CEDEPCA (the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America) is an educational institution that works to transform lives and realities by offering education, accompaniment, and safe reflection spaces to women and men of diverse Christian traditions and communities. Headquartered in Guatemala City, CEDEPCA has been offering people tools to eradicate violence and injustice in their world, especially violence against women and children. CEDEPCA supports four primary programs: Intercultural Encounters, Disaster Ministry, Women’s Ministry, and a Biblical and Theological Seminary.
In 1998, New Castle Presbytery took its first Intercultural Encounters trip with CEDEPCA. Since then, CEDEPCA has become much more than simply our trip facilitator. They now provide emotional health training and disaster ministry directly to the women of the Association. They also offer invaluable insight and guidance to us as we navigate our many relationships in Guatemala.
Truly, our work in Guatemala would not be possible without them. For this reason, we felt strongly that it was time to establish a formal partnership with CEDEPCA. So in January 2019, leaders of NCP traveled to Guatemala City to sign a formal agreement for the years 2019, 2020, in 2021. Indeed it was a day to celebrate!