Cuba 101

November 11-19, 2012

The Cuba delegation

HopersThe whole group with Pastor Muriel Miller

Hope Church participants

• Pastor Kevin Holley• Lee and Merikay Huszagh• Kurt Parent• Carol Urban

Presbyterians in Cuba

• In 1890, a Cuban couple (Evaristo and Magdalena Collazo) began a school in their home. Bible was taught daily; there was Sunday school on Sunday mornings and preaching on Sunday evenings. They contacted the Presbyterian Church U.S., and thus began the relationship between Cuban and U.S. Presbyterians.

• The Presbytery of Cuba was part of the Synod of New Jersey for many years until the church became autonomous in 1967.

History

• The Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba has maintained a visible presence and a strong witness throughout its history. It suffered loss and hardship for over thirty years as roughly half of the pastors and lay leaders emigrated and the Marxist government stigmatized religious practice.

• Since 1990 the government has become more tolerant of religion, and all the Christian churches have been growing.

• Currently there are 9 churches in the Havana Presbytery and 37 Presbyterian churches in all of Cuba. Both the heritage and the current practice of Presbyterianism in Cuba reflect a strong ecumenical commitment. A whole new generation of seminary students and recently-ordained pastors, both men and women, has arisen.

• The Evangelical Theological Seminary of Matanzas, where all the Presbyterian pastors are trained is jointly owned and operated by the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches in Cuba.

• U.S. Presbyterians were instrumental in the establishment of numerous Presbyterian schools in Cuba. These schools were nationalized in 1961.

• One mission worker of the United Presbyterian Church, Lois Kroehler, chose to stay in Cuba and served Cuba from 1949 until her retirement in 1992.

• In 1985 the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) adopted a Mutual Mission Agreement. The two churches work together in mission in many ways, including:

Mutual Mission Agreement

• Presbytery and congregational partnerships• International Peacemaking Program• Seminary exchanges• Mission to the U.S.A. Program• Cuba travel-study seminars• Caribbean and North American Council for

Mission• Seeking normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations• Prayer, study, and dialogue

Mission Statement

• “We affirm that we share in one mission of Jesus Christ in Cuba, the U.S.A., and the world. That we are called to be peacemakers, creating bonds of friendship and understanding between our peoples.”

U.S./Cuba Relations: A Timeline• 1950’s -- U.S. interests owned an estimated 68 percent of Cuba’s land.• 1960 -- Cuba nationalized U.S. corporate assets. Sanctions and a partial embargo were

imposed on Cuba.• 1961 -- The Kennedy administration ordered an invasion of Cuba by CIA-trained Cuban

exiles. The Bay of Pigs fiasco was followed by a total embargo of Cuba. Castro announced that the revolution would be founded on Marxist-Leninist principles.

• 1962 -- Cuban missile crisis ensued when Kennedy announced that the Soviet Union had placed missiles in Cuba.

• 1980 -- Cuba eased emigration restrictions, resulting in a massive migration of 125,0000 Cubans to the United States.

• 1992 -- The Torricelli Bill (Cuban Democracy Act) prohibited transactions between U.S. foreign subsidiaries and Cuba.

• 1996 -- The Cuba Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (Helms-Burton Act) imposed penalties on foreign companies doing business in Cuba, permitted U.S. citizens to sue foreign investors making use of American-owned property seized by the Cuban government, and denied entry into the U.S. to such foreign investors.

U.S./Cuba Relations• 2002 -- President Bush announced an “Initiative for a New Cuba,” increasing

economic pressure on the island nation.• 2003 -- Both houses of Congress voted to end enforcement of travel

restrictions but removed the provision from an appropriations bill after Mr. Bush threatened to veto it. For the 12th consecutive year, the U.N. General Assembly called on the United States to end its embargo on Cuba.

• 2004 -- The Bush administration announced a comprehensive new Cuba policy to undermine the survival strategies of the Castro regime and contribute to conditions that will help the Cuban people hasten the dictatorship’s end.” As a result, increased restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba were implemented.

• Current -- President Obama has relaxed restrictions on travel to Cuba and the Cuban government has recently allowed Cubans (including doctors) to travel abroad and subsequently to return to Cuba. Fidel Castro’s health has been deteriorating and his brother, Raul Castro, is in charge. The embargo continues.

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, LuyanoPastor Daniel Izquierdo

Permanent Presbytery of Havana Office, Luyano, Marlen Donado Cruz (front center) is Presbytery administrative assistant

These two individuals made our delicious meals and made our stay comfortable

Sylvia Yalelley

Our accommodations

The women’s dormitory The cabana in Luyano’s courtyard

Our bus

First Presbyterian-Reformed Church, Havana

Front of building Sanctuary, flags of partnership churches

First Church, Havana

Pastor Hector Mendez Prayer Group meets weekly

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, La Fernanda ChurchPastor Alberto Padin

The church Pastor Holley and Pastor Padin

La Fernanda

The English learners’ choir The youth choir

La Fernanda Presbyterian-Reformed Church

Pastor Padin welcomes usPastor Holley preached with translator Nancy Palacio, Havana University professor

Pepe and Charity, two members of La Fernanda we visited in their homes

Old Havana

Revolution Square

Old Havana, in very good conditionHavana residential area, in very poor condition

Cars in Cuba

Catholic Churches

Now a museum, St Francis of Assisi

Matanzas Theological Seminary

Church at Matanzas Seminary and the town of Matanzas

Veradero Beach

Veradero Beach Oil well on the way to Veradero

Three beach bums with their Cuban cigars Tony, our bus driver, and wife

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, GuinesPastor Abel Mirabel

Pastor Ismael Madruga and friends Pastor Ismael Madruga, Pastor Padin, and Pepita who kept the La Fernanda Church going during and after the revolution Ismael and his wife, Isabel

Plaque honoring Pastor IsmaelPastor Ismael’s home in Guines

Guines, farming community

Apartment building Bus

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, GuanabacoaSeminarian Yoelkis Sierra

Christian Rock Band with Pastor Abel Mirabal (current Guines pastor) playing electric guitar

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, San Nicolas

Pastor Holley preaching with Pastor Magruda translating Seminarian Dargel y Yailen and his wife

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, San Antonio de Banos

San Antonio de Banos Church Living Water ceremony

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, Los PalosPastor Isset Sama

One pastor’s car

Presbyterian-Reformed Church, Nueva PazPastor Maricela Gonzales

Youth conference in session The church

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