We are getting a lot of questions about the situation at Lakeside Presbyterian Church. In the spirit of transparency, we sent out a news release discussing our experience. Obviously, this comes from the English-language congregation’s perspective, but we believe all the facts are accurate:
The English-language congregation of Lakeside Presbyterian Church was stunned by an announcement on Thursday, January 9, that the Spanish-language pastors were locking the church building against them, so that no English service could be held on Sunday, the 12th.
English-language services will be held at 10 a.m., upstairs at Lake Chapala Real Estate at Constitución # 26, in central Ajijic between Ramón Corona & Nicolas Bravo.
The Church was founded in February 2009 as an English-language fellowship. About a year later, a Spanish-language outreach ministry was funded by the congregation. Later, that ministry became its own church congregation, funded by the expat group. The Spanish-language congregation has never become financially independent, nor was it expected to be. The other ministry outreach programs funded by the English-language congregation include a school for children too poor to attend public school and despensas given to widows, orphans, single mothers, and others who cannot afford basic food supplies. The English-language congregation also funded breakfasts for schoolchildren in Jocotepec, Mezcala, La Cima and other communities.
Most frustrating to the congregation is that the property that was seized was bought and constructed using the funds of the English-language congregation beginning in 2013.
Because Mexican law required that the named members of the Asociacion Religiosa be Mexican citizens, the Mexican pastors—a married couple—were made President and Vice President. They falsely claim they now “own” the church building and property.
The point of conflict appears to be use of the building for the Lake Chapala Orchestra, Las Voces del Lago chorus, and the new La Paloma Café. The church building was built with the intention of being a community space, as well as a place of worship, which the Mexicans had ostensibly agreed with.
The Mexican pastors also object to the open nature of the English-language congregation, for example, welcoming members of the gay community, preferring the building be used exclusively for those who agree with their own Christian doctrines.
The English-speaking congregation has no issue with the Mexican congregation. They understand that our cultures differ. They solely object to being locked out of their property by the Mexican pastors and being unable to use the building as the founders and those who built it intended.