The Challenges and Opportunities of Christian Witness in Cuba

a Short Paper

by

Sheryl Metzgner Master of Divinity Student at Carey Theological College

for Canadian Baptist Ministries Praxis Scholarship 2014

January 3, 2014

1 Introduction In the foreword to Timothy Tennents book, Theology in the Context of World Christianity, Tit Tienou proposes that Christianity is increasingly becoming appreciated as a global faith because of its rootedness in the multiple local realities of humankind. 1 As a result, he suggests that one of the tasks of Christianity in this age is to articulate a cross-cultural theology that will enable Majority World Christians to live wisely in todays world. 2 In this short paper, I explore the Cuban Christian Churchs strategic position to respond to the challenges and opportunities that have arisen by virtue of the countrys distinctive history. I will proffer that her role in Gods mission for the Cuban people is best appreciated with their cultural history and present context in view. I will outline two challenges and related opportunities before the Cuban Church today, and will suggest how they are contributing to its growth and potential role in fostering the spiritual formation of Cuban Christian disciples and leaders of the future. Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Church in Cuba Within Cubas estimated population of 11.2 million people today, the Roman Catholic Church claims adherents among 60 percent of the people. While only 5% of these actually attend church regularly, an additionally estimated 5% of the countrys total population describe themselves as Protestants who openly practice the principles of their faith. Among them are Anglicans, Baptists, Episcopalians, Greek Orthodox, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and Russian Orthodox. Other religious groups include the Bahais, Buddhists, The Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints (Mormons), Jehovahs Witnesses, Jews, Muslims, and Seventh-Day Adventists. And

Timothy C. Tennent. Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church Is Influencing the Way We Think About and Discuss Theology. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), xiii. 2 Ibid. The phrase Majority World has replaced the expressions, Third World and Two-Thirds World, which previously referred to locations outside the West - namely Africa, Asia and Latin America.

2 a common religion is Santeria - a syncretic tradition representing a combination of the Yoruban religion of African slaves brought to Cuba with Catholicism and Native American spirituality. 3 Despite Cubas early colonization by the Catholic Church some 500 years ago, when Fidel Castro assumed power in 1959, communism gained a foothold in the western hemisphere. Such a cataclysmic political event initially presented an apparently indomitable challenge to the free practice of religion in Cuba and to the Christian Churchs historic influence over the country. Castros abolition of open religious practice, the persecution of Christians at universities and workplaces, and the prohibition of the construction of sites for worship, presented stark tests for the majority of Christians. As a result, between 1957 and 1981, 80% of professional Catholic priests and Protestant ministers fled Cuba to live in the United States. 4 Yet the very trials perpetrated by that which turned out to be an oppressive regime for many also spawned new growth in the Church. Christians began to congregate in their homes one of the few remaining activities in which they were legally allowed to engage. And thus, the house church movement was born a proliferation of homes constructed and renovated to house a pastor and family, and to provide a secure arena for believers to gather. Over the years, these congregations have grown to number hundreds of members, thereby providing an opportunity for Christianity to germinate and flourish in Cuba anew. 5 Although Castros Marxist-Leninist regime was highly dependent on the Soviet Union during his political reign, when the latter republic collapsed in 1991, and Cuba subsequently lost a
3

Wikipedia, Population of Cuba, https://www.google.com/search?q=population%20of%20cuba (accessed December 31, 2013); Wikipedia, Religion in Cuba, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Cuba (accessed December 31, 2013). 4 Wikipedia, Religion in Cuba; BBC History: Fidel Castro, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/fidel_castro (accessed December 31, 2013); Wikipedia, Christianity in Cuba, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Cuba (accessed December 31, 2013); Holton, Chuck, Harvest of Souls: Cubas Church stages Comeback, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/March/Harvest-of-SoulsCuba-Church-Stages-Comeback/ (accessed December 31, 2013. 5 Cuban Christians Fund, https://www.heavensfamily.org/cuban-christians-fund (accessed December 31, 2013).

