The Methodist Church of Costa Rica began as a mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States in the early years of the 20th century. The decision to begin a work in Central America was made by the Methodist Foreign Missions Board on April 26, 1917 and included the two countries of Panama and Costa Rica. Together these formed the Central American Missions Conference of the ME Church.
Only a few months later, in October of 1917 the first persons arrived in Costa Rica to begin directing the new Methodist mission. They included Bishop George Amos Miller from the U.S. and Rev. Eduardo Zapata from Mexico. In 1919 Bishop Miller purchased a strategically located building in the center of San Jose. This former theater was later remodeled, and converted into the first Methodist sanctuary in country and given the name of “El Redentor.” (“The Redeemer” Methodist Church)
During the following years the Methodist church expanded throughout many parts of the country with properties purchased in the cities of Alajuela, (1920) San Ramon, and Barrio Mexico. (1924)
In keeping with the advance of Methodism in other regions of the world, only four years after initiating the Methodist work in
Costa Rica, a school was formed in the ‘Redentor” Methodist Church. The “Colegio Metodista” as this institution came to be known, had a difficult beginning and eventually had to be closed for a period during the 1940’s. Then in 1949 it was reopened under the direction of the Methodist Missionary Rev. Powell Royster. Shortly thereafter, the Colegio received full accreditation from the Costa Rican ministry of education and grew to have a positive impact in the preparation of young men and women throughout Costa Rica.
Though overall growth in the church was rather slow, by 1968 the Methodist work in Costa Rica included 20 organized churches and a membership of nearly 900 persons. Besides local congregations and the fore mentioned Colegio Metodista, other institutions which were part of the church’s ministry included the Centro Metodista in Alajuela (Education/Retreat Center), the Centro Rural in San Carlos (Farm and Camping Center) and the Libreria Metodista. (Christian Bookstore)
The year 1968 was especially significant in the life of the church as it marked the time when permission was granted to Methodist Churches throughout Latin America to move towards becoming autonomous national churches. Though it would take five years to elaborate a plan for the Costa Rican Methodist church’s autonomy, on February 13, 1973 in the company of Californian Bishop Charles Golden, Bishop Sante Barbieri from South America and two representatives from the General Board of Global Ministries the official declaration of autonomy was granted to the Evangelical Methodist Church of Costa Rica. During the celebration, leaders of the new church were consecrated and Rev. Luis Fernando Palomo was elected president.
The early years of autonomy proved to be a challenge for the Methodist Church in Costa Rica as it struggled in particular with well trained leaders and a declining membership. Towards the end of 1982 Bishop Palomo was granted a sabbatical study leave and was seceded in the leadership of the church first by Rev. Samuel Calvo and later by the Rev. Roberto Dias in 1984.
Several significant steps were taken under Bishop Dias’ leadership including the opening of a new Methodist church in the northwest section of the country in the city of Nicoya (1991) and the founding of the Evangelical Methodist Seminary (1989) under the direction of Dr. Luis F. Palomo upon his return from his studies in the United States.
During the 1993 annual conference session Bishop Palomo was elected once again as Bishop of the church; a position to which he has repeatedly been re-elected every four years to the present day.
Since the mid 1990’s the Evangelical Methodist Church has experienced a continued period of growth in a number of different areas. Due to the ongoing work of the Methodist Seminary the church has been able to prepare and equip a new generation of pastors and lay leaders with a passion for sharing the Good News of the Gospel and planting new churches. At the present time (2011) the Methodist Church has over 110 congregations (membership aprox. 12000 persons) stretching from Nicaragua to Panama and from the Caribbean coast to the Pacific. Much of this growth has been made possible through partnerships with Methodists from the U.S. particularly through the Volunteers in Mission Program.
During this same period, the work of the church has not been limited exclusively to the planting of new churches but has expanded its focus in at least two other major areas. First, the church is more actively involved in serving those in need through feeding centers, day care centers and social assistance than ever before. Hundreds of children are being fed and basic needs for clothing are being met by Methodists who know that in “doing this to one of the least of these” they are ministering to Christ himself. Secondly, since 2000, the Methodist Church of Costa Rica has also grown in the area of education. Not only does the Colegio Metodista (Methodist Elementary and High School) now have over 1200 students on its San Jose campus, but a second Methodist school has been started in the city of San Carlos. In addition, the Methodist University of Costa Rica was founded in 2001 and is accredited to offer degrees in six distinct disciplines.
The Methodist Church of Costa Rica has certainly been blessed through the sustaining presence of the Lord’s hand throughout its history and is eagerly anticipating a new era of ministry and outreach as it projects itself once more towards those in need, through the newly dedicated Methodist Children’s Home located in the city of Coronado.
