Mita Congregation

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The Mita Congregation (Spanish: Congregación Mita) is a religious organization and Christian cult headquartered in Puerto Rico. The congregation has chapters in the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, Spain, and the Dominican Republic. The Congregation principal Temple at 203 Duarte Street, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Mita's Congregation opened a new house of worship in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a seating capacity of 6,500.

History

The Mita believe that a woman named Mita, born Juanita García Peraza, was chosen by God like all the prophets were chosen on earth and she became the body, the living incarnation of the Holy Spirit in its third manifestation. First, as the omnipotent father in Jehovah, then in his beloved son Jesus Christ and in its third manifestation with a new name revealed Mita, name of the Holy Spirit of God. According to their beliefs, the Holy Spirit once acted through Mita and anointed Teófilo Vargas Seín (born on October 23, 1921) as the first prophet of God in what they call the new manifestation of God, the third manifestation, the Holy Trinity — the father, son and the Holy Spirit. According to the church Teófilo Vargas was renamed Aarón and before the date when Juanita García Peraza died in 1970, she called Aarón and by the words of Mita told him to take care of his church and is today the spiritual leader of the Mita's Congregation. The congregation was formed in Arecibo in 1940, but in 1947 the church was relocated to Hato Rey.

Doctrine

The doctrine of the church is based on the original Reina-Valera Spanish translation of the Bible. They are trinitarian, believing in Jehovah, Jesus Christ and Mita (the Holy Spirit), who they believe "is on earth, that His new name is Mita and that, through Aarón, He guides His Church and guides it through truth and justice towards salvation."[1] Aarón is considered God's prophet for today, and through him God's message of cleansing, freedom from sin, and unity is brought to the world. Mita en Aarón (Mita in Aaron) is a popular slogan of the Mita Congregation, who believe that the holy ghost (Mita) lives in Aaron.

The central teachings of the church would be inconsistent and aberrational with historical orthodox Christianity and would be considered by most mainstream denominations as heterodox.

The church has the biggest marching band in Puerto Rico.[citation needed] Harps, cords and the chorus emphasize love, liberty, and unity. The church counsel is for a clean life following God's Ten Commandments. At official activities, members dress in all white as a symbol of purity and cleanliness of their redeemed souls.

Scandals

A man named Samuel Beníquez has claimed to have been the son of Aaron (Teofilo Vargas Sein). Aaron denied Samuel's claim but refused a DNA examination or a paternity test. After a legal battle the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico determined that Aaron must undergo a paternity test.[2] On March 11, 2013 at 7:50am, Aaron did the DNA test.[3] On March 25, 2013, Judge Arlene de Lourdes Sellés Guerrini announced that DNA test results indicated 99.9% positive certainty that Vargas had fathered Beníquez.[4] On that day, neither Vargas nor his lawyers reacted publicly.

Beníquez's story is the subject of the book Tu Alto Precio... Mi Gran Valor — La Vida de Samuel Beniquez; el Hijo de Aarón by Miguel Amadeus and Samuel Ortiz Ramos (2005).[5]

See also

  • Kimbanguist Church, which also claims that the Holy Spirit has become incarnate

References

  1. ↑ Congregación Mita. "Doctrinal Profile". Retrieved 2010-05-21. 
  2. ↑ Decision of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico "Microjuris.com
  3. ↑ Aaron se Realiza la Prueba de ADN
  4. ↑ Positiva la prueba de paternidad contra Aarón
  5. ↑ First page of the newspaper "Primera Hora" of Puerto Rico and subsequent pages 2 through 4. Edition of January 20, 2012. "Newspaper "Primera Hora" "reclamado ser reconocido como hijo legítimo del principal líder mundial de la congregación Mita, Teófilo Vargas Seín, conocido como “Aarón”

Further reading

  • J. Gordon Melton (1996, 5th ed.). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Detroit, Mich.: Gale) p. 389

External links

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