| |
Spain
Spain is a bridge country between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. The Spanish government elected in March 2004 is working to establish a secular state that includes all minority religious groups (Protestants, Jews and Muslims) alongside the dominant Catholic cultural community.
Thirty years ago the Protestant community in Spain was estimated to be 40,000. Today that number is said to be more than 350,000. The PC(USA) works in partnership with the Evangelical Church of Spain (IEE), which is Methodist and Presbyterian in background. The Eastminster and Wabash Valley presbyteries of the PC(USA) have developed partnerships with two IEE presbyteries, sharing visits and programs.
The Evangelical Church of Spain reaches out across faith lines to serve new immigrant communities from Africa, South America and Central Europe. PC(USA) mission worker Osmundo Ponce, who served most recently in Honduras, now teaches at the Untied Evangelical theological seminary in Madrid. The seminary is developing a residence and extension program for students throughout the Iberian Peninsula and the Spanish-speaking world. The Rev. Alfredo Abad, general secretary of the IEE and pastor of a Madrid congregation, participated in the PC(USA) International Peacemaking Program in 2007. |
|
