Missionary Diocese of Cuba (REC)
The Missionary Diocese of Cuba is a missionary jurisdiction of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC), established in 2003 under the oversight of the Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska. It exists to serve and support the growing Anglican communities throughout Cuba in communion with the REC and the Anglican Church in North America.
History
Beginnings (2003–2005)
In July 2003, a small congregation of about fifteen Christians in Moa, Cuba, reached out to the Reformed Episcopal Church requesting episcopal oversight and pastoral care. Due to U.S. travel restrictions under the long-standing embargo, the REC delegated oversight to its Canadian jurisdiction, the Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska under Bishop Charles Dorrington.
This marked the formal beginning of the REC’s work in Cuba. The first congregation, Iglesia de San Marcos (St. Mark’s Church) in Moa, became the nucleus for future growth.
Growth and Ordinations (2006–2013)
Through the following years, new congregations were established in eastern Cuba. The work expanded through evangelism, training of lay leaders, and translation of Anglican liturgical materials into Spanish. The REC provided theological and practical training via correspondence, local instruction, and visits from Canadian clergy.
In 2009, Willians Méndez Suárez became the pastor of Iglesia de San Marcos. Recognized for his leadership and zeal, he was appointed Archdeacon of Cuba in 2012. Under his leadership, congregations multiplied despite political and economic challenges.
Episcopal Consecration and Formation of the Missionary Diocese (2014–2022)
On 24 May 2014, Archdeacon Méndez was consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of the Missionary District of Cuba by Bishop Charles Dorrington, assisted by bishops of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in North America. This consecration established local episcopal leadership for the first time since the mission’s founding.
By 2016, the Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska had been incorporated into the REC’s Diocese of Mid-America, with Bishop Dorrington continuing as the missionary bishop overseeing Cuba. The work was formally recognized as the Missionary Diocese of Cuba under the Board of Foreign Missions.
By the end of the decade, the diocese included more than forty congregations and mission points, with an average Sunday attendance exceeding one thousand. These congregations were served by a growing number of Cuban clergy, deacons, and catechists.
Transition and Renewal (2023–Present)
Bishop Méndez retired from active ministry in 2023 after nearly a decade of episcopal service. That same year, the REC’s Board of Foreign Missions elected the Rt. Rev. John Peter Boonzaaijer as Suffragan Bishop for the Missionary Diocese of Cuba.
Bishop Boonzaaijer was consecrated on 15 February 2024 in Dallas, Texas. He also serves as the President of the REC Board of Foreign Missions and continues to support the training of Cuban clergy and the strengthening of local congregations.
Structure and Relations
The Missionary Diocese of Cuba remains under the jurisdiction of the Reformed Episcopal Church and is in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The diocese is served through partnerships with the REC’s Board of Foreign Missions, North American parishes, and Canadian supporters who assist with theological education, liturgical resources, and humanitarian aid.
Leadership
- 2003–2023: The Rt. Rev. Charles Dorrington (Missionary Bishop)
- 2014–2023: The Rt. Rev. Willians Méndez Suárez (Suffragan Bishop)
- 2024–Present: The Rt. Rev. John Peter Boonzaaijer (Suffragan Bishop)
See also
- Reformed Episcopal Church (North America)
- Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska
- Diocese of Mid-America
- Board of Foreign Missions (REC)
- Anglican Church in North America