Why a Protestant Congress in Madrid?
 

The evangelical circles of Madrid and other sectors of Spanish Protestants have received with great expectation the announcement of the First Protestant Congress in Madrid to be held in November 2005. Was there a need to organize a Congress at Madrid regional level? What are the goals? Who are expected to take part in it?

First of all there is a numerical reason, as approximately one third of Spain’s Evangelicals live in the region of Madrid and so far the Autonomous Community lacks global identity and sufficient social projection. New churches are permanently being established in the area, many of them representing ethnic groups from different parts of the world, such as Latin America, Africa or Eastern Europe. Their lack of connection with the local Protestantism causes a loss of step from the reality of the social environment where they are bound to develop. This situation calls for the strengthening of a communication platform able to empower the Christian testimony and service within the region of Madrid.

Another major reason for the Congress is to help us define our plural Protestant identity with regard to theology, the church, the missions and social and political issues. Our characteristic plurality must not frighten us. On the contrary, it should be an element for inspiration that can be used to give social projection to Madrid Evangelical churches and entities. Therefore, the Congress should be such a platform, allowing us to get to know each other better, to identify all that unites us and to define, agree and articulate our public testimony and our communication channels “between Protestants” and to society. For once and for all, we must eradicate from the collective subconscious of society the image still so common that the Evangelicals are a sect. Behind the Congress is Madrid’s Evangelical Council, the organ that serves as a platform towards Madrid’s society and its Administration.

At the Congress, we will take sides on issues of a general interest: denominational relationships, immigration, youth, women, political and social commitment, family, etc. We will deepen in our own history and will listen to the Evangelical offices, entities and associations with regard to their projects and ministries.

The participation of relevant European personalities who are themselves Protestant and the relevance of our speakers will give a boost to a serious public image campaign which will depict us as a strategic minority, socially committed, prone to dialogue, promoter of tolerance, social justice, solidarity, human rights, equality of gender, defence of the environment, the fight for peace...

From the start this will be an integrating congress where there is room for everyone: churches, entities and Evangelical people in general. This is best proven by the diverse denominational origin of the members of the organizing Committee, all of them belonging to the different Evangelical families present in the region of Madrid.

The leitmotiv: CHURCH AND SOCIETY. The goal: ASSUMING OUR RESPONSIBILITY. The medium: AN EVANGELICAL RESPONSE.

A beautiful note that one will not want to miss: the final event of the Congress will be a United Service where all the Evangelicals of Madrid are invited to participate in the praise and adoration of God.

There is a year ahead of us before the First Protestant Congress of Madrid is held, but the time has come already to pray for it, to reserve and highlight the dates in the church activities calendar and to prepare to witness a spiritual party of God’s people.

Máximo García Ruiz is the Chairman of the First Protestant Congress of Madrid (and also executive Secretary of Madrid Evangelical Council; graduated in Sociology and Doctor in Theology; dean of Spain’s Higher Institute of Theological Studies and member of the Juan XXIII and Usoz y Río associations of theologists.

(c) Máximo Gª Ruiz, ProtestanteDigital.com, España, 2004
Translation to English by: María López Medel