WHY CUBA?
How can one be Christian in a socialist state? How can one be Christian in a capitalist state? If you only "journey over" to another culture as a tourist, it may be only an adventure providing no meaningful answers. But if you assume the stance of stranger, outsider, guest, sojourner with a large dose of humility and simplicity, the answers to these questions may be filled with surprises and the "journey back" transforming.

This Cuba Travel Seminar offers the occasion to:

• be challenged and inspired by having the boundaries of your heart and mind stretched by temporary living with Cuban Christians in their place.
• discover the vitality of the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba in worship and through informal conversations with church leaders and members.
• probe the current realities of life in Cuba through interaction with a variety of Cuban people.
• confront the implications of our own country's involvement in Cuba's economics and politics.
• travel with a diverse group of clergy and laity from different locations.

Program Activities: Learning activities include in depth conversations with leaders of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church, the Ecumenical Council of Churches, and with students and faculty at Matanzas Seminary. Also activities may include visits to hospitals, schools, marketplaces, cultural events, governmental agencies and historical sites depending on availability.

Facilitator: Bill McAtee, an International Volunteer in Mission for the PC(USA) specializing in Cuba, will accompany the group and serve as the facilitator. Bill is an experienced traveler to Cuba, having taken groups there with the partnership between the Presbytery of Transylvania in Kentucky and the Central Presbytery in Cuba

Accommodations: We will stay in the dorm units of a Presbyterian Church in Havana. Bunk rooms share central cold water bathrooms. Simple, basic accommodations. Meals will be served in the fellowship hall and feature Cuban cuisine.

Qualifications: Physical stamina for strenuous activities, i.e. handling own luggage, climbing stairs, extensive walking, sleeping in dorm type facilities; Spiritual and emotional maturity for constructive interactive group life in different cultural context; PC(USA) Governing Body endorsement as to qualifications and readiness to participate fully in this travel seminar.

Note: Because space is limited, meet deadlines well before final due dates to assure acceptance.

Upon receipt of Registration Form cancellation refund policy and airline reservation information and other trip details will be sent.

 

Please make checks payable to: PCUSA Cuba Travel Seminar

To Register or to get Information contact:

William G. McAtee P.O.Box 23367 Lexington KY 40523-3367

These Travel Seminars are sponsored by the
Worldwide Ministries Division
of the General Assembly PC(USA).

Cuba Profile

Whereas, the Confession of 1967 has reminded us that "God's reconciliation in Jesus Christ is the ground of the peace, justice, and freedom among nations which all powers of government are called to serve and defend . . ." (Book of Confessions, 9.45); and

Whereas, the Confession of 1967 has reminded us that

. . . The church, in its own life, is called to practice the forgiveness of enemies and to commend to the nations as practical politics the search for cooperation and peace. This search requires that the nations pursue fresh and responsible relations across every line of conflict, even at risk to national security, to reduce areas of strife and to broaden international understanding. . . . (Book of Confessions 9.45); and

Whereas, Peacemaking: The Believers' Calling calls upon the church and Presbyterians as individuals to be actively engaged in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation; and

Whereas, recent openness to religion in Cuban society has resulted in great growth in membership for all churches, including the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba, presenting new opportunities for partnership and support for the life and work of our Presbyterian sisters and brothers in Cuba, bound to us by historic ties of faith and mission; and

Whereas, United States efforts to bring about political change in Cuba through punitive economic sanctions have largely failed and resulted in both hardship for the Cuban people and resentment among numerous friendly governments around the world; and

Whereas, calls by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to lift the U.S. embargo and normalize relations over the years (1969, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1990, 1993) have gone unheeded; and

Whereas, developments since 1993, including the Cuban Democracy Act and the Helms-Burton Act, have set back the efforts for change in Cuba and the normalization of relationship; and

Whereas, unilateral United States sanctions against Cuba do not enjoy the support of the world community in dealing with Cuba and its leaders, either in terms of their legality under international law, or in their effectiveness, or in the propriety of the coercive aspects as related to the sovereignty of other countries;

Therefore, the 209th General Assembly (1997) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

1. Calls upon the United States Congress to rescind the Cuban Democracy Act and the Helms-Burton Act.
    
2. Renews the call upon the United States government to initiate negotiations with the Cuban government toward the end of reestablishing full diplomatic relations.
    
3. Renews the call to develop cooperative efforts on radio and television transmissions, detection and interdiction of narcotic traffic, air and sea traffic, environmental protections and nuclear safety issues, improving postal service, eliminating travel and currency restrictions, and ensuring the access of Cuba to medicines, medical equipment, and major food requirements.
    
4. Calls upon the United States and Cuban governments to facilitate the mediation of the nationalized properties.
    
5. Renews the call on the United States government to end the economic sanctions that it has imposed on Cuba and to respect the opinion of the world community in this matter.
    
6. Calls upon the government of Cuba to ensure the political, civil, and religious rights of its people, just as the Cuban government seeks to provide for their economic and social needs.
    
7. Calls upon the United States to encourage economic investment in Cuba for assisting the Cuban people's efforts to build a just society and to do so in ways that respect the dignity of the Cuban people and their right to self-government.
    
8. Encourages presbyteries and Presbyterians to seek to be peacemakers by building relations with Cuba through visits, church-to-church exchanges, provision of humanitarian needs, study, and advocacy of the positions recommended by the General Assembly.
    
9. Urges congregations and individual Presbyterians to provide financial support for the life and mission of the growing Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba through contributions to the Extra Commitment Opportunities established by the Worldwide Ministries Division.
    
10. Calls upon the United States government to permit the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to pay full retirement, survivor and death benefits directly to the eligible retired church servants and their families living in Cuba.
     
11. Directs the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to communicate this resolution to the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, every member of Congress, the President and the Foreign Minister of Cuba, and the President and the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba.