National Presbyterian Church in Mexico

The National Presbyterian Church in Mexico (Spanish: La

National Presbyterian
Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México A.R.) is the second-
largest Protestant church, and the largest Reformed denomination Church in Mexico
in Mexico. It is present throughout the country, and is particularly La Iglesia Nacional
strong in the states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan, Presbiteriana de México
Nuevo León, Aguascalientes and Mexico City.[4] A.R.

Today, it consists of more than 6,000 churches and almost 2.8

million members. The National Presbyterian Church is growing
rapidly.[3]

History and formation of the church

Early years

The beginning of Presbyterianism in Mexico dates back to 1827 Seal of the INPM
with the arrival of Diego Thompson, an agent of the British and
Classification Reformed
Foreign Bible Society. Pioneers of Presbyterianism in Mexico
Protestant
include: Dr. Julio Mallet Prevost, WG Allen, Melinda Rankin,
Rev. AJ Park and Arcadio Morales.[5] Orientation Evangelical
Reformed
Theology conservative
The beginnings
Calvinist
The National Presbyterian Church in Mexico was established by Governance Presbyterian
missionaries from the United States. Around 1872, the Southern
Associations World
and Northern Presbyterian Churches, the Associate Reformed
Communion of
Presbyterian Church and the Congregationalist Church in the
Reformed
United States began working in Mexico. The Northern
Presbyterian Church covered Mexico City, San Luis Potosí, Villa Churches
de Cos and in the Federal District. Later, their efforts were World Reformed
extended into Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tabasco. The Fellowship[1]
Southern Presbyterian Church was active in Texas and Alliance of
Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The first Presbyterian missionaries were Presbyterian and
Rev. Thompson and Rev. Paul H. Petkin Rev Maxwell Philips P. Reformed
Mallen Ailen of the Presbyterian Church USA arrived in Veracruz. Churches in the
This work progressed rapidly. Rev Hutchinson stayed in Mexico
Mexican Republic
City while the others moved north to Zacatecas and San Louis
Potosi. The Mission in Mexico started with people who broke Region Mexico
from the Episcopal church. Mr Arcadio Morales formed the first Origin 1901
Presbyterian congregation in Mexico. Morales planted the Divine Mexico City
Savior Church, he became the first pastor of the church, in 1882
Branched from Presbyterian
Church in the
United States
the church's membership grew to 552, it became the first United
congregation that can sustain its pastor. Earlier in 1878 the first 11 Presbyterian
Mexican ministers were ordained.[6] Church in the
United States of
America
The First Presbytery
Separations National
On May 12, 1885 the first Presbytery, the Presbytery of Mexico Conservative
City was organised. Later in 1896 a new Presbytery was organised Presbyterian
the Presbytery of the Gulf of Mexico.[7] In the 1890s these Church in Mexico
Presbyterian missionaries united their efforts.[8][9] Independent
Presbyterian
Church in Mexico
Formal establishment
Congregations 6,000[2]
In 1901, the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico held its first Members 2,800,000[3]
synod with 73 churches and 5,500 members. Four presbyteries
were represented from Mexico City, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, and the Gulf of Mexico.[10]

In 1918, American Presbyterians, the Disciples of Christ and the Methodist church met in Cincinnati, and
divided mission work in the country of Mexico between them. American Presbyterians took on the
southern part of Mexico and the northern region became the mission field of the Methodists. The
Presbyterians get the territory from Tampico to the South and South East, reduced work only the states of
Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, southern Veracruz and Quintana Roo territory.[7]
Presbyterian churches in the north were told to become Methodists, while Methodists in the south were told
to worship as Presbyterians. Many churches in Nuevo Leon and Monterrey resisted and stayed in the
Presbyterian fold.[11] In Latin America–according to the Plan–the Presbyterians get Guatemala, Chile and
Colombia, the Methodists get Costa Rica and Bolivia.

The National Presbyterian Church did not approve the Cincinnati Plan, considering that the national
denomination has already consolidated. Rev. Leandro, who was against the Cincinnati Plan, and he and
The Presbyteries of Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, was quit relations with the Southern Presbyterian Church. They
feared that the Plan wants to demolish Presbyterians in the North. The Methodists protested because the
Presbyterians didn't give temples to the Methodist in North Mexico, but Presbyterians get the Methodist
Church buildings in Cuernavaca and Toluca and Morean in the south.

