Uruguay

Iglesia Metodista del Uruguay (The Methodist Church of Uruguay)

Iglesia Metodista en el Uruguay (IMU) is a justice-seeking church rooted in Wesleyan tradition, actively transforming lives through inclusive ministry and social engagement.

It supports migrants, low-income families, and young people with disabilities through initiatives like the Instituto de Buena Voluntad. It also runs schools such as Instituto Crandon.

IMU leads environmental awareness campaigns and advocates for human rights, reproductive justice, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The church is strengthening its theological and pastoral formation to better serve communities and engage with Uruguay’s secular and liberal society.

Activities include discipleship programmes, liturgical development, community outreach with children and adolescents, and professionalised administration.

IMU also invests in communication and evangelisation strategies to amplify its mission and witness across diverse social contexts.

Methodism first arrived in Uruguay in 1838, brought by missionaries from England.

After a brief interruption, the work was re-established in 1870 by the Methodist Missionary Society of the United States.

Spanish-language preaching began in 1868, and the church was formally constituted on 19 June 1878.

Over the years, IMU became known for its commitment to education, social justice, and ecumenical dialogue—founding schools like Instituto Crandon and launching Latin America’s first Protestant newspaper, El Evangelista.

In 1952, IMU became a provisional conference, and in 1968, it gained full autonomy from the United Methodist Church, adopting a non-episcopal, inclusive governance model.

The IMU has consistently championed human rights and ecumenical cooperation, including the “Churches without Borders” initiative with Argentina and Brazil.

Despite its small size, the church continues to play a vital role in promoting justice, inclusion, and spiritual renewal.