OAXTEPEC, MEXICO (February 7, 2007) \u2013 Rapid emigration to Europe from Latin American countries highlighted the recent triennial meeting of the Confraternidad de Iglesias del Pacto Evang\u00e9lico (CIPE), says David Mark, who with wife, Wendy, serve as regional coordinators for Latin America within the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).
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\nThe conference of the Spanish-speaking Covenant churches was held January 21-25 and focused on the theme, \u201cThe Mission of the Church in Today\u2019s World.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"CIPE\"](\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/6d\/Vh\/6dVhTV2_B3m1lYjFVaBmDg\/Cipe.jpg\")
\u201cThe energy for that theme clearly came from the remarkable reality of emigration in unprecedented numbers \u2013 chiefly but not exclusively to Spain \u2013 and the CIPE churches\u2019 response to that movement,\u201d Mark says. \u201cWhat began as a focused youth mission program to Spain from Ecuador and Sweden with some participation from the United States has ignited a passion to move forward in mission to immigrants and refugees throughout Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ecuadorians are the largest immigrant group in Spain, Mark notes. \u201cThey are presenting a significant challenge to Spanish Protestant churches with their different culture and exuberant style.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Associated Press<\/em>, 500,000 Ecuadorians live in Spain legally, and many more have entered the country illegally.<\/p>\n The effects of that movement are being felt in Ecuador as well as Spain. \u201cSeveral Covenant churches in Ecuador reported that more than half of their congregations had emigrated to Spain,\u201d Mark says.<\/p>\n Members of CIPE are the Covenant denominations of Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. Uruguay is slated to become a member. The Hispanic Covenant churches and Spain are associate members. Fraternal churches that serve in CIPE countries also were present: The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) and the Swedish Covenant Church.<\/p>\n Denominational leaders, pastors and laity gathered to encourage each other, plan future projects and attend workshops that included mission in the face of ecological crisis, resolution of family conflicts, and sexual identity. Group discussion followed the plenary sessions: \u201cSent with a Mission,\u201d \u201cSent with an Identity,\u201d and \u201cSent with Fire.\u201d<\/p>\n During the business session, Marcus Sobarzo, president of the Chile Covenant, was named president of CIPE. \u201cSobarzo is a distinguished leader and highly respected for his thoughtfulness, intellectual depth, and integrity,\u201d Mark says.<\/p>\n Passion and theological insight demonstrated at the conference are indicative of why North American and European churches should partner in a reciprocal relationship with the CIPE churches, says Walter Contreras, coordinator of Ministerios Hispanos de la Iglesia del Pacto Evang\u00e9lico (MHIPE), the Hispanic ministries of the ECC. He attended as an observer.<\/p>\n \u201cThis new ‘global reality’ that we see happening in Latin America will become more evident in the coming years,\u201d Contreras says. \u201cThis means that we need to empower the national churches in such a way that CIPE and the ECC may serve them graciously.\u201d<\/p>\n He adds, \u201cWe must learn to hear them. They have much to teach us. If we are willing to partner with them, we must be willing to be ministered by them. They have much to share about God’s grace.\u201d<\/p>\n