Onell Soto
Encyclopedia
Onell A. Soto is a retired Episcopal
Bishop residing in Miami, Florida
. Prior to his retirement in 2002 he was appointed by the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley
to serve as Assistant Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
, beginning on August 1.
He served in a similar position for four years in Atlanta. In 1987 he was elected bishop of the Anglican Church in Venezuela
.
. The son of Juan Aurelio Soto Vega and María de Los Angeles Almaguer Mayo, Bishop Soto spent his childhood in his hometown until 1938 when he moved with his family to a small town named San Agustín, where his father was head of the Army post.
He received his primary education in San Agustín's public school. In 1945 he won a scholarship to study in a rural training school in Victoria de las Tunas, a city 30 miles from home. After a year of study there, Bishop Soto entered the Methodist mission school in Omaja. He graduated with honors in 1947 and received a scholarship to study secondary education at Irene Toland School in Matanzas
, 100 miles from Havana
. Bishop Soto graduated with honors in 1952, and enrolled three months later at the University of Havana's School of Medicine where he completed four years of medical training..
In 1956 the university was closed for political reasons and was not opened until 1960, after the triumph of Fidel Castro's revolution.
In 1957, he left Cuba
for the United States
and enrolled in Boston University
's College of Liberal Arts. In 1959, he returned to Cuba
, and worked for two years as a chemistry technician at a flour mill in Havana
.
On July 4, 1960, he married Nina Ulloa, director of Christian Education of the Episcopal Church in Cuba
. In November
of the same year, they left Cuba
for the United States
and settled in Sanatorium, Mississippi
, where Bishop Soto worked as a medical assistant at the Mississippi State Sanatorium, a TB hospital. In August
1961, he entered the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. Bishop Soto paid part of his studies by teaching Spanish in two Episcopal High Schools while studying at Sewanee.
He received his Bachelor of Divinity
degree in 1964 (later upgraded to Master's), and went to Austin, Texas
, where he worked on a Master's degree
at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
.
He and his wife, Nina, became U.S. citizens on September 8, 1966 in San Antonio, Texas
.
On St. Peter's Day, June 29, 1964, he was ordained deacon in Gadsden
, Alabama
, by the Rt. Rev. George M. Murray, then Bishop of Alabama. On August 18, 1965 he was ordained priest in Bogotá
, Colombia
, by the Rt. Rev. David B. Reed then Bishop of Colombia.
The Sotos arrived in Quito
, Ecuador
, as appointed missionaries of the Episcopal Church
on September 15, 1965 where he became Vicar of St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church. He established the first Spanish-speaking congregation and organized a strong ecumenical movement in the city.
After serving for six years in Ecuador
, he was appointed Executive Secretary of Province IX of the Episcopal Church in 1971. At that time the province consisted of the dioceses of Mexico
, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
. While in El Salvador
, he organized the provincial office and set up a wide communication system throughout the province and the rest of Latin America. During this time he traveled widely and helped to foster better inter-Anglican and ecumenical relations through personal visits and communication.
He remained in El Salvador until December 18, 1977 when he was then appointed Mission Information and Education Officer of the World Mission Unit at the Episcopal Church Center in New York
. In that post, he had the opportunity to travel around the world as a mission reporter and interpreter.
In 1978, he was appointed mission information and education officer at the Episcopal Church Center in New York
.
During his 10-year tenure he visited almost every province of the Anglican Communion
and produced World Mission News, a newsletter about Anglican affairs and the worldwide missionary work of the Church. He also founded Anglicanos, a similar publication in Spanish in 1984.
On March 11, 1987, he was elected bishop of the Diocese of Venezuela. His consecration took place on July 11, 1987 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Caracas. The Rt. Rev. James H. Ottley, Bishop of Panama and President of Province IX, presided at the ceremony. The co-consacrators were the Most Rev. Orland U. Lindsay, primate of the West Indies, the Most Rev. Olavo V. Luiz, primate of Brazil and the Rt. Rev. Haydn Jones, retired bishop of Venezuela
.
In October
1988, the University of the South awarded him a doctor of divinity degree honoris causa.
