A handbook of councils and churches profiles of ecumenical relationships

(Comisión Evangélica Pentecostal Latinoamericana, CEPLA)

The process of Pentecostal unity and cooperation in Latin America goes back to the 1960s in Chile when, after the earthquake, some Chilean Pentecostal churches began working with other churches in caring for the victims. A first Latin American Pentecostal encounter with Pentecostal leaders from various countries took place in 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1978, on the occa­sion of the assembly of Protestant churches from Latin America in Oaxtapec, Mexico, where the idea of setting up a Latin American Council of Churches took shape, Pentecostal participants continued the conversation and took part in the formation of CLAI. A decade later, in 1988, a Latin American Pentecostal con­sultation convened by the WCC was held in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, which led to another encounter in Buenos Aires in 1989. This event was followed by an encounter in Santiago, Chile, in 1990, where it was decided to constitute a Latin American Evangelical Pentecostal Commission (CEPLA), with the purpose to carry on the dialogue, cooperation, reflection and solidarity among the Pente­costals of the continent. From its inception, CEPLA has focused its work on fundamental challenges facing the Pentecostal movement in Latin America, e.g. the study of the historical roots of the Pentecostal faith, the response to the increasing demand for Christian and ministerial formation, exploring the experience of the unity of the Spirit (or ecumenism of the Spirit), the creation of spaces for exchange and communication, the analysis of the impact of mass TV and radio evangelism which affect the rich communal experience of Pente­costalism, the systemization of research and study of Latin American Pente­costalism, and the continuation of the process of unity and cooperation through Pentecostal encounters.

Since 1990, CEPLA has organized or facilitated Pentecostal meetings at the national level (e.g. in Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico etc.) and regionally. Some of the regional consultations were held in cooperation with CLAI and the WCC, in 1992 in Sao Paolo (Brazil), in 1994 in Lima (Peru), and in 1998 in Cuba. Of particular importance have been the meetings of Pentecostal women, such as the one in Costa Rica in 1992, in 1995 in Lima (Peru) and in 2002 in Chile. CEPLA has also participated together with CLAI in the Catholic-Pente-costal dialogue in Latin America, and in the process of the international dialogue between the WCC and Pentecostals.

In 2001, CEPLA convened a meeting of Pentecostal bishops and presidents from Latin America and the Caribbean, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. This event brought together delegates from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela. The group issued a statement calling for the cre­ation of a Council of Pentecostal Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean. The main objective of this council should be the critical and constructive reflec­tion of the Latin American and Caribbean Pentecostal experience, in order to con­tribute to the enrichment of the Pentecostal identity and its contribution to the ecumenical movement and the mission of the world-wide church, by providing space for discussing the problems and challenges of Pentecostalism and the par­ticular context in which the Pentecostal churches in Latin America and the Caribbean carry out their pastoral, healing and prophetic ministry.

The process of formation of the proposed council will take time. Meanwhile, CEPLA continues to be actively engaged in activities of training and accompani­ment of the local churches. It has launched a proposal to set up a Pentecostal train­ing and study centre. Two areas in which CEPLA wishes to extend its activities

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are the role and involvement of women in the church and society, and liturgical development and renewal.

Evangelical Pentecostal Church Argentina

Independent Wesleyan Church (Chile)

Pentecostal Missionary Church (Chile)

Apostolic Church of the Faith in Jesus Christ (Nicaragua)

Population: 39,305,574

Orthodox 117,200; Independent 2,906,280 (double affiliation)

Argentina is a federal state which became independent from Spain in 1816. The population is of European origin. The Indians who lived in the area were almost entirely wiped out by the Spanish conquistadors. After the dark period of mili­tary dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, the country has again a democratic system. Human rights violations during the dictatorship era gave birth to a strong human rights movement which was still active through 2005 to overcome impunity. An economic reform and structural adjustment programme, started at the end of the ’80s, has brought back high growth but sharply accentuated the gap between rich and poor and has not solved the debt problem. It led to a severe financial, eco­nomic and social crisis in 2002, when the poverty rate jumped to 57 percent (it was 8 percent in 1980). Historically Argentina is a Catholic country. Small Protes­tant churches developed in the 19th century because of German and Scandina­vian immigration and mission work from North America. Migrants from Eastern Europe and the Middle East brought Orthodoxy to Argentina. In the 20th century Pentecostalism began to flourish, and a Charismatic movement emerged in the Catholic Church. Evangelicals, Pentecostals and Charismatics numbered 7.4 per­cent of the Christian population in 2000. The churches work together in several national bodies: the Federation of Evangelical Churches, the Argentine Alliance of Evangelical Churches which is affiliated with the WEA, the Evangelical Pen­tecostal Federation and the Ecumenical Commission of Christian Churches (which includes the Catholics and Orthodox).

