OAC Publications
Borderlines
November 1993

BACK TO SCHOOL IN SPAIN

by Chris Mathieson

Just a year ago, Spain officially withdrew from its 'Catholic only' religious position. During the Middle Ages the Spanish kings were known as the Kings of the Three Religions. Then came Ferdinand and Isabella, who instituted their Inquisition.

Five hundred years later agreements were signed with the Muslims, Jews and Evangelicals to fully restore their status and give them the advantages long enjoyed by the Catholics. Amongst other things, this means equal opportunities to teach evangelical "religion" in schools.

For once the evangelicals were ready! Three years ago a university-level teacher-training course was set up to prepare teachers for this event, and Chris and Hilde Mathieson were amongst the first to sign up.

In January they were finally allowed to begin teaching classes. Evangelical RE is an option, so it is not expected that classes will ever have large numbers. Chris's largest class numbered four to start with, but he had to teach out of official hours to get the children together. Altogether they began with ten children in two schools.

But other teachers are faring better. Another Madrid teacher has about thirty children this year and is teaching a full week's timetable. In Valladolid (Spanish home of Renault) one teacher has about ninety, mostly from Gypsy families.

Although nationally there are still few teachers (about 80), word is getting around and where there is revival, as with the Gypsies, large numbers are demanding to be taught the Gospel. National leaders are praying for 1,000 teachers by the end of the decade.

Being an optional subject means that, while evangelistic appeals would be frowned upon, they have more freedom than the average multi-cultural RE teacher in Britain. Children, whether from evangelical families or not, can be given a biblical foundation for their lives. The opportunities are also there for witness in the staff room, with non-Christian parents and others involved in the life of the school.

How can you help? If you are a teacher you may have some material they could use. Since evangelical RE is a brand new subject in Spain they have to invent or adapt all their material, and see this as a contribution they can make to the ministry of Spanish RE teachers.

You might even consider following in their footsteps and prepare to join in this essential work, in a country where less than one in four hundred know the Lord and nine out of ten towns have no evangelical or protestant church.

CHRIS MATHIESON became an OAC evangelist in 1982, after completing his degree in Hispanic Studies at Bristol university. In 1989 he married Hilde, a German missionary in Spain. They are based in Madrid.