since he wanted a nation not only thought but also felt. Passion and reason was and is an indispensable unity in the historical evolution of the Cuban ethical thought. Felix Varela Center through “Elena Gil” contest called after a feminist revolutionary who fulfilled deeply human tasks and at the same time her memory is honoured it takes pleasure in remarking those institutions and personalities that in some way contribute to make better our society and to development of a path culture.

We wish to appreciate to Felix Varela Center the kindness of awarding us in this opportunity.

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PROFESSORS HANS SPINDER AND WIL ART GOING BACK TO HOLLAND

 

In June, professors Hans Spinder and Wil Art who systematically collaborated with the seminary for five years, returned to their homeland. During these years, they taught several subjects: Professor Spinder had in charge the courses of “History of the Philosophy” and “Christian thought”. Professor Art taught: “Liturgy”, “History of the Christian Art”, “Pastoral Accompaniment” and “Theology and Gender”. She also was the chaplain together with Bachelor Norca Iglesias Zuñiga. She achieved some activities with the library for supporting the teaching. She also carried out some cultural activities with groups of the town and from other countries. Both professors contributed to the community life in this institution. They will continue to collaborate in the future with our Seminary teaching but for short times. Living in Holland, they do not stop to accompany the Seminary; they will work to keep on developing the relationships between the churches of Cuba and Holland. Workers, students, faculty of this community and the managing board recognize and appreciate the presence of Wil and Hans. Thanks, professors!

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10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVANGELICAL CELEBRATION IN MATANZAS

 

Saturday, July 4, brothers and sisters from the municipalities of Jagüey Grande, Union de Reyes, Cardenas, Varadero, Jovellanos and Matanzas met at SET, to commemorate thee 10th anniversary of the Cuban Evangelical Celebration, taking place in 1999 and summoned again by the Cuban Council of Churches under the theme, as ten years ago, “Path, Love and Unity: Jesus Christ for everybody”

The program was leaded by its representatives in the area, the Vice-chairman of the Cuban Council of Churches Presbyter Joel Ortega Dopico. The Director of SET, Presbyter Doctor Reinerio Arce Valentin welcomed to the present people. The Executive Secretary of CCC, Pablo Oden Marichal, Director of the Episcopal Parish of Matanzas “Faithful to Jesus”, had in charge the opening words. The musical groups Agua Viva (Living Waters), from Kairos Center and “Guerreros de la Alabanza” (Warriors of praises), from the Agrarian Christian Brotherhood of Jovellanos, livened up the meeting with their songs of praises to our God. In the afternoon, Francisco Rodes Gonzalez, from the Fraternity of Bartist Churches had in charge the sermon on the image of Jesus Christ as living water.

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AGAIN, PROFESSOR RENE KRÜGER IS VISITING

 

Dr.Küger –Director during a period of eight years of the University Institute ISEDET and at present Director of the Library and Titular Professor of Bible of that Institute. He was invited by Dr. Reinerio Arce Valentin to participate in the workshop for Pentecostal Pastor and Laypeople of the Matanzas city. During his visit, he also presented lectures at the Theological consultation “Validity of Calvino´s thought for our church”, organized by the Reformed-Presbyterian Church in Cuba and achieved by the Seminary. Thursday evening, he presented to group Alcoholic Anonymous of the Baptist church in the city the theme “Alcoholization and alcoholism”. Invited by the Center of studies of the Council of Churches and the Superior Institute of Biblical-Theological, he presented a lecture in Havana, in the framework of Calvino`s Jubilee, to pastors and leaders of different churches and denomination.

We appreciate to Dr.Küger for his valuable presence among us.

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WORKSHOPS FOR PENTECOSTAL PASTORS AND LAYPEOPLE FRON MATANZAS CITY

June 29-30 and July 6-7, met at SET Pentecostal pastors from different traditions from Matanzas city. The first meeting developed the theme “Exploring the Pentecostalism: Theology, History and Hermeneutics” in the charge of the Guatemalan-Canadian Professor, Dr. of Theology, Reverend Nestor Medina who works for Master’s College and Seminary in Toronto, Canada, presented some lectures on the theme.