3 preponderance of her global trading partners, what came to be known as the Special Period in Peacetime followed. The challenging aftermath of Cuban economic instability was significant social disruption and turmoil - including food shortages and famine, the emergence of a two-tier economy, and the black market crime of human trafficking for profit. 6 But the demise of the Soviet Union also ushered in a favourable new opening the governments lessening of its promotion of atheism and its adoption of a conciliatory posture towards religion. 7 Now headed by Raul Castro after the retirement of his brother Fidel in 2008, the present-day government aims to alleviate the countrys shortages of food and consumer goods, and services. A notable opportunity for the Church belies the challenges ensuing from the Special Period. The Cuban government is currently implementing post-Fidel social reforms which are aimed at creating a co-operative variant of socialism one in which the state plays a less active role in the countrys social programs. Christian Churches and organizations are now being asked to initiate agricultural and community development projects to address food shortages and to provide clothing for those in need. 8 They are also invited to work with youth, elderly, and handicapped, as well as those who struggle with mental health issues such as addictions and substance abuse. Interestingly, Raul Castros present government is not shortsighted in limiting the Churchs influence to the physical and mental health priorities of the Cuban people, as dire as they are. A significant opportunity exists for the Church to restore social values within Cuban families.

6
7

Wikipedia, Economy of Cuba, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Cuba (accessed December 31, 2013. Holton, Harvest. 8 Ibid; CMB Canada World: Cuba, http://www.cbmin.org/cbm/cuba (accessed December 31, 2013); The Church in Cuba is Not a Persecuted Church, http://www.actioncuba.org/the-church-in-cuba-is-not-a-persecuted-church/ (accessed December 31, 2013).

4 In partnership with an education system in Cuba which boasts of having one of the highest literacy rates in the world, Christian principals are now permitted to be taught in public schools by way of moral education curricula. 9 This in turn creates a new crucial need for Bibles and teachers who are familiar with the life-changing principles held in the Christian Scriptures. And this challenge is one of the most promising among those facing the Church in Cuba today. 10 The insights of Tit Tienou which set off the introduction to this essay intimated that one of the notable tests for the Cuban Church of the future lies in preparing pastors and theologians who are aware of the moral questions with which the Cuban people are confronted and who can articulate a theology which meets the needs of Cubas changing contemporary culture. 11 In Spring 2000, Rev, Dr. Reinerio Arce, the president of The Cuban Council of Churches (an ecumenical body in existence since May 1941 comprised of 25 of the 50 Protestant Christian Churches in Cuba) declared that year as a turning point for the Church. He explained the councils new focus of finding ways to preach the Gospel to the new situation in Cuba - one that includes the aforementioned opportunities of rapid Church growth; the Churchs increased involvement in social services; and Cuban societys growing respect and call for the Churchs leadership. 12 Conclusion Having developed a commission to identify and refine a theological and biblical basis for the Church, we can reasonably conclude that the Cuban Church is embracing her past and present challenges as opportunities for God to renew Cuban society for his purposes and future glory.

Holton, Harvest; Literacy Rates of the Countries of the World, http://world.bymap.org/LiteracyRates.html (accessed, December 31, 2013). 10 Partner Agencies: Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba, http://partnersinternational.ca/global-projects/bcec/ (accessed December 31, 2013). 11 Partner Agencies; Tennent, Theology, xiii. 12 Background on the Cuban Council of Churches, http://www.ncccusa.org/news/cuba/cccbackground.html (accessed December 31, 2013).

5 References Agencies: Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba. http://partnersinternational.ca/globalprojects/bcec/ (accessed December 31, 2013). Background on the Cuban Council of Churches. http://www.ncccusa.org/news/cuba/ cccbackground.html (accessed December 31, 2013). CBM Canada World: Cuba. http://www.cbmin.org/cbm/cuba (accessed December 31, 2013). The Church in Cuba is Not a Persecuted Church. http://www.actioncuba.org/the-church-incuba-is-not-a-persecuted-church/ (accessed December 31, 2013). Cuban Christians Fund. https://www.heavensfamily.org/cuban-christians-fund (accessed December 31, 2013). Fidel Castro. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/fidel_castro (accessed December 31, 2013). Google. Population of Cuba. https://www.google.com/search?q=population%20of%20cuba (accessed December 31, 2013. Harvest of Souls: Cubas Church Stages Comeback. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world /2012/March/Harvest-of-Souls-Cuba-Church-Stages-Comeback/ (accessed December 31, 2013). Literacy Rates of the Countries of the World. http://world.bymap.org/LiteracyRates.html (accessed, December 31, 2013). Religion in Cuba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Cuba (accessed December 31, 2013). Tennent, Timothy C. Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church is Influencing the Way We Think About and Discuss Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007. Wikipedia. Christianity in Cuba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Cuba (accessed December 31, 2013). Wikipedia. Economy of Cuba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Cuba (accessed December 31, 2013).