During his episcopate in Venezuela
, he led the Church in that country from a chaplaincy church to a national church under Venezuelan leadership. His dreams were realized on April 8, 1995, when a special convention of the Church in Venezuela elected Orlando Guerrero, a 50-year-old priest, ordained in 1980, as the first Venezuelan national to be elected to the Anglican episcopate.
Before his departure from Caracas
, the President of Venezuela, Dr. Rafael Caldera
, granted him the Order of the Liberator Simón Bolívar for his contribution to "the moral and spiritual welfare" of the country.
As Assistant Bishop of Atlanta he worked closely with the diocesan, Bishop Frank Allan. Besides the normal pastoral work of the diocese, he helped in deployment, higher education, and ecumenical relations, Hispanic ministry and relations with the companion diocese of Ecuador
.
In 1999 he accepted the invitation of the Diocese of Alabama
to do the same ministry as assistant bishop after his retirement in Miami in 2002.
He has attended, in several capacities, all the General Conventions of the Episcopal Church since 1969.
Bishop Soto and his wife, Nina, a Christian educator also a native of Cuba
, have four grown children and five grandchildren who live in the Chicago, Washington, San Diego and Sacramento. Mrs. Soto is the editor of Día a Día, the Spanish version of Forward's Day by Day in Spanish.
From May 1, 1995 until his retirement in 2002, he was Assistant Bishop of Atlanta sharing the pastoral ministry with the diocesan, Bishop Frank Allan. The Diocese of Atlanta has 90 congregations and nearly 300 clergy. As Assistant Bishop, he helped in the episcopal ministry and served in deployment, higher education, ecumenical relations, Hispanic ministry and relations with the companion diocese of Ecuador.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
Bishop residing in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Prior to his retirement in 2002 he was appointed by the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley
Henry N. Parsley
Henry Nutt Parsley is the Episcopal Bishop of Alabama, with his seat at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama...
to serve as Assistant Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama is located in Province IV of The Episcopal Church and serves the State of Alabama with the exception of the extreme southern region, including Mobile, which forms part of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast....
, beginning on August 1.
He served in a similar position for four years in Atlanta. In 1987 he was elected bishop of the Anglican Church in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
Biography
Soto was born on November 17, 1932 in Omaja, a small town founded by American immigrants in the province of Oriente, CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. The son of Juan Aurelio Soto Vega and María de Los Angeles Almaguer Mayo, Bishop Soto spent his childhood in his hometown until 1938 when he moved with his family to a small town named San Agustín, where his father was head of the Army post.
He received his primary education in San Agustín's public school. In 1945 he won a scholarship to study in a rural training school in Victoria de las Tunas, a city 30 miles from home. After a year of study there, Bishop Soto entered the Methodist mission school in Omaja. He graduated with honors in 1947 and received a scholarship to study secondary education at Irene Toland School in Matanzas
Matanzas
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
, 100 miles from Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. Bishop Soto graduated with honors in 1952, and enrolled three months later at the University of Havana's School of Medicine where he completed four years of medical training..
In 1956 the university was closed for political reasons and was not opened until 1960, after the triumph of Fidel Castro's revolution.
In 1957, he left Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and enrolled in Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
's College of Liberal Arts. In 1959, he returned to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and worked for two years as a chemistry technician at a flour mill in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
.
On July 4, 1960, he married Nina Ulloa, director of Christian Education of the Episcopal Church in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. In November
November
November is the 11th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of four months with the length of 30 days. November was the ninth month of the ancient Roman calendar...
of the same year, they left Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settled in Sanatorium, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, where Bishop Soto worked as a medical assistant at the Mississippi State Sanatorium, a TB hospital. In August
August
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first...
1961, he entered the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. Bishop Soto paid part of his studies by teaching Spanish in two Episcopal High Schools while studying at Sewanee.
He received his Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree in 1964 (later upgraded to Master's), and went to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, where he worked on a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
Seminary of the Southwest is one of 11 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Founded in 1951 by Bishop John E...
.