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(Federación Argentina de Iglesias Evangélicas, FAIE)

Founded in 1938 as the Confederation of Evangelical Churches of the River Plate, covering Argentina and Uruguay, which was divided in two national federations in 1958 (forerunner: the Committee of Cooperation for Latin America formed in 1913, which gave birth to a District of the River Plate in 1925).

Vision: The vision of the Argentine Federation of Evangelical Churches is to be an organization rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which promotes the unity of the Christian in the diversity of practices and positions of faith. Its values are jus­tice, coherence, responsibility, team work, faith and love.

Member churches: Association Pentecostal Church of God “Calvary”

Association The Church of God
Christian Biblical Church
Christian Church Disciples of Christ

Christian Community of the City of Buenos Aires

Evangelical Congregational Church

Evangelical Pentecostal Church Argentina

The Argentine Federation of Evangelical Churches is affiliated with the Com­mission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches.

Website: www.faie.org.ar

Ecumenical Commission of Christian Churches in Argentina

(Comisión Ecuménica de Iglesias Cristianas en la Argentina, CEICA)

Argentina practise baptism with water in the name of the Holy Trinity: one God,

Reformed Church of Argentina

Observer member: Danish Church

(Confederación Evangélica Pentecostal, CEP) Founded in 1977.

Basis of membership: The basic doctrines of the Pentecostal Evangelical Con­federation are the Bible as the inspired and infallible word of God; the Holy Trin­ity; Jesus Christ true God and true man; baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other languages; divine health through the redeeming work of Christ on the cross; the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit; the second coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead; the church as the Body of Christ.

Member churches: Ambassadors of Christ Church Argentine Association Evangelical Work Light of the World Argentine Christian Mission Shield of the Faith Argentine Evangelical Pentecostal Church Dove of Peace Association Assembly of God Association Evangelical Christian Church God Is With Us Association Evangelical Ministry Shekinah Association Missionary Assembly of God Association of The Church of God in Argentina Association of the Churches of the Evangelical Faith Christians

Christian and Missionary Movement

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Evangelical Pentecostal Church Jesus Christ the Saviour
Evangelical Pentecostal Rainbow Church
God is Love Church
God’s Time
House of the Lord of the Legions
Inn of Jesus Church
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Jesus is Coming Soon Church
Jesus is the Salvation Church
Jesus Saves Church
Light and Salt of the World Church
Messianic Jewish Congregation House of the Peace of the Messiah
Pentecostal and Missionary Church
Pentecostal Assembly of Jesus Christ
Pentecostal Holiness Church
Primitive Church Jesus Christ is Love Church
Union of the Assemblies of God
Vision of the Future Church
Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America

(Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America)

Church Family: Anglican
Membership: 22,500
Dioceses: 7
Parishes: 258
Priests: 224
Member of: WCC (1995) – CLAI – ACC – CEICA
The church began as a mission to groups untouched by evangelization in Patag­onia, in the 1840s. British immigrants to the area increased the need for chap­laincies. Support from England came through the South American Missionary Society, which now supports diocesan activities. It covers six countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. At the beginning of 1991, the seven Anglican dioceses (including North Argentina) in these countries con­stituted an autonomous province within the Anglican communion. The Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America is well-respected in the area by other churches, including the Roman Catholic hierarchy and by the governmental authorities. It holds together the differences of culture, charismatic experience and missionary purpose, thus embracing both concern for issues of evangelism and social issues such as land rights and development. Spanish-speaking outreach is more recent and constitutes the key urban ministries of the church.

