number of pastors sent by the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon (EPC). In 1960, about twenty delegates met for the last time as the presbytery of the Synod of New Jersey. They approved a new constitution and the church consolidated to the autonomous church referred to as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Spanish Guinea. After independence of the country on 12 October 1968, this church worked with the acceptance of the authorities of the new post-independence government. However, under the regime of Francisco Macías Nguema the church again experienced fierce repression and was forced to consolidate again. In 1969, the Presbyterian Church united with the church that resulted from the missionary work of the World Evangelical Crusade in the area of Akurenam (Cruzada Mundial de Evangelización), and in 1973 the two churches formed, together with the Methodist Church (Metodista), the Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea (Iglesia Reformada de Guinea Ecuatorial) (IRGE). The Methodist Church had come into existence in Bioko through the efforts of the British Methodists. The union was ambiguous because there was no real agreement on the authority of the new church over the three pre-existing churches. Tensions were therefore bound to arise and the union fell apart. From January 1996, the IRGE functioned as a federation of churches and its name was changed to Council of Evangelical Churches in Equatorial Guinea (CIEGE). This federation has not been functioning anymore since 1997, but first discussions are now going on about a re-establishment of this Church Council. One of the members that emerged from this federation is the autonomous Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea - the IRPGE. It is reformed by its theology and Presbyterian by its form of government. The other members are the Methodist Church and the Evangelical Crusade Church. The IRPGE today Today, the IRPGE is a minority church within the country of Equatorial Guinea, which is dominated by Roman Catholic Churches and belief. According to data collected in 2006, the IRPGE counted approximately 8,000 members in 21 congregations, including those on the mainland and on the island of Bioko. However, a more recent survey by the church ascertains a decline in memberships. The approximate number of members has fallen to 3,500 in the three presbyteries "Centro", "Corisco", and "East" and the total of now 29 congregations. According to the WCC statistics the church has 8,230 members in 29 congregations served by 21 pastors. Manuel Nzoh