View source for Presbyterian Church of Colombia (Presbyterian Synod)

{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name = Presbyterian Church of Colombia
| abbreviation =
| image =
| caption =
| main_classification = [[Protestantism|Protestant]]
| orientation = [[Calvinism|Reformed Faith]]
| theology = [[Calvinist]]
| governance = [[Presbyterian]]
| branched_from = [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]] and [[Presbyterian Church in the United States]]
| founded_date = 1855
| founded_place =
| headquarters =
| separated_from =
| absorbed =
| separations = 1993: [[Presbyterian Church of Colombia (Reformed Synod)]]
| leader_name=
| associations = [[World Council of Churches]],<ref name=CMI>{{cite web|url=https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/presbyterian-church-of-colombia|publisher=World Council of Churches|title=Presbyterian Church of Colombia|accessdate=December 13, 2021}}</ref> [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]<ref name=CMIR>{{cite web|url=http://wcrc.ch/members|title=World Communion of Reformed Churches: Members|accessdate=May 14, 2018}}</ref> and [[Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Latin America]]
| area = [[Colombia]]
| congregations = 45<ref name=CMI />
| members = 12,000<ref name=CMI />
| ministers = 47<ref name=CMI />
| website = {{url|http://www.ipcol.org/}}
}}
The '''Presbyterian Church of Colombia''' (in Spanish ''Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia'' or '''IPCol''') - is a [[Protestant]] [[Calvinist|Reformed]] denomination, founded on the [[Colombia]] in 1855, from the missionary work of Rev. Ramón Montsalvatge, sent by the American Bible Society and Rev. Henry Barrington Pratt, sent by [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]].<ref name=CMI/><ref name=CAL>{{cite web|url=https://teologiabrasileira.com.br/calvinistas-na-america-do-sul/|title=Calvinism in South America:Colombia|date=August 7, 2018|accessdate=June 25, 2021}}</ref><ref name=REF>{{cite web|url=http://www.reformiert-online.net/adressen/detail.php?id=12136&lg=de|title=Reformiert Online: Presbyterian Church of Colombia|date=February 17, 2006|accessdate=December 15, 2021}}</ref><ref name=BOOK/><ref name=BOOK2/><ref name=BOOK3/>
The denomination is known for its activism in defense of [[human rights]] in Colombia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eluniversal.com.co/regional/circula-en-barranquilla-panfleto-intimidatorio-contra-defensores-de-ddhh-181942-BVEU279383|title=President of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia in desire of human rights|date=January 13, 2015|accessdate=July 15, 2022}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cubadebate.cu/especiales/2009/09/04/campana-de-firmas-en-solidaridad-con-los-cinco-heroes-y-contra-carlos-alberto-montaner/|title=Campaign of firms in solidarity with the Five Heroes and against Carlos Alberto Montaner|date=4 September 2009|accessdate=July 15, 2022}}</ref>
== History ==
In 1855, Rev. Ramón Montsalvatge (sent by the American Bible Society), arrived in Colombia. Subsequently, Rev. Henry Barrington Pratt (sent by [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]]) also settled in the country. Both missionaries began to serve the foreigners present and originally the services were held in English.<ref name=CAL/><ref name=BOOK>{{Cite book |author= Robert Benedetto and Donald K. McKim|title=Historical Dictionary of the Reformed Churches |language=English|edition=Second |location=Toronto |publisher=Scarecrow Press, Inc.  |year=2010 |page=11 |isbn=978-0-8108-5807-7 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=edhZ_g-RvyMC&q=%22iglesia+presbiteriana+de+colombia%22&pg=PR19 }}</ref><ref name=BOOK2>{{Cite book |author=James E. McGoldrick and Richard Clark Reed|title=Presbyterian and Reformed Churches: A Global History|language=English  |edition=Second|location=Grand Rapids |publisher=Reformation Heritage Bookd |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-60178-349-3  |accessdate=June 17, 2022|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=cTQSEAAAQBAJ&q=%22presbyterian+ofchurch+colombia%22&pg=PT642}}</ref><ref name=BOOK3>{{Cite book |author= Gary Scott Smith and P. C. Kemeny|title=The Oxford Handbook of Presbyterianism |year=2019 |language=English |publisher=Oxford University Press|page= 187|isbn=978-0-19060-840-8 |accessdate=June 17, 2022|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7cObDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22presbyterian+church+of+colombia%22&pg=PA187}}</ref><ref name=BOOK4>{{Cite book|author=Cortés Guerrero, José David, Marín Leoz, Juana María, García Rincón, Leonardo Fabián, Plata, William Elvis, Hernández Fernández, Diana Paola, Campillo Pardo, Alberto José, Moreno-Goldschmidt , Aliza, David, Odette Yidi, Salcedo Martínez, Jorge Enrique, Pinto Bernal, Jose Joa quin, Mora Pacheco, Katherinne Giselle, Cascavita Mora, Juan David, Jurado Jurado, Juan Carlos, Rueda Enciso, José Eduardo, Carballo, Fabio Hernán, Muñoz, Fernanda, Zuleta Gómez, Darío Arturo, Arboleda Mora, Carlos, Tamayo Franco, Rafael , Córdoba-Restrepo, Juan Felipe, López Amaya, Jeiman David, Vázquez Piñeros, María del Rosario, Manosalva Correa, Andrés Felipe, Cabrera Becerra, Gabriel, Reyes Sánchez, Gina Marcela|title=History of religion in Colombia, 1510-2021 |language=Spanish |editor=Universidade del Rosario |year=2021 |isbn=978-958-784-794-9|accessdate =July 7, 2022|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=QCduEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22iglesia+presbiteriana+de+colombia%22&pg=PT478}}</ref>
In 1859, the services began to be celebrated in Spanish. However, the denomination grew slowly and faced religious persecution. It was only in 1959 that IPCol acquired complete autonomy from the American denominations.<ref name=CMI/><ref name=CAL/>
In 1982, the denomination created the Presbyterian Seminary of Greater Colombia to train its pastors.<ref name=CMI/><ref name=CAL/>
And in 1993 IPCol suffered a split. Some of the members separated and formed the [[Presbyterian Church of Colombia (Reformed Synod)]].<ref name=CAL/><ref name=HIS1>{{cite web|url=https://repository.urosario.edu.co/bitstream/handle/10336/2417/1020716474-2011.pdf?sequence=1|title=Historical Protestantism and Neo-Pentecostalism in Bogotá: a comparative analysis between the Presbyterian Church of Colombia and the International Charismatic Mission|author= Alexandra Díaz Pabón|publisher=University of the Rosary|date=2010|location=Bogotá|accessdate=June 25, 2021}}</ref><ref name=HIS2>{{cite web|url=https://www.unisbc.edu.co/una-historia-de-la-iglesia-presbiteriana-en-colombia-1993-2013/|publisher=Bible Seminary of Colombia|title=A history of the Presbyterian Church in Colombia, 1993-2013|date=14 April 2020 |accessdate= December 13, 2021}}</ref><ref name=HIS3>{{cite web|url=https://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/historia/article/download/15609/22002?inline=1|author=Luis Eduardo Ramírez Suárez|title=The Presbyterians in Colombia (1856-1993): A historical look through its worship, liturgy and temples|accessdate=13 December 2021}}</ref>
== Doctrine ==
The denomination [[ordination of women|ordained women]] as pastors, elders and deaconesses.<ref name=REF/>
== Inter-church relations ==
The denomination is a member of [[World Council of Churches]],<ref name=CMI/> [[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]<ref name=CMIR/> and [[Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of Latin America]].
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Presbyterian denominations in South America]]
[[Category:Protestantism in Colombia]]
[[Category:Members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches]]