Association The Church of God*

(Asociación “Iglesia de Dios”, ALIDD)

Church Family: Pentecostal
Membership: 8,000
Congregations: 70
Pastors: 100
Member of: WCC (1980) – CLAI – CEPLA – FAIE – CEP
Periodical: Vida Abundante (monthly, in Spanish)
The Association “The Church of God” is a national Pentecostal church founded in 1952. From the beginning the church has understood itself as a charismatic, ecumenical and prophetic church. The association began with only three congre­gations but grew rapidly to its present size. The congregations are spread over the whole country, from the north to the extreme southern Tierra del Fuego. The church has stood out in evangelization, the practice of integral mission, in the manifestations of the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, and in the defence of human rights, denouncing all situations that denigrate the human being as God’s creature. Although it has limited resources, the association believes that its iden­tity, vision and mission are relevant for Argentina, because the church is able to contribute to the building of a more humane, just and responsible society.

ALIDD has always recognized the vital importance of the formation of its mem­bers and leaders. The Sunday school and Bible studies are permanent features in the life of the congregations. The association has paid much attention to theolog­ical training for the various ministries, through its Emmanuel Seminary.

In the area of diakonia, the church has set up childrens’ homes, service projects such as soup kitchens, clothes banks, health, literacy and assistance with school work. It is present in ecumenical organizations for social action and service. It is ecumenical by conviction and through its history, seeking from the beginning cooperation with other Pentecostal churches, and participating in ecumenical dia­logue. A co-founder of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), of the ecumenical movement for human rights (an organization in Argentina) and other groups, it takes part in several pastoral councils.

Christian Biblical Church*

(Iglesia Cristiana Bíblica, ICB)

Church Family: Pentecostal

Membership: 30,000

Congregations: 66

Pastors: 66

Member of : WCC (1997) – CLAI – FAIE – CEPLA – CEP

Periodical: Boletin de la Iglesia (in Spanish)

The origins of the Christian Biblical Church are in the Italian immigration to Argentina in the early 20th century. Missionaries from the Italian Christian Assembly (a Pentecostal church) in Chicago (USA) came to Buenos Aires in 1916 and founded Pentecostal communities among the Italian immigrants, which became known as Italian Pentecostal churches; out of their midst grew the Chris­tian Biblical Church, which was officially established in 1970. The Christian Bib­lical Church is a Pentecostal church which accepts the divine authority of the scriptures, believes in the Holy Trinity and confesses Jesus Christ as Son of God and Saviour. It identifies itself with the moderate and Bible-centred line of Pen­tecostalism. The church practices believers’ baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Holy communion is celebrated twice a month. Historically the ICB has been marked by speaking in tongues (sign of the baptism by the Holy Spirit), and the practice of sanctification. It has a strong tra­dition of defending family values and traditional views of sexuality, the role of women, and the place of the family as the basic unit in society.

The ICB reaches out to a wide community of over 30,000 people. It understands its mission as evangelism, spiritual growth of its members and social outreach. The church has three centres for drug addicts, a social centre for sports people, soup kitchens for small children, a secondary school by correspondence and activ­ities among elderly people. It has a school for Christian education which organizes

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seminars for church members, basic biblical teaching and study groups for those preparing to be a pastor; 40 percent of the latter are women.

(Iglesia Evangélica Discípulos de Cristo en Argentina)

Church Family: Disciples

Membership: 700

Congregations: 7

Pastors: 8

Member of: WCC (1975) – CLAI – FAIE – DECC – CEICA

The Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina was established by mis­sionaries from the USA who arrived in 1906 and subsequent years. The church became autonomous in 1959. Throughout its history, it has had a strong sense of being called to remain faithful to what is the essence of the denomination: the search for the unity of the churches and a strong emphasis on Christian service. Today, the Disciples of Christ exercise their ministry in two provinces very far apart from each other: Buenos Aires and Chaco (north of the country). In Buenos Aires there are four congregations, two of which are joint congregations with the Methodist Church. In the Chaco area the “Hope” ecumenical congregation is also part of a unity experience with the Methodist Church, the Reformed Church and the Evangelical Church of the River Plate. This congregation is in charge of a common mission project. In the national context the congregations are small and consequently the Church of the Disciples is one of the smallest churches on the ecumenical scene. However, the membership figure does not reflect the number of persons and families with whom the church is intimately related through the various activities in which the congregations are engaged. The Disciples of Christ assume also their commitments of witness and service through various ecumeni­cal organizations, which it has helped to found together with other churches (e.g. the United Mission working with indigenous people in the Chaco area, the Ecu­menical Movement for Human Rights, the United Council of Christian Educa­tion, the Higher Institute of Theological Studies, and the Commission for Assis­tance to Migrants and Refugees).

