A Word of Gratitude
José Manuel Capella-Pratts and Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri
We write this letter with a profound sense of gratitude. When Vilmarie and Cindy1 responded to the call to stand as candidates to moderate the 223rd General Assembly, they selected the phrase “living in gratitude” as their guiding theme. This same theme accompanied them throughout their two-year co-moderatorial journey, beginning with their election in the summer of 2018, through their travels across the nation and around the world, through the early stages of the pandemic, and “passing the torch” to the new co-moderatorial team in 2020. The premise that led them to select this theme was the recognition that, while life always presents circumstances to grieve, life in the Gospel of God’s reign provides greater reasons for thankfulness. This approach of “living in gratitude” can make a difference in how we face the challenges that daily life presents to us as individuals and as a Church.
As we write this letter, amidst great transitions in the church and society, we also choose gratitude as a motivating force in the present and the future.
First, we want to express our gratitude to God, who, as Scripture states, “called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 NRSV). We recognize that God has guided and accompanied us in our vocational journey and discernment, both during our years of teaching (Vilmarie) and parish ministry (José Manuel) and in recent years serving as mission co-workers. In all things and through all things, God has been good.
We also want to thank the Presbyterian World Mission ministry area, which was a great school for expanding our vision of the Missio Dei—God's mission in the church and the world. We are deeply grateful for our fellow mission co-workers: women and men who have given their all to be a supportive presence of the Church in the world. Their vast experience and wisdom have been and will continue to be a great example of what it means to “to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with [our] God” (Micah 6:8 NRSV). We especially highlight our colleagues in the Latin America and the Caribbean area, who have been a true family, sharing in tears and laughter, laments and hopes, always putting forward the divine call “to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace” (A Brief Statement of Faith—Presbyterian Church USA).
We also want to thank our partner denominations in the Caribbean region, who welcomed us as part of their own and have provided us numerous opportunities to collaborate and learn from their living witness in each particular context in which they serve God and their communities. Our church in the United States is and will always be indebted to our sister churches around the world. We can learn so much from them and their faithfulness!
Last —but not least—, we want to thank you, the mission networks, congregations, and individuals who, with your faithful prayers and financial support, your hospitality, and your accompaniment, have sustained us on this mission journey. Your unconditional love and words of encouragement have been a source of inspiration for our ministry.
Though our season as Regional Liaisons for the Caribbean is coming to an end, we will continue to serve as Global Ecumenical Liaisons in the new Interim Unified Agency.
The Missio Dei continues; what will change is our way of organizing ourselves to participate and collaborate in the national and international missional context. More details will be shared in the future as this new model of accompaniment to God's people around the world continues to develop. In the meantime, we renew our commitment and determination to continue serving and living in gratitude.
Paz y bien,
José Manuel y Vilmarie
https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2018/6/16/fourth-ballot-cintron-olivieri-kohlmann-win-close-moderator-contest
https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2025/2/5/interim-unified-agency-pcusa-announces-shift-approach-global-ministry-engagement