On November 28, 1919, the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico was officially formed.

New Constitution

On July 22, 1937 a Constitution was translated by Dr. Enrique C. Thompson was approved in the General
Assembly in the city of Toluca by the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico and later approved the
revised edition common called the "Torres Edition".

Church developments

In the 1920s, a Ministry among the Chiapas people began first in Spanish speaking population and in 1950
an outreach among Mayan-speaking people was made, such as Chol, Tzotil, Tzeltzal indigenous groups.
Today the Chiapas region is among the strongholds of the denomination.[10] Six presbyteries work in the
southern regions of the Chiapas, Oaxaca and Potosina and Huasteca, working with local people in their
languages.[12]
In 1947 the first General Assembly was organized, with nine presbyteries, and in 1972 the denomination
celebrated its 100th anniversary of life. The Mexican and US Presbyterian churches agreed to a joint effort
of evangelizing.

Recent status

By 1972 the church didn't need any outside support. The INPM was composed of 3 synods and 18
presbyteries. The church proposed a moratorium to avoid relying on foreign missions to advance the
National Church. Due to the Cincinnati Plan, the church lost a lot of schools in Northern Mexico, and it
broke mission efforts in Northern Mexico for decades.

In the 1990s the church had 4,800 congregations, 1.2 million members in 40 presbyteries and 7 synods.[13]

By 1997 there were 8 synods and 50 presbyteries at the General Assembly.

In Chiapas, the National Presbyterian Church has grown 10-12

percent annually, with 18,000 people joining each year.[14]

Governance
The church is responsible for its own government, and is
administered by ruling elders, teaching elders and deacons. The
church's highest court is the General Assembly.

The mid-governing body is the presbytery. Currently the National National Presbyterian Church in
Presbyterian Church in Mexico has 69 presbyteries, scattered Mexico
across the country.[15]

There are 14 synods, which are:

The First Synod

Yucatán Peninsula
Federal District
Gulf of Mexico
Israel
Showers of Grace Presbyterian Church in Isla Mujeres
Center
Northeast
Chol
Tabasco
Tzeltal of Chiapas
Southeast Chiapas
Mexiquense[16]

The latest synod, Guerrero Synod, was formed on November 12,

2012. The synod consists of 3 presbyteries:
Espiritu santo Presbyterian church
Pacific Presbytery with 9 churches, 11 pastors
Ebenezer Presbytery with 6 churches and 8 pastors
 Maranatha Presbytery with 7 congregations and 10
pastors.[17]

Theology
The theology of the church is conservative and creeds and
confessions represent its Reformed and Presbyterian heritage. The
liturgy is a hybrid – traditional and indigenous hymns are sung, and
may be accompanied by organ or piano. The guitar is frequently
Beerseba Presbyterian Church
used, as are metrical psalms.[18]

Confessions
Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Westminster Larger Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism
Canons of Dort
Second Helvetic Confession
Belgic Confession[5] Playa del Carmen Presbyterian
Church
The confession of faith of the Church of Scotland[19]

The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin is widely

used in the churches.

Creeds
Apostles' Creed
Nicene Creed
Athanasian Creed[20] Monte Sínai Presbyterian Church
Chalcedonian Definition[21]

Seminaries and Education

San Pablo Theological Seminary
Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Mexico
Juarez Institution
Movipres Organisation[22]

Interchurch activities
The National Presbyterian Church in Mexico is a member of the World Communion of Reformed
Churches and the World Reformed Fellowship.[23][24] In July 1995, the National Presbyterian Church in
Mexico, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Mexico and The Presbyterian church in Mexico
formed the 'Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in the Mexican Republic'.[10]
The National Presbyterian Church has a relationship with the
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Christian Reformed
Church in North America (CRCNA), the Evangelical Presbyterian
Church (EPC),[25] and the Reformed Church in America
(RCA).[14] It does not have any relationship with the Roman
Catholic Church because of what it perceives as the Catholic
Church's role in the conquest and oppression of Mexico and its
people.

