Mita Congregation

The Mita Congregation (Spanish: Congregación Mita) is a Christian denomination with headquarters 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. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Mita Congregation opened a new house of worship in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a seating capacity of 6,500.

History

The Mita Congregation was formed when Mita said that God had chosen her to found a church.[1]

Mitas, as her followers are called, believe that Juanita García Peraza, was chosen by God and that she became 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 October 23, 1921) as the first prophet of God[2] 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, Vargas was renamed Aarón and before Peraza died in 1970, she called Aarón and told him to take care of his church and he is today the spiritual leader of the Mita 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 the Holy Spirit (Mita), 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".[3] 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 slogan of the Mita Congregation.

The church has the biggest marching band in Puerto Rico. 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.

Scandal

A man named Samuel Beníquez claimed to be 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 would have to undergo a paternity test. On March 11, 2013 at 7:50am, Aaron did the DNA test. Its results would be presented on April 4, 2013 in the San Juan Court by the judge Arlene Sellés.[4][5][6] After ten years of legal wrangling, the DNA laboratory results reflected a 99.99% probability that Aarón is Samuel Beníquez Méndez's biological father. Beníquez Méndez, at the age of 41 years, celebrated knowing who his father was and that his mother had been vindicated.[7]

References
  1. J. Gordon Melton (2005). Encyclopedia of Protestantism. Infobase Publishing. pp. 56–. ISBN 978-0-8160-6983-5.
  2. The Caribbean(s) redefined - The Cult of the Goddess Mita on the Eve of a New Millennium: A Socio-Anthropological Look at a Caribbean Urban Religion (13 ed.). Allegheny College. 1997. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  3. Congregación Mita. "Doctrinal Profile". Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  4. "Aarón se realiza la prueba de ADN-VÍDEO". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 11 March 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. "Prueba de ADN para líder mita". Primera Hora (Puerto Rico) (in Spanish). January 20, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  6. "Samuel Beníquez Méndez y otro v. Teófilo Vargas Seín y otros". Micro Juris (in Spanish). 22 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  7. "El ADN confirma la paternidad de Aarón". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). March 26, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
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