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Sonia Isabel Gonzalez Medrano
Governing Elder
Teaching and leadership ministries in her local church
El Dios Vivo Presbyterian Church
Guastatoya, El Progreso, Guatemala
Student of Biblical Theological Formation in Cedepca
Sonia, who has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for more than 33 years, was present since the beginning of the struggle for the ordination of women as governing elders within the National Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (1993-1998). In December of 2003, she was ordained as a Governing Elder of her church, and hence was the first ordained elder in the Norte Presbytery which had been one of the presbyteries most resistant to the ministry of women in the churches. Later, she became a representative of the Norte Presbytery in the National Presbyterian Church of Guatemala and also was Stated Clerk of her presbytery from 2007-2009.
Currently she is editor of the magazine 'Femenine Echos' which is published every two months and which is the official publication of the Sinodica, the organizacion of Presbyterian women at a national level. She's also been secretary, moderator and treasurer of the Sinodica during different periods. She participates in her church as an adult Sunday school teacher, and leads courses, workshops, conferences and bible studies on local, regional and national levels. She's also been a facilitator in some of Cedepca's women's ministry courses.
Sonia has expressed that studying at Cedepca for her has meant broadening her theological understanding. These studies have opened her mind to a more inclusive and open reading of the Bible to understand the mission of God in different social, economic and ecclesiastical contexts. These contexts are often difficult to live in, especially for women these studies have allowed her to better help women interpret their faith experiences. Cedepca is very proud of Sonia because in late October she will continue her theological studies by traveling to Costa Rica to participate in two university level courses with the Latin American Biblical University (UBL).
"I'm proud that during almost all of CEDEPCA's institutional life, in different roles and different ways, I've been able to be close to CEDEPCA and to receive their support in the historic struggle for inclusion of women's leadership in the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Guatemala. I've been nourished by the teaching of the excellent professors and now with CEDEPCA's support I'm working toward the culmination of my theological studies."
Sonia Isabel Gonzalez Medrano |
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