The economy of Argentina has been in crisis for a long time. The church has at all times accompanied those who seek to alleviate the needs in their communi­ties, through soup kitchens, day centres, medical assistance, etc., and the creation of micro-enterprises. All the emphasis of service and ecumenical action is founded on, and sustained by a profound Christian experience and a strong commitment to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the Lord of life and as an expression of the saving and redeeming love of God the Father. The risen Christ proclaimed by the church continues to be the answer for all persons and for the country, in the midst of the serious and sad problems humanity faces.

Evangelical Church of the River Plate

(Iglesia Evangélica del Rio de la Plata, IERP)

Church Family: Lutheran Membership: 25,150 Congregations: 42 Pastors: 76 Deacons: 8 Member of: WCC (1956) – CLAI – FAIE – CEICA – LWF – WARC – AIPRAL Website: www.iglesiaevangelica.org

The history of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate goes back to 1840 with the arrival of German immigrants in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Later they were joined by others from Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Brazil and Roma­nia. They had in common the German language. In 1899 they created the German Evangelical Synod of the River Plate, as part of the German church, with which they became officially affiliated in 1934.

In 1965 the synod approved a new constitution and, under the name of Evan­gelical Church of the River Plate (IERP), the church became independent from the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). About 70 percent of the members live in Argentina, the others in Uruguay and Paraguay. A new constitution was approved in 1998, transferring more decision power to the districts. The ratio of two lay people (at least) for each pastor is now obligatory at all the decision-making levels of the church. Furthermore, synods are held every two years (instead of three) and gather only half of the number of participants, also with the perspective of fostering the district assemblies.

The IERP is experiencing severe financial difficulties due to the socio-economic situation in the three countries. Part of the constituency of the church has fallen into poverty and exclusion, in the rural areas, but also among the middle class in the urban centres. This raises new questions for the ministry of the IERP. The majority of the congregations are unable to assume the whole cost of their activ­ities (pastors’ salaries, outreach and diaconal initiatives). The EKD helps with eight percent of the church’s general budget, covering 50 percent of the adminis­trative budget of the central headquarters. The impact of the financial difficulties has been increased by the loss of external support from partner churches and agencies in the 1990s, when the macro-economic figures seemed so bright. The church was strongly involved in the Jubilee 2000 campaign in Argentina, as one of the problems of the economy is the high expenditure of the government to serve the external debt.

The church gives special attention to children’s education in its 17 kinder­gartens run by congregations in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. It has five homes for the elderly and seven hospitals and health-care centres. There are also centres to assist single mothers, and housing cooperatives. The board of the IERP has developed a new concept of mission where diakonia is connected with the building of new faith communities in the midst of excluded people. Diakonia goes hand in hand with mission, as a way of empowering people by giving them the chance of hearing the good news of a liberating God who stands against the evils of exclusion. In 2000 the IERP created the plan “Sharing the Good News of the Gospel with the Poor”, which coordinates programmes in three suburbs of Buenos Aires with the people of the surrounding neighbourhoods: a centre for mothers and children, urban mission in Florencio Varela, and mission in the west (San Pablo House). All suburbs belong to the “second belt” around the city, which has the highest rates of poverty and problems such as unemployment, school absenteeism, malnutrition, social and family violence, alcoholism, crime, marginalization and exclusion. Most activities are run with, and by, women, youth and children.

The IERP is involved in several ecumenical bodies such as the Ecumenical Human Rights Movement, Uprooted People and Refugee Ecumenical Service and ISEDET (Ecumenical Theological University) in Argentina, emergency aid in Paraguay, human rights in Uruguay.

The signing of the Leuenberg Agreement has helped the IERP to improve its relations with other churches, e.g. the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU), the Waldensian Evangelical Church of the River Plate and the Reformed Churches in Argentina. The IERP has mutual recognition of ministries with the Methodist Church, the Disciples of Christ and the Presbyterian Church.

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