Dr. Max Puig highlights Wesleyan Methodist Church’s founding as an anti-slavery movement in Santo Domingo

Dr. Max Puig highlighted that the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which contributed to the formation of the Dominican Evangelical Church, was established as an expression of anti-slavery principles and the pursuit of religious freedom in the territory. He emphasized that the formal establishment of the church resulted from the immigration of Black free Americans, facilitated by Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer. This development marked a break from the religious monopoly that had existed since the colonial era.

Puig, speaking at the 90th general assembly of the Dominican Evangelical Church in Boca Canasta, Bani, stated that the founding of the Wesleyan Methodist Church on November 4, 1835, established the principle of religious freedom in the eastern part of Santo Domingo. He noted that this event represented a significant moment in the country’s history, as it introduced religious tolerance and challenged existing power structures.

The politician and sociologist noted that the Wesleyan Methodist Church merged with three other churches in the 20th century to form the Dominican Evangelical Church. He pointed out that the first Methodist church in formal terms was established in Puerto Plata, but the church also exerted significant social influence in Samana, where the number of freed Black individuals was higher relative to the local population.

Puig explained that in 1840, a protocol was established between the Wesleyan Methodist Society of Puerto Plata and the Methodist Society of London to validate documents for the purchase of land for the construction of the church in Puerto Plata. This collaboration underscored the church’s role in both religious and social development.

He mentioned that the main data of his presentation were based on historical research conducted by his father, José Augusto Puig, who studied the origins of the population in Puerto Plata. Puig noted that his father, through Reverend Raymundo García, then president of the Center for Planning and Ecumenical Action (CEPAE), transferred the original document on the church’s foundation to Reverend Samuel Grano de Oro at the 56th General Assembly of the Dominican Evangelical Church in 1978.

Puig acknowledged that some claim the first evangelical church in the country arose in Samana due to the larger Methodist community there compared to Puerto Plata. He emphasized that this debate reflects the church’s broader impact and the importance of historical records in understanding its legacy.

The arrival of two ships from Philadelphia in 1824 and 1825, carrying six thousand freed Black Americans, marked a pivotal moment in the region’s history. It is estimated that two thousand of these individuals settled in the area, contributing to the growth of the Methodist community and the establishment of religious freedom. This migration played a crucial role in shaping the religious and social landscape of the Dominican Republic.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)