DESCRIPTION: This course introduces the student to the major themes and specialized disciplines that deal with U.S. Latino(a)/Hispanic communities. The approach is practical and intends to forge a critical environment for interpreting religious practices, culture, ministry models, and social structures that so far have shaped the contours of Latino living. The end product is an ecclesial-action-proposal for churches whose constituency is the Latina community or whose intention is to embrace such a community and issues at some point.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated: (1) cognitively, a foundational understanding of the main issues affecting Latinos in the U.S. and beyond as well as the acknowledgment of the disciplines used to interpret these realities (i.e., cultural anthropology, sociology of religion, aesthetic philosophy, intercultural studies, Local theologies, etc.); (2) ministry-related, a hermeneutics of religious practices, leadership, and missions; (3) contextually, a social ethics situated in Latino context but shaped by biblical values; (4) spiritually, a domestic spirituality for the people of God--a communal expression of faith shaped by the historical-transcendent Spirit of God.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Doing ministry among Latinos encompasses a set of multicontextual, polyvalent, polyglot, interdisciplinary skills, to name some. We believe this course is foundational for ministers, leaders, students, and theologians involved (or wishing to be) with Latinos in the U.S.

COURSE FORMAT: Given the practical methodology of this course, the class environment will allow for a variety of learning experiences including lectures, debates, films, lyric analysis, group blogs, etc. The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. Students are expected to study beforehand the required readings for the week and take part in the ensuing discussion. It will require a great deal of independent study and presentations.

REQUIRED READING:

Bonino, José Miguez. Rostros del Protestantismo Latinoamericano. Buenos Aires: Nueva Creación, 1995.

De la Torre, Miguel, and Edwin David Aponte, eds. Handbook of Latino/a Theologies. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2006.

González, Justo L. Teología liberadora. Buenos Aires: Kairos, 2006.

Padilla, C. Rene, ed. La Fuerza del Espíritu en la Evangelización. Buenos Aires: Kairos, 2006.

Course Reader.

1. Students are expected to have studied the reading assignment for the week in its entirety.

2. Attendance (10%).

3. Each week students will submit a two-page reflection paper based on the reading (40%).

4. Students will choose a research topic from the general group project and submit it for peer review (10%). At the end of the quarter each student will submit their research paper of 12-15 pages (40%).