The Presbyterian Church in Chile and the National Presbyterian

Church made an agreement of cooperation and planting new
churches in Chile.[17]

Recent issues
At its 2011 General Assembly, the National Presbyterian Church in Espiritu santo Presbyterian church in
Mexico voted to end its 139-year relationship with the Presbyterian Tizimín
Church (U.S.A.) because it disagreed with its decision to ordain
gay and lesbian ministers. The mission partnership between these
churches was also dissolved. In the same General Assembly, the
Mexican church voted against the ordination of women
ministers.[26] The church excluded a woman minister from the
National church roll in 2013 ordained by the Communion of
Presbyterian and Reformed Communion in Mexico, because
differences in ways the Bible is read and understandings of
women's role in the church.[27]

Missions
National Presbyterian Church in
The National Presbyterian Church in Mexico performs missionary Cancún
work together with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in a
US-Mexican border ministry, in the southern parts of Mexico, as
well as in the cities of Monterrey, Guadalajara, Acapulco, and Mexico City.[28] [29] [30] Some Reformed
Christian missionaries cooperate and work for the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico.[31]

Symbols

Anthem

The National Presbyterian Church in Mexico has the hymn Sovereign Lord of the Words, authored by Félix
Gómez, as its official anthem.

References
1. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (http://presbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?optio
n=com_content&view=article&id=62:wrf-america-latina&catid=4:eventos&Itemid=3).
presbiterianosag.com.mx.
 2. "www.asociacionesreligiosas.gob.mx/work/models/AsociacionesReligiosas/pdf/Numeralia/
AR_por_SGAR.pdf" (http://www.asociacionesreligiosas.gob.mx/work/models/Asociaciones
Religiosas/pdf/Numeralia/AR_por_SGAR.pdf) (PDF).
3. http://www.executivaipb.com.br/Atas_CE_SC/SC/SC%202010/doc31_320.pdf
4. "Retrieved 2013-02-09" (http://www.reformiert-online.net/adressen/detail.php?id=13218&lg=
eng.).
5. "National Presbyterian Church in Mexico homepage" (https://web.archive.org/web/2015053
0030226/http://www.presbiterianos.com.mx/index.php/articulos/45-que-puedo-hacer-para-qu
e-mi-familia-cambie-sixto-porras). www.presbiterianos.com.mx. Archived from the original (ht
tp://www.presbiterianos.com.mx/index.php/articulos/45-que-puedo-hacer-para-que-mi-famili
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6. (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Church (14 May 2012). "Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - News &
Announcements - National Presbyterian Church of Mexico begins 140th anniversary" (http://
www.pcusa.org/news/2012/5/14/national-presbyterian-church-mexico-begins-140th-a).
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7. "HISTORIA | Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana Conservadora de México A.R." (https://web.arch
ive.org/web/20130530055503/http://inpc.com.mx/historia/) Archived from the original (http://i
npc.com.mx/historia/) on 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
8. Fasse, Christoph. "Overview of the worldwide reformed church" (http://www.reformiert-onlin
e.net/weltweit/92_eng.php). www.reformiert-online.net.
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ica_de_la_inpm-2012). 30 June 2012.
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ps://web.archive.org/web/20040817083234/http://www.reformiert-online.net/weltweit/92_en
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11. "Presbyterian Border Ministry -" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131103192442/http://www.pr
esbyterianborderministry.org/about/inpm_history.cfm). www.presbyterianborderministry.org.
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12. Fasse, Christoph. "Overview of the worldwide reformed church" (http://www.reformiert-onlin
e.net/weltweit/land.php?id=92&lg=eng). www.reformiert-online.net.
13. Melton, J. Gordon; Baumann, Martin (21 September 2010). Religions of the World: A
Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes]: A
Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices (https://books.google.com/books?id=
v2yiyLLOj88C&q=national+presbyterian+church+in+mexico&pg=PA2037). ABC-CLIO.
ISBN 9781598842043 – via Google Books.
14. "The Reformed Church in America" (https://www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=599).
www.rca.org.
15. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130608155948/h
ttp://www.presbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_contact&view=category&catid=1
0&Itemid=10). presbiterianosag.com.mx. Archived from the original (http://presbiterianosag.c
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16. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130608154437/h
ttp://www.presbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_contact&view=category&catid=1
