Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana De Mexico

Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de Mexico

By

WRF Member Danny Ramirez

1827. The dawn of Presbyterianism in Mexico occurred around the year 1827 with the arrival of the First canvassers such as Diego Thompson. He came as an agent of the British and Foreign Biblical Society and brought a cargo of Bibles, unloading it in the Port of Veracruz and then carried it to the center of our country. However, it is fair to mention that there were ministers whose work stood out, even before the official arrival of the missionaries. Amongst them was one in the North whose name was Rigido Sepulveda and Mr. Arcadio Morales at the center of the country, who had groups to whom he taught the Holy Scriptures.

1872 is the year that is recognized as the official date of the start of Presbyterianism in Mexico. In October 1872, the Presbyterian Church of Northern U.S.A. sent missionaries who set foot in Mexican land. The following year the Presbyterian Church of southern U.S.A followed the same steps. However, there were foreign missionaries working in Mexico long before 1872. Among the first remembered Presbyterian missionaries are: Maxwell Phillips, Mr. Thomspom, and Merril Nathanael Hutchinson who took the education and training from the first Mexican ministers. Miss. Melinda Ranking, who since 1852 had a daily school for Mexican children in Brownsville, Texas. In 1857, she moved to the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas and dedicated 20 years of her life working among Mexicans in the north of our country particularly in Matamoros, Tamaulipas and Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.

1874. The first Presbyterian congregation of Mexico was established this year in Villa de Coss Zacatecas. On January 25, 1875, the church was rightfully organized. In the same year (1874) "El Divino Salvador" (Divine Savior) emerged as a congregation in Mexico City.

1875 During this year the second Presbyterian Church is organized in Mexico, which was the "Principe de Paz" (Prince of Peace) in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The church was organized on May 21, 1875.

1881. "El Divino Salvador" (the Divine Savior) was organized as the third Presbyterian Church in Mexico City on May 8th, 1881. This was the first organized church in the central part of Mexico City. Its first pastor was Rev. Arcadio Morales, who had been ordained to the Holy Ministry in the year 1878, together with 10 other colleagues.

1885. "El Faro" (the lighthouse), which is still published today, became the first denominational magazine of the INPM.

1901. The R. General Synod was organized with four Presbyteries which were: Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, the City of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico.

1914. Se estructura el Plan de Cincinnati, Ohio E.U., en donde las denominaciones por causa de la revolución mexicana se dividen el territorio mexicano. Así la Iglesia Presbiteriana que estaba desde Tamaulipas hacia el sur y sureste del país, redujo su área de trabajo a Oaxaca, sur de Veracruz, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán y territorio de Quintana Roo.

1947. Para este año se habían formado 2 nuevos Sínodos, por lo cual el R. Sínodo General, se convierte en R. Primer Sínodo, se organizó el R. Sínodo del Golfo de México y un tercero denominado R. Sínodo del Centro. De este modo existían los elementos suficientes, para conformar el máximo cuerpo de gobierno presbiteriano que es la R. Asamblea General. Por lo que en una reunión celebrada en la Iglesia “El Divino Salvador” de la Ciudad de México el día 8 de noviembre de 1947 se organiza la R. Asamblea General de la INPM con tres R. Sínodos conformados por 9 Presbiterios en total siendo los siguientes: del Primer Sínodo, los presbiterios: del Sur, del Pacífico y del Norte; del Sínodo del Golfo: los Presbiterios del Golfo, Peninsular y de Veracruz y del Sínodo del Centro: los Presbiterios de la Ciudad de México, Nacional Fronterizo y el de Oaxaca.

1972. Durante todo este tiempo previo la Iglesia Presbiteriana en México se fue preparando para convertirse en una Iglesia con decisiones autónomas y sostenimiento propio, es así, que al cumplirse el primer centenario de existencia, ya había un acuerdo tomado 10 años atrás, en 1962 de que las misiones extranjeras irían disminuyendo sus aportaciones en un 10 % anual y al llegar 1972 la Iglesia Presbiteriana tomó el sostenimiento de sus trabajos y obras misioneras, por lo cual tomó el acuerdo de darle salida del país a todos los misioneros extranjeros de E.U., que eran los que colaboraban en México. Sobre todo porque la visión de las Misiones de E.U. eran las obras sociales, hospitales, escuelas y proyectos agrícolas y los presbiterianos mexicanos se proyectaron a la evangelización y plantación de nuevas iglesias.

