Argentina - (South America)

Information about Argentina

The Argentine Republic forms, together with Chile and Uruguay, the southern cone of Latin America. One third of its population lives in the capital — Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires. Due to the length of the country, the climate varies from semi-tropical to polar, and due to its width the topography varies from coastalto mountainous zones in the Andes. Historically, the country was colonized by the Spaniards and gained independence in 1816. The majority religion has been Roman Catholicism. The first Protestant groups to arrive were Presb from Scotland and Angl (1825-1829); they were authorized to work in English only. The Meth church made its appearance in 1836, followed in 1881 by the Bapt. The first immigrants, who later established the Argentine Reformed Church, arrived from Holland in 1886. By now, most of the historical churches have celebrated the 100th anniversary of their presence in the country. The historical churches also include the Waldensian Church in Argentina and Uruguay (cf. Uruguay), the Evangelical Church of the River Plate in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, the Disciples of Christ, and the United Lutheran Church. In the last few years the country has seen the emergence of a great number of Pentecostal churches, some open for ecumenical contacts, others based on a strong personal and individual ministry. All religious communities have to register with the Foreign Ministry.
For many years now, most of these churches have united in cooperative efforts. More than 25 denominations, including the Salvation Army and some Pentecostal churches, are members of the Argentine Federation of Protestant Churches; nine churches share the Faculty of Theology (ISEDET) for the training of their ministers. A few years ago the Waldensian, United Lutheran, Reformed, and Evangelical Church of the River Plate agreed on the mutual recognition of membership and ministry on the basis of the Leuenberg Concord. The Reformed and Waldensian Church have gradually begun to share their work. They jointly issue the magazine Dialogo and together run a student hostel in Buenos Aires. In 1994 the Synods celebrated a joint Assembly.

Churches

• Iglesia Cristiana Evangélica Reformada Húngara
  Hungarian Christian Evangelical Reformed Church
• Iglesia Evangélica Congregacional
  Evangelical Congregational Church IECA
• Iglesia Evangélica del Rio de la Plata
  Evangelical Church of the River Plate
• Iglesia Evangelica Presbiteriana Coreana
  Korean Evangelical Presbyterian Church
• Iglesia Evangelica Suiza en la Argentina
  Swiss Evangelical Church IES
• Iglesia Evangélica Valdense en Argentina
  Evangelical Waldensian Church of Argentina
• Iglesia presbiteriana Argentina
  Presbyterian Church of Argentina
• Iglesia Presbiteriana Central de Buenos Aires
  Central Presbyterian Church of Buenos Aires
• Iglesia Presbiteriana Coreana Che Il
  Che Il Korean Presbyterian Church
• Iglesia Presbiteriana Mui (Taiwanesa)
  Mui Presbyterian Church
• Iglesia Presbiteriana San Andrés en Olivos
  St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
• Iglesia Presbiteriana Taiwan (Sin-Heng)
  Taiwanese Presbyterian Church (Sin-Heng)
• Iglesias Reformadas en la Argentina
  Reformed Churches in Argentina I.R.A.

• Biblical Institute of Buenos Aires
  Instituto Biblico Buenos Aires
• Instituto Universitario ISEDET
  University Institute ISEDET ISEDET
• Theological Institute of the Congregational Evangelical Church in Argentina
  Instituto de Teología de la Iglesia Evangélica Congregacional Argentina

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