He and his wife, Nina, became U.S. citizens on September 8, 1966 in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
On St. Peter's Day, June 29, 1964, he was ordained deacon in Gadsden
Gadsden
Gadsden may refer to:In geography:*Gadsden, Alabama**Gadsden Depot, a United States Army Depot in the city of Gadsden, Alabama*Gadsden, Arizona*Gadsden, Indiana*Gadsden, Tennessee*Gadsden County, Florida...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, by the Rt. Rev. George M. Murray, then Bishop of Alabama. On August 18, 1965 he was ordained priest in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, by the Rt. Rev. David B. Reed then Bishop of Colombia.
The Sotos arrived in Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, as appointed missionaries of the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
on September 15, 1965 where he became Vicar of St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church. He established the first Spanish-speaking congregation and organized a strong ecumenical movement in the city.
After serving for six years in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, he was appointed Executive Secretary of Province IX of the Episcopal Church in 1971. At that time the province consisted of the dioceses of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Central America, Ecuador, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. While in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, he organized the provincial office and set up a wide communication system throughout the province and the rest of Latin America. During this time he traveled widely and helped to foster better inter-Anglican and ecumenical relations through personal visits and communication.
He remained in El Salvador until December 18, 1977 when he was then appointed Mission Information and Education Officer of the World Mission Unit at the Episcopal Church Center in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In that post, he had the opportunity to travel around the world as a mission reporter and interpreter.
In 1978, he was appointed mission information and education officer at the Episcopal Church Center in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
During his 10-year tenure he visited almost every province of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
and produced World Mission News, a newsletter about Anglican affairs and the worldwide missionary work of the Church. He also founded Anglicanos, a similar publication in Spanish in 1984.
On March 11, 1987, he was elected bishop of the Diocese of Venezuela. His consecration took place on July 11, 1987 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Caracas. The Rt. Rev. James H. Ottley, Bishop of Panama and President of Province IX, presided at the ceremony. The co-consacrators were the Most Rev. Orland U. Lindsay, primate of the West Indies, the Most Rev. Olavo V. Luiz, primate of Brazil and the Rt. Rev. Haydn Jones, retired bishop of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
In October
October
October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days. The eighth month in the old Roman calendar, October retained its name after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the...
1988, the University of the South awarded him a doctor of divinity degree honoris causa.
During his episcopate in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, he led the Church in that country from a chaplaincy church to a national church under Venezuelan leadership. His dreams were realized on April 8, 1995, when a special convention of the Church in Venezuela elected Orlando Guerrero, a 50-year-old priest, ordained in 1980, as the first Venezuelan national to be elected to the Anglican episcopate.
Before his departure from Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, the President of Venezuela, Dr. Rafael Caldera
Rafael Caldera
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez was president of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999.Caldera taught sociology and law at various universities before entering politics. He was a founding member of COPEI, Venezuela's Christian Democratic party...
, granted him the Order of the Liberator Simón Bolívar for his contribution to "the moral and spiritual welfare" of the country.
As Assistant Bishop of Atlanta he worked closely with the diocesan, Bishop Frank Allan. Besides the normal pastoral work of the diocese, he helped in deployment, higher education, and ecumenical relations, Hispanic ministry and relations with the companion diocese of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
.
In 1999 he accepted the invitation of the Diocese of Alabama
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama is located in Province IV of The Episcopal Church and serves the State of Alabama with the exception of the extreme southern region, including Mobile, which forms part of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast....
to do the same ministry as assistant bishop after his retirement in Miami in 2002.
He has attended, in several capacities, all the General Conventions of the Episcopal Church since 1969.
Bishop Soto and his wife, Nina, a Christian educator also a native of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, have four grown children and five grandchildren who live in the Chicago, Washington, San Diego and Sacramento. Mrs. Soto is the editor of Día a Día, the Spanish version of Forward's Day by Day in Spanish.
From May 1, 1995 until his retirement in 2002, he was Assistant Bishop of Atlanta sharing the pastoral ministry with the diocesan, Bishop Frank Allan. The Diocese of Atlanta has 90 congregations and nearly 300 clergy. As Assistant Bishop, he helped in the episcopal ministry and served in deployment, higher education, ecumenical relations, Hispanic ministry and relations with the companion diocese of Ecuador.