2004. Algo muy relevante para la Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México en este año fue la conformación Plan Nacional Visión 2020 con el propósito de llegar al año dos mil veinte habiendo realizado acciones de crecimiento en todo el país en donde hay presencia presbiteriana y de alcanzar consolidación de la obra en los lugares donde aún es limitada. Una de las cosas que se han dejado sentir del mencionado plan es la actividad de “MOVIPRES” organismo encargado de la plantación de nuevas iglesias mediante acciones directas a nivel sinódico y presbiterial. En la actualidad, se han capacitado y se siguen capacitando nuevos plantadores en el ámbito nacional y hay fruto de este trabajo y aún esperamos más con la ayuda del Señor.

2016. A la presente fecha la Respetable Asamblea General de la Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México, A. R., está conformada por 74 Honorables Presbiterios, 15 Respetables Sínodos, agrupados en alrededor de 6,0000 templos en el país. Se estiman la cantidad de 1,500 pastores en todo el territorio nacional y aproximadamente 2 millones de presbiterianos, distribuidos desde el norte hasta el sureste de nuestro país. La Iglesia Presbiteriana cuenta con muchas iglesia compuestas por hermanos indígenas Ch´oles, Tzeltales, Tzotziles, Mixes, Zapotecos, Amuzgos etc., que adoran a nuestro Dios en su propia lengua materna.

Photo:

Directiva de la R. A. G. 2014-2018 De izquierda a derecha:Pbro. Amador López Hernández

Presidente: Pbro. Danny Ramírez Célis

Vicepresidente: Pbro. Adolfo Arias Job

Secretario:A.I. David Monroy Adame

1914. The Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.A. plan was structured. However, due to the Mexican Revolution, the denominations become separated and divide amongst themselves the Mexican territory. Therefore, the Presbyterian Church that had been established from Tamaulipas to the south and southeast of the country, reduced its work area to Oaxaca, southern Veracruz, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, and the Quintana Roo territory.

1947. By this year two new synods had been formed. The R. General Synod became the first synod. The General synod of the Gulf of Mexico was later organized and a third called Central Synod was consolidated. Thus, there were enough elements to form the maximum body of the Presbyterian government, which is the R. General Assembly. On November 8th, 1947, at a meeting in "El Divino Salvador" (The Divine Savior) Church of Mexico City the R. General Assembly of the INPM was organized with three Synods made up of 9 total presbyteries: the first synod, the presbyteries: South and North Pacific; Gulf synod: Gulf Presbyteries, Peninsular and Veracruz and the Synod of the Centre: the Presbyteries of Mexico City, National Border and Oaxaca.

1972. During this time the Presbyterian Church in Mexico was preparing to become a self-sustaining Church with autonomous decisions. Upon completion of the first century of its existence, and 10 years Prior in 1962, they had already established an agreement stating that foreign missions would decrease their contributions by 10 % annually. By the time 1972 came around, the Presbyterian Church took full control of their work and missionary work, so they made the agreement to say goodbye to all foreign missionaries from U.S.A that had been collaborating with them in Mexico. Especially since the vision of the American Missions was social projects, hospitals, schools, and agricultural projects, but Mexican presbyteries were focused on Evangelizing and new church plantations.

2004. Something very relevant to the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico this year was the establishment of Vision 2020 National Plan. Which was created with the intent of reaching the year two thousand and twenty having fulfilled growth stocks across the country where there is Presbyterian presence, and achieve consolidation of the work in places where it is still limited. One of the things that have been felt of that plan is the activity of "MOVIPRES", the group responsible for planting new churches through direct actions in synodic and Presbyterian levels. They have been, and currently are, training new planters at the national level. The fruit of this work is truly visible, and they expect more with the help of the Lord as they continue growing.

2016. The Respectable General Assembly of the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico currently consists of 74 honorable Presbyteries, 15 Respectable synods grouped around 6.0000 temples around the country. It is estimated that there are currently 1,500 pastors throughout the national territory, and approximately 2 million Presbyterians, distributed from the north to the southeast of our country. The Presbyterian Church consists of many indigenous brothers, such as: Ch'oles, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Mixes, Zapotecs, Amuzgos, and others native people who worship our God in their own native tongue.