The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico is one of the largest denominational members of the World Reformed Fellowship.  It has almost 2 million members and more than 6,000 local congregations, spread over 15 Synods and 71 Presbyteries. 

It has seven seminaries and two high schools, a sanatorium and a hospital, as well as running its own publishing house.  Although founded in 1872 by American Presbyterian missionaries, in 2011 the Mexican Church’s General Assembly voted to end its 139-year relationship with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) because it disagreed with its decision to ordain gay and lesbian ministers, and to explore establishing fraternal relations with conservative reformed denominations worldwide. 

As the guest of the NPCM, between September 22 and October 3, I visited the south easterly states of Yucatan and Tabasco to deliver a series of lectures on two requested themes: the importance of the reformed theological confessions for the Latin American church, and the reformed principles of social praxis in a Latin American context.  These addresses formed part of the NPCM’s preparation to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation next year.  The lectures were given, first, in the city of Merida and then in the city of Villahermosa.  In both places the presentations were made in synodical congresses and in theological seminaries.  In my addresses I argued that the contemporary importance of the historic reformed confessions consists particularly in their articulation of a high view of Scripture, helping us to analyse and answer modern liberal and neoliberal reconstructions of the Word of God.  With reference to social praxis I contended that meditating in depth on key Scripture texts and incorporating poetic and didactic biblical passages into sung church praise significantly help biblical ideas and values to percolate the lifestyle of the people of God and, through them, wider society. 

I was impressed by the desire of pastors in both the Synod of the Yucatan Peninsula and the Synod of Tabasco to communicate the reformed faith in ways that demonstrate its relevance to modern Mexico.  I admired the strong commitment of both the San Pablo Seminary in Merida and the South Eastern Seminary in Villahermosa to teach students Greek and Hebrew thus enabling them to expound and contextualise Scripture with personal conviction.  I was interested to discover that the seminaries teach church music to students hoping to become praise leaders.

Although Mexico is part of the Hispanic world, it is also the heir of several remarkable pre-hispanic indigenous cultures.  During my visit I was delighted to learn more about the Maya civilisation which encompassed the Yucatan Peninsula and neighbouring modern countries to the south.  This fascinating culture, dating back to 2000 bc is noted for its hieroglyphic script—the only known fully developed writing system of the pre-Columbian Americas—as well as for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar and astronomical system.  The first Maya cities developed around 750 BC, and by 500 BC these cities had erected large temples with elaborate stuccoed façades.  While in Villahermosa, Juan Marcos Leon, Dean of the South Eastern Seminary, took me to the fascinating open air La Venta Museum, set in a genuine rain forest environment exhibiting remarkable stone carved artefacts from the Olmec culture (1500-400 bc) depicting the colossal heads of powerful rulers.  Mexicans appreciate their pre-Columban heritage; while many today are mestizos, they proudly identify themselves as descendants of the Maya and of the Olmec.

Rev Adolfo Arias Job, Secretary of the General Assembly, accompanied me throughout my visit and I greatly enjoyed fellowship with him.  On our journey by car from Merida to Villahermosa we called at the Presbyterian Church in Campeche, a fishing town on the Gulf of Mexico.  The church building, originally constructed years ago facing a small public park, is today hidden by a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, which the Roman Catholic Church later erected in the park.  Not to be outdone, the Presbyterians built a large church sign at right angles to the chapel which is clearly visible from the street, detailing the congregational name: ‘The Philadelphia Presbyterian Church’ (i.e. the church of brotherly love.’  The Mayan pastor of the Presbyterian church and his family treated us to a marvellous lunch consisting of a wide range of very tasty seafood, including octopus.  I was intrigued to discover the pastor’s family name is ‘McGregor’; he told me his great grandfather was Scottish immigrant to Mexico. 

The long car journey provided evidence of the lawlessness that is plaguing many part of Mexico today.  About two hours from our destination we found the highway was closed by the police while they investigated the rustling of 200 head of cattle.  Stolen cattle are immediately slaughtered and their meat dispersed into the black market.  The hold-up gave us an opportunity to visit an elder of the local church and to have fellowship with him and his wife over a cup of coffee.

I am grateful to Rev Amador Lopez Hernandez, President of the General Assembly, and Rev Danny Ramirez Celis, Vice President, for their kind invitation to visit Mexico.  Rev Lopez along with Rev Arias and David Monroy Adame, Treasurer of the General Assembly, warmly welcomed me on my arrival in Mexico City, and looked after me for the few hours I spent in the capital before flying with Rev Arias to Merida. 

The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico is a valued member of the World Reformed Fellowship.  Let us pray that its ongoing witness in Mexico may be greatly blessed!

Fergus Macdonald