Puerto Rico Partnership

During a week-long mission trip in October 2015, a 20-member team from the Baltimore-Washington Conference traveled throughout Puerto Rico listening to the stories of Methodists living out their faith in vital ways. The delegation also prayerfully laid the foundation for the conference’s fourth global partnership.

On October 12, 2015, in San Juan, Bishops Marcus Matthews and Rafael Moreno Rivas signed a formal covenant to bind together in partnership the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the Puerto Rican Methodist Church.

There are 100 churches in the Puerto Rican Methodist Church and over 100 clergy. About fifty percent of them are women.

Bishop Hector F. Ortiz Vidal was consecrated bishop on June 26, 2016.

If your church wants to become involved in mission with Methodists in Puerto Rico, contact Rev. Edgardo Rivera.

Additional Information

» La Iglesia Metodista de Puerto Rico website

Covenant between the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church

Whereas the autonomous Methodist Church of Puerto Rico was once an annual conference of The United Methodist Church until 2004;

Whereas the Baltimore-Washington Conference is an annual conference of The United Methodist Church;

Whereas both communities cherish their unique histories and ministries and a common calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world;

And whereas the two communities of faith share a common Wesleyan history and theology;

Therefore the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church agree to reach across physical distances, languages and cultures to covenant as follows:

Grow in our understanding of and appreciation for one another’s uniqueness, culture, history and spirituality in making disciples.

Build on our common Wesleyan traditions to spread scriptural holiness (personal and social) through evangelism and ministries of justice and mercy.

Join efforts in working with the poor.

Strengthen our ability to make disciples of Jesus Christ around the world by learning from each other and developing common discipleship and mission strategies within our communities and around the world.

Both communities of faith will endeavor to:

1) Foster youth, young adult, laity, and clergy leadership exchanges to develop deeper understanding of and appreciation for one another’s culture and ministry within our own conferences and around the world.

2) Exchange visits and participation at annual conference sessions to deepen each other’s learning of the church today in our respective cultures.

3) Identify specific areas of ministry and mission for mutual benefit.

4) Discuss the possibility of partnering in a ministry and/or mission together in a third location in Latin America/Caribbean area.

5) Co-Sponsor seminars, workshops, and/or retreats in both communities of faith to focus best learning practices for growing and strengthening disciples and building the church in our respective cultures.