Raul Willians Mendez Suarez (born 1951) is a Cuban Anglican bishop. He served from 2014 to 2023 as bishop suffragan of the Missionary Diocese of Cuba in the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Willians Mendez Suarez | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Suffragan of the Missionary Diocese of Cuba | |
| Church | Reformed Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | Cuba |
| In office | 2014–2023 |
| Successor | John Boonzaaijer |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | May 24, 2014 by Charles Dorrington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) |
Ministry career edit
Mendez began his ministry career as a Baptist pastor and joined the REC in 2008.[1] He became pastor of the original Cuban REC church plant, Iglesia de San Marcos in Moa, in 2009.[1] In 2012, he became archdeacon for the growing missionary district, which was founded as a mission outreach of the REC Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska in 2003 and expanded by 2020 to more than 40 locations with an average Sunday attendance of 1,000.[2]
Mendez was consecrated as bishop suffragan for the Missionary District of Cuba in Holguin on May 24, 2014. Charles Dorrington was the chief consecrator, joined by Bishops Trevor Walters of the Anglican Network in Canada and Miguel Uchôa of the Anglican Diocese of Recife.[3] Mendez has worked to develop an REC seminary program in Moa.[4]
With the merger of the Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska into the Diocese of Mid-America by the time of the REC's 2017 triennial General Council, the missionary district of Cuba became a missionary diocese under the leadership of Dorrington, assisted by Mendez.[3]
Mendez retired in late 2023, and the Rev. John Boonzaaijer was elected to take his place as bishop suffragan for the missionary diocese.[5]
Personal life edit
Mendez was married to Reina Acosta Real[6] until her death in 2022.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b Dorrington, Charles (2014). "The Report of Bishop Charles Dorrington" (PDF). Journal of the Proceedings of the Fifty-Fourth General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church: 38–41. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ REC Board of Foreign Missions (2021). "Report to the 56th General Council Of the Reformed Episcopal Church" (PDF). pp. 54–55.
- ^ a b "Consecrations of Bishops" (PDF). Journal of the Proceedings of the Fifty-Fifth General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church: 209. 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ Mayo, Barclay (Winter 2023). "Executive Management Change" (PDF). Cuba. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Parish News" (PDF). Cuba Chronicles. December 2022. p. 2. Retrieved 28 December 2022.