Southeast Mexican Union Mission

Southeast Mexican Union Mission is an administrative unit in the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Its headquarters is in Colonia Centro in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Territory: The states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan; and the following municipalities of Tabasco State: Balancan, Centla, Centro, a portion of Comalcalco, a portion of Cunduacan, Emiliano Zapata, Jalapa, Jalpa de Mendez, Jonuta, Macuspana, Nacajuca, Tacotalpa, Teapa, and Tenosique; comprising the Campeche, Central Tabasco, Mayab, North Quintana Roo, and South Tabasco Conferences; and the East Tabasco, and South Quintana Roo Missions.

Statistics (June 30, 2024): Churches, 682; membership, 98,158; population, 6,557,923¹

History of the Institution

At the South Mexican Union Conference Board meeting on April 3, 2000, a vote was taken to hold a constituency meeting on April 23 of that year in the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco. The objective of this meeting was to consider the possibility of dividing the South Mexican Union Conference into two unions.² The constituency members voted to approve this project. It was later decided to form the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union Conference with five fields: South Pacific Conference, Hidalgo Veracruz Conference, South Veracruz Conference, Oaxaca Mission (now Oaxaca Conference), and Olmeca Conference. The second union formed was the South Mexican Union Conference, which also had five fields: Central Chiapas Conference, Mayab Conference, North Chiapas Conference, Soconusco Conference, and Tabasco Conference (see Central Tabasco Conference and South Tabasco Conference).

In November 2001, the South Mexican Union Conference had 232,901 church members, while the Inter-Oceanic Union Conference had around 150,000 members. During the South Mexican Union Conference's first Quinquennial Session, held from November 4-6, 2001, the union's administrators were elected: David Javier Pérez as president and Jairo Tenorio León as treasurer.

The South Mexican Union Conference remained in existence until 2012. At that time, its territory included the states of Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, and the southeast of Tabasco. On January 26, 2012, the members of a South Mexican Union Conference study committee met in Merida, Yucatan, with General Vice President of the General Conference Lowell Cooper as its president. The purpose of this committee meeting was to consider the viability of a further division of the union for the reasons outlined in the meeting minutes. The president declared that, as the members of the committee had reviewed the material previously sent to them, he desired to know the thoughts of these union administrators regarding the viability of dividing into two new unions based on the criteria of mission, challenges, and opportunities.

Mission, Challenges, and Opportunities

Missionary efforts in the union have grown each year, bringing both challenges and opportunities. One challenge was the increasing activity of dissident groups. On the positive side, the church gained recognition in the community through missionary programs focused on addressing local social needs.

A key consideration was whether the new unions would have the human and financial resources to provide strong leadership. The information provided indicated that:

• The union had experienced personnel capable of supporting various local fields. Their success in these roles ensured there were sufficient leadership resources to meet the needs of creating new unions.

• At the time, the South Mexican Union Conference contributed the second-largest tithe within the Inter-American Division, even when compared to fields in more prosperous countries.

Another consideration was whether the entities would be able to support their institutions. It was decided that Southeast Hospital would continue serving the entire southeastern region of the country. The university, the only institution of higher education in the area, would continue serving both new unions.

Experience has shown that creating new unions sparks growth in missionary work and membership growth. The creation of local fields with new leadership required the union to oversee these leaders, many of whom were young and lacked experience. With the establishment of a new union, administrators would be better positioned to support their churches in a more focused manner and effectively engage their members. The new unions would help maintain unity within the broader church. Additionally, since the union serves as the link between the division and the local churches, new unions would strengthen the connection between the division and the local churches.

After the committee finished its work and made its recommendation, a constituency session was held on August 13-15, 2012. The South Mexican Union Conference became two unions. One was the Southeast Mexican Union Mission with five local fields: Campeche Mission, Central Tabasco Conference, East Tabasco Mission, Mayab Conference, and Quintana Roo Mission. The new union began with 105,815 members and 1,023 churches and congregations. The elected administrators for the first quinquennial period of service were Isaías Espinoza as president, David Celis as secretary, and Pedro León as treasurer.³

At the first meeting held on November 12-15, 2012, the union leaders voted the following statements to be adopted for Southeast Mexican Union Mission:

Mission: To glorify God, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit guide each believer to a personal and transforming relationship with Christ, which enables him or her as a disciple to share the eternal gospel with all people.

Vision: Each member of the body of Christ prepared for the Kingdom of God.

Values: Integrity, Unity, Respect, Glorification of God, Lifestyle, Excellence with Humility, Compassion, Equity, and Commitment.

Growth of Southeast Mexican Union Mission

On January 15, 2014, the Quintana Roo Mission divided into two new units: the North Quintana Roo Conference and the South Quintana Roo Mission.⁴ Similarly, in 2015, the East Tabasco Mission was split to form the South Tabasco Conference and the East Tabasco Mission. The second quinquennial conference of the Southeast Mexican Union Mission took place on August 19-21, 2018. The elected administrators for the next quinquennial period were Isaías Espinoza as president, David Celis Aguilar as secretary, and José Luis Olmos Sánchez as treasurer.⁵

During the first quinquennial period, a pattern was established for carrying out the union’s work, which was based on action teams within the churches. This approach proved successful and was confirmed as the model for the next quinquennial period, to be used by all church ministries. A key element of this model is a step-up plan, with the local church serving as the starting point, and plans gradually moving up to the union. In this way, local churches create their strategies and schedules within the guidelines set by the union and local fields. This approach fosters a proactive culture within the church, allowing it to function without the pressure of externally set goals. Instead, it encourages the fulfillment of the mission through a love for Jesus Christ, motivated by the Holy Spirit. This strategy has strengthened leadership within the churches and built confidence among their members. The Southeast Mexican Union Mission remains dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s mission through the various ministries of the church and by preparing people for eternity.

List of Administrators

Presidents: Isaías Espinoza (2012-2018); David Celis Aguilar (2018- ).

Secretaries: David Celis (2012-2018); Otoniel López López (2018- ).

Treasurers: Pedro León (2012-2018); José Luis Olmos Sánchez (2018- ).

Sources

South Mexican Union Conference Board minutes, April 3, 2000. Union secretariat archives, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Southeast Mexican Union Mission Board minutes, 2014, 2015, 2018. Union secretariat archives, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Notes

1. “Southeast Mexican Union Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (2025), accessed March 27, 2025, https://www.adventistyearbook.org/entity?EntityID=51728.↩

2. South Mexican Union Mission Board of Directors, April 3, 2000, 4622, union secretariat archives.↩

3. Southeast Mexican Union Mission Board of Directors, 2014, 488 and 497; 2015, 818, 940, and 975, union secretariat archives.↩

4. Southeast Mexican Union Mission Board of Directors, 2014, 488, 497, and 499, union secretariat archives.↩

5. Southeast Mexican Union Mission Board, 2018, union secretariat archives.↩