The second meeting developed with the Argentinean Professor Rene Krüger –ex-Director and professor of the University Institute ISEDET and recognized by his numerous publications. He dealt with the theme of “The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, working exegetically and hermeneutically.” He also shared with the present people other matters as exegetical methodology and the concept of sacrifice and the resurrection terminology in the New Testament. The attendance to these courses was around fifty participants and the aim of them was to open spaces of theological reflection for all Cuban Pentecostal denominations. This the first time the Seminary welcome this kind of meeting where pastors and laypeople reflect about the identity and challenges faced by the Pentecostalism in Cuba.

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AN USEFUL INTERCHANGE

 

Our brother Nestor Medina went back to his residence country, Canada, on July 4th after a short-four-mount staying at SET. During this so useful period, brother Medina could enrich us with different teaching activities peculiar to the community as: teaching mastery and bachelor courses, actively participating in the chapel, presenting lectures and tutoring Diploma works. This short interchange with his recognized knowledge and his kindly smile, brother Medina got to be part of us. In community way of thinking, the recall of this time lived together will go through distance to accompany brother Medina in his walking.

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THEOLOGICAL CONSULTATION “VALIDATION OF CALVINO´S THOUGHT FOR OUR CHURCH

 

Summoned by the Reformed-Presbyterian Church of Cuba was carried out at SET the Theological consultation “Validation of Calvino`s thought for our church marking Calvino`s Jubilee for his 500 bithday.

A representation of Presbyter Pastors and laypeople of the Presbyterian churches of Cuba participated in this meeting.

The especial guest to the event was Dr. Kruger who presented the lecture: “Faith and works”, “Galatians”, “Zwinglio” and “Reduction Jesuit of Paraguay”. During the consultation, they developed panels and discussed in group works the subjects: “Ecclesiology, church and society”, “Sacrament and Calvino: validation and actuality in our churches.”

That Friday, this consultation was closed in Havana with a great worship at the First Reformed-Presbyterian Church of Havana.

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PRESENTATION OF BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY

 

The library of the SET opened its door to welcome Doctor of Theology Rene Krüger and all participants at the Theological Consultation to present his books “The Treasure of the Ruins”, “God or Mammon”, ““The Diaspora”, “Germans in Russia”, “Today a Savoir has been born for you” and “Return from the abyss”. Dr. Krüger has presented in other occasions his books in this library. He has a scientific production of 25 publications, sometimes as editor of different subjects as Biblical Exegesis, Theology, History and Alcoholism. He has also gone into other literary genre as poetry and drama for the churches.

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9TH BIBLICAL PASTORAL INSTITUTE AT SET

 

12-16 July met at SET the 9th Biblical Pastoral Institute supported by the Practical Theology Chair leaded by Master Daniel Montoya Rosales. This year, the subject was “Integral Mission”. 24 bleeders from four denominations participated in this meeting. In the mornings, there were devotionals and Biblical Studies in charge of Ivan Gonzalez Tassé. They also had some lectures; in the afternoons there were workshops and in the evenings, they had entertainment activities linked to the main subject. The topics of the lectures were: “Mission and Evangelization” (Prof.Daniel Montoya); “Mission and Education” (Prof. Nelson Davila), “Mission and Deaconry” (Prof. Daniel Montoya), “Mission and Pastoral Accompaniment” (Prof. Raimundo Garcia) and “Integral Mission” (Prof. Daniel Montoya).

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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.

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

 

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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  TheologyAdolfo 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.

 

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Director:

 Reinerio Arce Valentín, Th.D.

 

 

Edition, Design and typesetting

   Elizabeth González R., Ing.

 

Writing

Rosa Bahamonde, Sc.M.

   Elizabeth González R., Ing.

 

 

Photography:

Jesús Martínez León

 

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