NEW YORK – Methodism in the Latin America/Caribbean region were planted more than 240 years ago in Antigua.
There, in the 1760s, a group of Afro-Caribbean slaves developed the first Methodist congregation outside England and Ireland.
While British Methodists continued their outreach in the English-speaking Caribbean and in Haiti, mission initiatives in much of Latin America were fostered by the predecessor denominations of the United Methodist Church in the United States.
That work began as early as 1836 in Brazil and Argentina and then spread to Uruguay, 1838; Mexico, 1873; Chile, 1878; Cuba, 1883; Paraguay, 1886; Puerto Rico, 1900; Bolivia; 1906; Panama, 1906; Peru, 1915; Costa Rica, 1918; and the Dominican Republic, 1922.
At the time of its merger with the Methodist Church, the Evangelical United Brethren Church was involved in mission in Brazil, Ecuador and Puerto Rico.
The 1920 Methodist General Conference created the Central Conference of Latin America, which included Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico. Resident bishops were assigned to Mexico City and Buenos Aires.
The growing Methodist Church of Brazil petitioned both the 1922 and 1926 General Conferences for a resident bishop. The petitions failed and Brazil became an autonomous church in 1930 – the same year that Mexico also decided to become autonomous.
In the 1960s, the General Conference Commission on Structure of Methodism Overseas was formed to address the needs of Latin American Methodists for more self-determination. The 1968 General Conference passed legislation that allowed the churches to choose to become autonomous if they wished.
The Methodist Church of Cuba became autonomous that same year, followed by the churches of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru and Bolivia in 1969 and Costa Rica and Panama in 1973. Puerto Rico became autonomous in 1992.
The Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean (CIEMAL) was formed in 1969. That organisation partners with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and other Methodist agencies and bodies on mission work.
CIEMAL also works in partnership with the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA), an autonomous church composed of former British Methodist churches. — United Methodist News Service.
Lost in Wonder: Cyberspace meets ancient ways
LONDON – A new online space invites visitors to join a pilgrimage of discovery, freeing the mind from clutter, calming the spirit and strengthening awareness of and openness to God.
Based on an ancient design, www. lostinwonder.org.uk is an online labyrinth that invites visitors on a spiritual journey of encounter and challenge. A labyrinth is an ancient spiritual resource and a metaphor for the spiritual journey into death and out again into life.
Working with Mr David Webster, the Methodist Church’s Website Manager, the Pastoral Care and Spirituality Team has developed it to be available to people across and beyond Methodism.
“Lost in Wonder” has 10 interactive “stations” that can be visited in any order, each with images, a Bible text, a prayer and a guiding voice leading the guest into the theme of that place. Some of the stations reflect on the priorities of the Methodist Church – worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism – while others consider different aspects and expressions of spirituality.
The Rev Michaela Youngson, Secretary for Pastoral Care and Spirituality, said: “A labyrinth is an ancient way to journey deeper into God’s presence and then to travel out again into God’s world. This is a place of change and challenge as well as rest and contemplation. We hope that people will find in it a freedom that helps them to connect with others who want to learn about God’s love”. — The Methodist Church, UK.
Postage stamps honour Methodist hospital in Philippines
MANILA – Two new postage stamps in the Philippines honour a 100-year-old Methodist hospital and its founder.
Bishop Solito K. Toquero, President of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, said that the Philippine Government created the stamps to express appreciation for the Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo, Manila.
The commission, which serves as the official archival and historical centre for the denomination, learned that one stamp features a historical picture of the hospital with its founder, Dr Rebecca Parish, a Methodist Episcopal missionary. The other stamp pictures the current hospital, the hospital seal and surgeons performing an operation.
“It’s the only United Methodist hospital in the Philippines and is in an extremely poor section where there are many gangs and victims of gang warfare,” Bishop Toquero said.
“The Methodist Episcopal Church sent Rebecca Parish, a medical doctor at the beginning of the 20th century, and here she started a small clinic.”
With the needs of the population, the clinic expanded into a hospital and today serves an indigenous population and the poor, among others.
Bishop Toquero said the hospital is still supported by Methodist churches in the Tondo area as well as the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
He said the hospital is known throughout the country for its training of doctors, community education and outreach. It is also well known as a cancer centre. — United Methodist News Service.