November 2001

Advent and Christmas 2001 - Good news from Spain

Dear Friends and Family,

We continue our work with the United Evangelical Theological Seminary (SEUT). We have requested that our contract be renewed through 2005 and hope to be able to continue our service here. We want to share some good news with you: The seminary will open its own campus in El Escorial in 2002.

This is a milestone event in the history of the SEUT. Let us interpret why this is so important. After many years of struggle, this southern European seminary, representing the Protestant religious minority, is a survivor of many years of discrimination and dislocation. It has lived through the Spanish Civil War and was violently shut down by the Franco regime. Over the years it has moved through five different buildings and cities. It is rebuilding time, and we are all very hopeful about the new phase. This is also exciting for our own PC(USA) as a denomination, which has held a very important role in helping this institution to resist repression and remain alive, by quietly providing personnel and funds and even at one point placing diplomatic pressure on the Franco regime. We can be proud of our presence here. It is a partnership with deep roots. Listen to how our partners are building a new campus. They hope that the PC(USA) will be able to contribute to this project.

The Protestant Fliedner Foundation has endowed the seminary with a very large property and buildings in El Escorial, 45 minutes outside of Madrid, which will be a Center for Spirituality and Formation. All plans for the move have been approved by the churches who own the seminary, the United Evangelical Church of Spain (IEE) and the Episcopal Reformed Church of Spain (IERE). The seminary is grateful to the Fliedner Foundation for its gift to our institution. The graphic shows the layout of the future campus.

We will be on interpretation assignment in the U.S. from January through May 2002, residing at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary housing. If you want to get in touch with us, please send us an e-mail at revdonna39@yahoo.es or emruano@yahoo.com. If you want to be included in our interpretation schedule please write us soon. We are targeting the Presbyteries of East and Middle Tennessee and Lackawanna and Lehigh Presbyteries in Pennsylvania. We will also be visiting our family in the Louisville area, as well as attending to some research needs for our partner seminary in Spain. Please help us coordinate a time for your congregation in our schedule. If you are outside of our targeted areas, arrangements could be made to come to your area if time permits and travel costs are appropriately reimbursed. We will be happy to share our experience with you.

May the song of angels, and Peace on Earth, be part of your Christmas celebration.

Shalom,

Edgar Moros-Ruano and Donna Laubach Moros

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 88