CUBA COVENANT (METHODISTS UNITED IN PRAYER)
History of the relationship between The Florida UMC and The Methodist Church in Cuba
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, USA, opened work in Cuba in 1883 through Cuban Methodists residing in Florida. The first church was organized in Havana that year with 194 members.
The Spanish-American War interrupted this flourishing work, and it was not until 1898 that American missionaries were sent to Cuba.
Bishop Warren A. Candler of the Florida Annual Conference personally visited the island. The Cuban Mission was organized in 1907, a Mission Conference in 1919, and the Cuba Annual Conference in 1923. At Methodist Unification in 1939, the Conference became a unit of the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
In 1964, the General Conference passed an enabling act to allow the Cuban Methodist Church to become autonomous if it so chose. Autonomy was declared on February 2, 1968, and Rev. Armando Rodriguez was elected as the First Cuban Bishop.
Since 1969, the Methodist Church in Cuba has been self-supporting. It has well-organized programs for women, youth, young adults, and men, as well as activities in the areas of Evangelism, Christian Education, and leadership development.
The Spanish-American War interrupted this flourishing work, and it was not until 1898 that American missionaries were sent to Cuba.
Bishop Warren A. Candler of the Florida Annual Conference personally visited the island. The Cuban Mission was organized in 1907, a Mission Conference in 1919, and the Cuba Annual Conference in 1923. At Methodist Unification in 1939, the Conference became a unit of the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
In 1964, the General Conference passed an enabling act to allow the Cuban Methodist Church to become autonomous if it so chose. Autonomy was declared on February 2, 1968, and Rev. Armando Rodriguez was elected as the First Cuban Bishop.
Since 1969, the Methodist Church in Cuba has been self-supporting. It has well-organized programs for women, youth, young adults, and men, as well as activities in the areas of Evangelism, Christian Education, and leadership development.
Following a period when travel for religious purposes between Cuba and the United States was limited, in December 1994 Bishop H. Hasbrouck Hughes of the Florida United Methodist Conference visited the Methodist Church in Cuba. This trip sparked increased interest in formal collaboration between both countries.
The Cuba/Florida Covenant was presented in June 1997 at the Florida UMC Conference. It was signed by Rev. Rinaldo Hernandez, representing Bishop Gustavo Cruz (who was recovering from a stroke) of the Methodist Church in Cuba, and Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson of the Florida UMC Conference.
Bishop Ricardo Pereira Díaz was elected Bishop in March 1999. He is the Senior Pastor of the Methodist Church in Marianao, Havana, the largest church in the Conference with 3,700 members. The Methodist Church in Cuba has been experiencing annual growth rates of 5-10 percent. From 1999 to the present, the Church has expanded from 98 pastoral positions to 545 and from 8,000 to 57,371 members.
The Cuba/Florida Covenant was presented in June 1997 at the Florida UMC Conference. It was signed by Rev. Rinaldo Hernandez, representing Bishop Gustavo Cruz (who was recovering from a stroke) of the Methodist Church in Cuba, and Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson of the Florida UMC Conference.
Bishop Ricardo Pereira Díaz was elected Bishop in March 1999. He is the Senior Pastor of the Methodist Church in Marianao, Havana, the largest church in the Conference with 3,700 members. The Methodist Church in Cuba has been experiencing annual growth rates of 5-10 percent. From 1999 to the present, the Church has expanded from 98 pastoral positions to 545 and from 8,000 to 57,371 members.
What We Do
Prayer for and relationship building with one another are at the foundation of this partnership. Teams from FLUMC Churches travel to Cuba to “worship and fellowship,” to build Sister Church friendships, offer support for pastors, and provide special project assistance for short or long-term church efforts. The needs in Cuba are significant, but it is we, of the FLUMC Conference, who are blessed as we witness the members of the Methodist Church of Cuba living their faith, which is on fire (fuego, fuego, fuego!).
Where do we go in Cuba? To ensure an orderly and equitable distribution of relationships with Cuban churches throughout the Island, MUIP established Cuban District partnerships for an exchange between the conferences. Florida Districts are linked with specific regions in Cuba.
Where do we go in Cuba? To ensure an orderly and equitable distribution of relationships with Cuban churches throughout the Island, MUIP established Cuban District partnerships for an exchange between the conferences. Florida Districts are linked with specific regions in Cuba.
Eastern Region
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Western Region
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Central Region
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Contact the Cuba Covenant Team
MUIP Coordinators/Team Leaders look forward to visiting your church to speak about Cuba Missions, organizing a trip, and answering your questions. For more information, please Alice Matthews, MUIP Chair at [email protected].
