Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest
James S. Currie, Executive Secretary
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) this column will focus on the contributions of Hispanics to this part of God’s kingdom in the Presbyterian Church. The best written resource for such inquiries is a volume written by Doug Brackenridge and Francisco Garcia-Treto, Iglesia Presbyterian: A History of Presbyterians and Mexican-Americans in the Southwest (Trinity University Press, 1974). While admittedly only looking at the tip of the iceberg, we will attempt to highlight some of those who contributed – and continue to contribute – to the Presbyterian witness to the gospel in the Southwest.
Dr. Gregory Cuellar, professor of Old Testament at Austin Seminary, has reminded us that the first Hispanic graduate of Austin Seminary was Elias Rodriguez in 1908. The Tex-Mex Presbytery was formed in that same year. As a member of that presbytery, Rodriguez served Mexican congregations in Victoria (1908-1912), Cuero (1912-1916), Metcalf, Arizona (1917-1918), and Dallas (1919), He was professor of Spanish at SMU (1919-1920) and at Austin College (1920-1921).
The first Mexican Presbyterian congregation in Texas was organized by the Presbyterian Church, U.S. in Brownsville in 1877. Other Mexican Presbyterian churches wee organized in San Benito, Harlingen, and Mercedes, Texas. These churches became associated with the Tamaulipas Presbytery in Mexico. In 1918 all but the Brownsville congregation later became part of the Texas-Mexican Presbytery of the PCUS. The first indigenous Mexican-American Presbyterian congregation was organized by the PCUS on November 2, 1887 in San Marcos, Texas. Today that congregation is the Memorial Presbyterian Church. Dr. Mike Miller serves as that church’s pastor.
In 1900 Elias Trevino was licensed by West Texas Presbytery to serve Mexican Presbyterian churches. As a member of Tex-Mex Presbytery he served churches in Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Marcos, and San Antonio. He was the organizing pastor of the El Buen Pastor church in Austin. Trevino also served on the original board of the Texas-Mexican Industrial Institute (Tex-Mex).
Tex-Mex was established just south of Kingsville on land given by Henrietta King, daughter of a Presbyterian missionary and wife of Captain Richard King. Dr. James Skinner was the first president, having come from his pastorate in Brownsville. In September of 1956 that school merged with Pres-Mex (for girls) in Taft, Texas. The merged school was named Presbyterian Pan American School and was located on the Kingsville campus. While today students come from four continents (North America, Central and South America, Asia, and Africa), over the years most of the students came from Mexico and Central America. A good number of Pan Am students went on to various universities and distinguished themselves in various fields, including the ministry. Among them are Jorge Lara-Braud (served on faculty of Austin Seminary and the National Council of Churches), Jesse Leos (served as pastor and, later, as principal of Pan Am), Abraham Torres (the first Pan Am graduate to serve as the school’s president and did so from 1991 to 1997), Lemuel Garcia-Arroyo (served as chaplain of Pan Am in the 1990s and currently serves on PCUSA General Assembly Mission Agency), Jasiel Hernandez-Garcia (currently the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, Texas), and Anabell Rosales-Salazar (graduate of Pan Am, Schreiner University, and Austin Seminary and currently serves on the Pan Am board).
The influence of Hispanic heritage is increasingly evident in other ways. The current president of Austin Seminary is Dr. Jose Irizarry, a native of Puerto Rico. The Seminary faculty includes Dr. Greg Cuellar, professor of Old Testament, and Dr. Angel Gallardo, professor of church history.
Rev. Rebecca Reyes, Austin Seminary Class of 1979, was the first Hispanic woman ordained to the gospel ministry in the Presbyterian Church. She currently serves in North Carolina. Rev. Isabel Rivera-Velez is the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Baytown, Texas. Rev. Maria Vargas currently serves First Presbyterian Church in Del Rio, Texas.
The roll call of saints also includes such names as Botello, Fernandez, Gonzalez, Armendariz, among many others. They have served – and continue to serve – faithfully in this part of God’s kingdom. And we are so very grateful. As we make history today, we do so honoring their/our rich heritage and their contribution to our life and ministry together.
The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest exists to “stimulate and encourage interest in the collection, preservation, and presentation of the Presbyterian and Reformed heritage” in the Southwest. If you are not a participating member of the Society and would like to become one, the annual dues are $20 per individual and $25 per couple. Annual institutional and church membership dues are $100. Checks may be made out to PHSSW and sent to:
PHSSW – 5525 Traviston Ct., Austin, TX 78738.
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