Covenant News
CIPE Elects Leaders, Transfers Ordination
LA PLATA, ARGENTINA (May 5, 2004) - In a moving service on April 25, the leadership of the Confraternity of Hispanic Covenant Churches (CIPE) transferred the ordination of Patricio Valenzuela to the Covenant Church of Argentina (IPEA).
The ordination service was part of a larger meeting of CIPE board
leadership, which met from April 22-25. Eleven representatives from the
United States, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and the host country
participated, along with leaders from various CIPE ministries. On April
23-24, members of the CIPE board provided workshops for three local
churches. Carlos Pichardo of Mexico led a workshop on the "Bringing My
World To Christ," discussing effective tools of evangelism to two
congregations.
Valenzuela is the president of IPEA and a missionary with CIPE. (The accompanying photo shows Valenzuela and his wife, Luz, kneeling for prayer.) Originally from Chile, he has been in Argentina for many years and is chaplain for the Evangelical Scouting Program (boys and girls) for the country, a new venture for Protestant churches. Valenzuela is the first CIPE minister coming from the Evangelical Covenant Church orientation program for pastors. He was educated in a variety of schools and completed his orientation through CHET, the Hispanic Center for Theological Studies based in Bell Gardens, California. In the future, the Covenant Church of Argentina and its Ministerium will be responsible for ordaining other ministers completing the Covenant orientation program.
Pastor Carlos Diaz, vice president of the Covenant Church of Colombia, preached at the ordination service held at the Doorway of Hope Covenant Church (Portal de Esperanza), in La Plata. CIPE President Alberto Ruiz also presided. A formal reception followed in the church's social hall.
In related news:
- Leaders approved a request for the Covenant Church in La Coruņa, Spain, to become an associate member of CIPE - it will require a constitutional wording change in the future.
- Planning for CIPE VII in Acapulco, Mexico, was discussed. The theme of the November 2006 event will be "Light To The Nations: To the Person, To the Church, To the Community and to the World."
- Leaders discussed the situation of the Covenant Church in Chile, reporting that progress is being made towards a new constitution and the consolidation of Covenant ministries into one entity.
- An international meeting of mission and national leaders is being planned for August 2005 in Colombia, said CIPE advisor Nancy Reed, who also attended the meetings.
In another development that has CIPE members excited, six members of the CIPE leadership flew to Punta del Este, Uruguay, to visit the Covenant Church of Argentina's missionary work in Maldonado, Uruguay. All were encouraged to experience the life and vitality of the new congregation, whose ministry is directed by Isaác and Gabriela Coronel.
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