1&Itemid=11). presbiterianosag.com.mx. Archived from the original (http://presbiterianosag.c
om.mx/index.php?option=com_contact&view=category&catid=11&Itemid=11) on 2013-06-
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17. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (https://archive.today/20130615182808/http://pre
sbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?limitstart=10). presbiterianosag.com.mx. Archived from the
original (http://presbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?limitstart=10) on June 15, 2013.
18. "Presbyterian Border Ministry -" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130319051551/http://presbyt
erianborderministry.org/about/history.cfm). www.presbyterianborderministry.org. Archived
from the original (http://www.presbyterianborderministry.org/about/history.cfm) on 2013-03-
19. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
19. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (https://archive.today/20130413150657/http://pre
sbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=12&Itemid=12).
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hp?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=12&Itemid=12) on April 13, 2013.
20. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130608155728/h
ttp://www.presbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=
blog&id=2&Itemid=3). presbiterianosag.com.mx. Archived from the original (http://presbiteria
nosag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=2&Itemid=
3) on 2013-06-08. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
21. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (https://web.archive.org/web/20201028133129/h
ttp://presbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=12&Ite
mid=12&limitstart=5). presbiterianosag.com.mx. Archived from the original (http://presbiterian
osag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=12&Itemid=12&limitstart
=5) on October 28, 2020.
22. "Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de México" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130608155912/h
ttp://www.presbiterianosag.com.mx/index.php?option=com_weblinks&view=category&id=8&
Itemid=4). presbiterianosag.com.mx. Archived from the original (http://presbiterianosag.com.
mx/index.php?option=com_weblinks&view=category&id=8&Itemid=4) on 2013-06-08.
Retrieved 2013-03-20.
23. "Retrieved 2013-02-09" (https://web.archive.org/web/20101111184355/http://wcrc.ch/node/1
64). Archived from the original (http://wcrc.ch/node/164) on November 11, 2010.
24. "Retrieved 2013-02-09" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080914010638/http://www.wrfnet.or
g/web/guest/aboutwrf/membershiplist). Archived from the original (http://www.wrfnet.org/web/
guest/aboutwrf/membershiplist) on September 14, 2008.
25. "Fraternal Relationships" (https://epc.org/about/fraternalrelationships/).
26. (U.S.A.), Presbyterian Church (23 August 2011). "Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - News &
Announcements - Mexican Presbyterian Church votes to end 139-year-old relationship with
PC(USA)" (http://www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/23/mexican-presbyterian-church-votes-end-1
39-year-old/). www.pcusa.org.
27. "Presbyterian Mission Agency Mexico - About Our Work - Presbyterian Mission Agency" (htt
p://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/global/mexico/). www.presbyterianmission.org.
28. "mtw.org" (https://www.mtw.org). www.mtw.org.
29. "LOC Mexico Acapulco" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150519182814/http://www.mtw.org/
Pages/LOC_MexicoAcapulco.aspx). www.mtw.org. Archived from the original (https://www.m
tw.org/PAGES/LOC_MexicoAcapulco.aspx) on 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
30. "LOC Mexico Monterrey" (https://www.mtw.org/PAGES/LOC_MexicoMonterrey.aspx).
www.mtw.org.
31. "CRWM: Mexico - Christian Reformed Church" (https://web.archive.org/web/201308310443
42/http://www2.crcna.org/pages/crwm_glance_mexico.cfm). Archived from the original (http://
www2.crcna.org/pages/crwm_glance_mexico.cfm) on 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2013-08-31.

External links
 National Presbyterian Church in Mexico homepage (https://inprag.com.mx/)
Presbyterian Mission Agency update on Mexico (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministri
es/global/mexico/)
Presbyterian Outlook Foundation's Top 10 stories of 2011, featuring break between Mexican
and US churches (http://pres-outlook.org/infocus-features/current-features/12114-top-10-pre
sbyterian-stories-from-2011.html)
Presbyterian Border Ministry – a joint ministry between the Presbyterian Church in the US
and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (http://www.presbyterianborderministry.org)
Report on 2012 celebrations of church's 140th anniversary (http://www.pcusa.org/news/201
2/5/17/presbyterian-church-mexico-begins-anniversary-cele/)

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