New leader of Cuban coalition calls for greater ecumenical partnerships

(ENInews) The newly elected president of the Council of Churches in Cuba (CIC) says he believes Pentecostal and historic churches can work together “because God calls us to be God’s people.”

The Rev. Joel Ortega Dopico, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, called on the leaders of the churches to take advantage of the moment to think about social, ecclesial and ecumenical projects, “or what we lack so as to be able to come together as a Cuban family.”

In his sermon at the Council’s assembly 26-27, May where the new leadership of CIC was installed, Ortega referred to the encounter of the rich man with Jesus and pointed out the need for a greater commitment to the cause of the Kingdom of God, according to a report by the Latin America and Caribbean Communication Agency.

It is a biblical narrative of hope, he said, because it allows Pentecostal and historic churches to be united, past and present generations to meet together, as well as believers and nonbelievers.

The CIC assembly issued a statement saying personal and national greed are the greatest enemies of peace, saying it is “the greatest sin of those who rebel against God’s purposes of peace and well-being for all humanity.”

The new CIC board of directors for 2012-2014, includes vice presidents Osmany La O of the Orthodox Church of God, Ernesto Bazán and Antonio de Santana of the Fraternity of Baptist Churches of Cuba, Yakelin Sánchez of the Free Evangelical Church, Bárbaro González of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, and Lt. Pablo Vega of the Salvation Army. Pastor Arizaida Silvente of the Christian Pentecostal Church was elected secretary; and the Rev. Armando Rusindo of the Moravian Church was elected treasurer.

The CIC was formed in 1941 on the theme “united to serve.”