Madrid, January 14th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
'Redimir' (Redeem, in Spanish) are the initials for an ambitious media initiative being launched by the Spanish Evangelical Alliance

'Redimir' aims to offer professionalism, spiritual quality and true evangelicalism to society through its various media outlets. Already up and running are the web magazine - 'Protestantedigital.com' - and this news agency, A.C.Press, but much more is on the way. The magazine has practically doubled its number of visitors in the first four months of existence (up from 8,000 to 15,000), and from this week is being published 3 times a week rather than the previous two. It also boasts some new sections (see www.protestantedigital.com/hemeroteca/018/editorial.htm for more details, in spanish). It is also hoped to add audio and visual components by mid-year.

A.C.Press reaches thousands around the world through its bulletins in both Spanish and English. It also publishes a regularly-updated evangelical diary of events in Spain. 'Redimir' does not want to work in isolation however, and seeks links with other organisations. So far, six groups have joined as Associate Entities: Alternativa 2000 (an evangelical magazine), Christian Assembly and Churches of Christ (two denominational groups), the Evangelical Council of Galicia, the Spanish student movement GBU, and design company Imvisual.

Another aim is to develop a closer relationship with other European Evangelical Alliances, through Redimir's role as a source of news about Spain to the English-speaking world. A.C.Press is already an important reference point in other countries for evangelical news about Spain. Redimir is also working on closer links with an association of independent journalists in Spain.

Madrid, January 14th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
In something of a throwback to the Iraq war - and indeed that conflict looms large in the decision-making process - the Spanish Baptist Union (UEBE) has expressed its support for the World Baptist Alliance (WBA) in the aftermath of the decision of the American Southern Baptists - the largest single grouping within the Alliance - to leave the WBA.

Manuel Sarrias, General Secretary of the UEBE, informed his WBA counterpart, Denton Lotz, of their position. It is a decision which could have important ramifications for Southern Baptist missionaries working in Spain, as it spells out that the UEBE does not share the conservative views of its American brethren. The Southern Baptists and their European colleagues were also at odds over the Iraq war, with the Americans supporting Western intervention while most Europeans (especially in countries like Spain) opposed the war.

Sarrias announced that he has written a lengthy article on the subject in the forthcoming issue of the Baptist in-house magazine, and leaks from it suggest that it will be a missive against "ultra-conservatives and fundamentalists from wherever they come, whether religious or political..." No prizes for guessing whom he has in mind. The UEBE spokesman says "we will continue to pray for peace and unity, within a framework of respect and freedom. As Spanish Baptists, we have learnt to be enriched by diversity and to join forces in seeking common goals with vision and generosity."

In a clear distancing from the American move, Sarrias reiterates the UEBE's support for the WBA, to which it has belonged for more than 60 years, taking the opportunity to renew their commitment to the Alliance.

Madrid, January 14th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Everyone is putting a brave face on, but the fact remains that an Evangelical Church in the Spanish capital in 2004 has had its building razed to the ground and, despite official promises to the contrary, has nowhere to go.

The Council say they will do everything possible to help re-locate the Church, belonging to the predominantly gypsy Philadelphia denomination, so it can continue its social and spiritual activity. Yet it manifestly failed to do that very thing before flattening the  property they called home until last week. The Council is looking after the Church's furniture until it has somewhere to put it, and a Council spokesman tried to make it sound all cosy: "The Church is prepared to pay for the purchase of two (new) buildings, while the Council will make an effort to help them as far as is necessary." Which, when you come to think about it, is not saying very much.

As soon as a judge approved the demolition, despite the fact that the judgment was appealed against, the Council rushed in with the bulldozers. It 'forgot' to change the building's status as the law requires, and only came up with vague promises after pressure from the FEREDE (Federation of Evangelical Churches and Organisations). Even then, nothing in writing.

Lisardo Hernández, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Church, said he believed the Council "was sincere" and called on them, including Mayor Ruiz Gallardón, to sort out the problem "as soon as possible." Hernández was realistic: "It is a sad day for us because, despite the good intentions of the Councillor (for land use in Madrid), it is a very sad Christmas present to receive (the demolition of their two church buildings). About 300 of us meet here every day to carry out very important social work, and this is now drastically cut off. We don't believe we are still in the old days, when discrimination was obvious, but we are still suffering discrimination as in this case. Of course we will defend places of worship in Madrid."

The promise to find a new, suitable venue for the church goes back to 1995, when they moved into the now-demolished properties on a 'temporary' basis. Yet the due legal process was not followed when it came to demolishing the buildings, as they must be downgraded from 'places of worship' before demolition can begin. This was not done. A protest march was not authorised by the Council, so a protest service was held instead.

(Apart from worship services, the Church has a busy and important social work among illiterate women and children, drug addicts, abuse victims and others in the area.)

Madrid, January 14th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Would Madrid Council have acted in the same way had the buildings belonged to the Catholic Church? Well, one does not have to go too far to find out.

The appalling damage done to the vital and strategic social work among an under-privileged gypsy community in Madrid which the Carabanchel church was engaged in (see previous article), contrasts starkly with the treatment received by the Roman Catholic Church in the same city. While the Evangelical Church languished in two pre-fabs for almost 10 years waiting for the venue that never materialised, and were then turned out so that a chapel of rest could be built on the site (whose greenfield status has just been changed to allow this), the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Fountains in Madrid had a rather different experience.

In March 2000, the said church received a demolition order from a local court. The Council was required to remove 100 square metres of the building because it was constructed too near surrounding dwellings, depriving them of natural light. The local citizens had won the case and the order was given to modify the church building. Nothing happened. And to this day, nothing has been done, with the consent of the Council. In that case, the court's verdict and town planning regulations were considered invalid. It seems that, in practice, the law is at the mercy of how those in power choose to interpret it.

Knock down a Catholic church? You might as soon knock down the Council buildings. Now there's a thought...

Source & Editing: ACPress.net

Madrid, January 14th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The three main inter-denominational organisations which represent evangelicalism in Madrid - the Madrid Evangelical Council (CEM), the FEREDE and the Evangelical Alliance (AEE) - have agreed to monitor the post-demolition situation, and to do all they can to ensure the Council keeps its promise to find an alternative venue for the Philadelphia Church in the Carabanchel district of the city.

CEM Chairman, Gonzalo Soriano, said they would defend "the rights which have been threatened by the Council", given that "the demolition order is neither within the law nor the agreements signed between the regional authorities and the CEM." FEREDE spokesman, Mariano Blázquez, advised the Carabanchel Church not to accept the deal offered by the Council. "However, to avoid further incidents which might be out of their control, representatives of the Phildelphia Church preferred to lose their buildings rather than see their congregations get into trouble."

Meanwhile, the AEE - which is a member of the European Evangelical Alliance represented in the European Union - is considering whether to bring the matter up in Brussels as an attack on religious liberty.

Santiago de Compostela, January 14th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Although the so-called 'Holy Year of St. James' did not begin - logically enough - until January 1st, King Juan Carlos I presided over the commemoration of the transfer to Santiago Cathedral of what the Catholic Church maintains are James' remains, two days earlier, on December 30th. The ceremony marks the theoretical (and highly improbable) move of James' body from Jaffa in Palestine to the northern Spanish city of Santiago.

So while Madrid Council are bulldozing evangelical church buildings to the ground, the King is honouring someone's ashes in a silver casket at a Roman Catholic ceremony. More surprising perhaps is the fact that this is the first time the King and Queen have attended the ceremony, which dates back to the 12th century. The King duly asked the apostle James on behalf of "every single Spaniard", adding the petition that Spain may continue to grow in its "rich diversity and plurality." Evangelical gypsy churches are clearly just too diverse, or plural.

Calling for peace, freedom and progress, King Juan Carlos said "humanity needs your help once more, Señor James." Back in 1109, King Alfonso VI made the first offering to the remains in commemoration of their transfer to the Cathedral. The ceremony became an annual fixture in 1646, during the reign of Philip IV. After asking the apostle to keep all Spaniards safe in a harmonious society marked by stability, progress and prosperity, the King added that may "Europe continue to advance as a place of peace, cooperation and progress for all." Perhaps the Mayor of Madrid ought to have heard him.

On December 31st, the 'Holy Door' (no less) was opened, to usher in the Jacobean Year (Jacob is another name for James) of 2004. Galicia is preparing to receive millions of pilgrims and visitors over the next 12 months.

Menorca, January 15th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The Socialist Senator for Barcelona, Jordi Sole, says that the Spanish Constitution grants the Catholic Church a special role over and above all other religious confessions. Sole, one of the Constitution's 'authors', made his comments just before giving a speech to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Constitution.

Sole is the Head of Constitutional Law at Barcelona University, and he admitted that the Constitution had "certain problems", citing the Catholic Church's privileged position as one of them.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, January 15th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The transmitting equipment for the Christian stations, Alfa TV and Radio Adonai, was smashed up in a deliberate act of vandalism against the broadcasters on the morning of January 2nd.

One or more people entered the centre above the town of Santa Cruz and proceeded to inflict serious damage on the equipment with a hammer. So far it has not been determined if the attack is merely vandalism, or if there is also an anti-evangelical motive behind it. The fact is that there are many local stations in the town, yet the Christian one is the only one to have been attacked. The damage has yet to be assessed, but the equipment was found in very poor condition.

The Christian broadcaster in Tenerife has suffered all kinds of problems over the years and had barely been back on air a month since the most recent difficulties were resolved, when this attack happened. The TV station had just finished a Christmas week of evangelism, a kind of televised mission, under the leadership of pastor Philippe Chevalley, which had been well received by viewers as it did not ask for money but simply preached the Gospel.

The attack is a severe blow, but the station's bosses are sure that 'all things work together for good to those who love God', and that God will respond to the damage with good which outweighs the evil.

Source: Realidades de la Fe. Editing: ACPress.net