Journal Of Latin American Theology Volume 18 Number 2

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology features articles with pastoral perspectives for postpandemic times as well as reflection on justice and theological education. Edesio Sánchez Cetina addresses the difference between how disease is dealt with in the Bible and modern understandings of illness and healing. Fabio Salguero Fagoaga wrestles with COVID-related suffering in light of Christian hope in the resurrection. Mary Luz Reyes Bejarano proposes an interdisciplinary model of pastoral care that puts victimology in dialogue with psychology and theology. She does this within the framework of a regional program in Colombia for women dealing with the aftermath of violence. Daniel S. Schipani develops a psycho-theology of lament and offers keys for walking alongside and supporting—“companioning”—people facing crisis situations. Luis Cruz-Villalobos identifies eleven positive keys to coping evidenced by Paul in 2 Corinthians, and these become the basis of a proposed hermeneutic of post-traumatic Christian praxis. Esteban M. Voth discusses how the Hebrew term tsedeq is rendered in Bible translations in English (“righteousness”) and Spanish (“justicia/justice”). He then connects the impact of the translation to how followers of Jesus live out their theology. Dieumeme Noëlliste celebrates the collaborative nature of advanced-degree programs and the prophetic, missional approach taken by many institutions of theological education in the global South. Four book reviews, a film review, and one poem close out this volume.

This special issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology is a collaboration with Memoria Indígena on Indigenous theology. The explanatory preface by guest editor Drew “Andrés” Jennings-Grisham sets the stage for why Indigenous theologies and contributions are so needed by the global church. Toward that end, this issue of JLAT features more Indigenous voices than any of our previous publications. These voices reach us through poetry (Francisco Pérez Alonzo and Jocabed Solano), a devotional reflection (Benita Simón Mendoza), comments on Bible translation (Sabayu), a documentary film on weaving (reviewed by Samuel Lagunas), and the final summary document of a 2021 Memoria Indígena gathering on theological education. They come through articles, an interview, and a group response that challenge the church to decolonialize its theology and practice (Juana L. Condori Quispe, Fernando Quicaña, Drew Jennings-Grisham, and the FTL’s 3i Working Group). They come through a historical review of mission work (Azucena Rosal), of Indigenous social movements (Julián Guamán Gualli), and of FTL publications (Drew Jennings-Grisham). Two master’s theses have been summarized and adapted herein. One draws on Andean Kichwa spirituality to shape a holistic Christian theology of life (María Alejandra Andrade) and the other develops a hermeneutical proposal for dialoguing with scriptural narratives from, with, and for a specific Indigenous community (Jocabed Solano). We trust that engaging with these articles will lead us all into more mutual, interdependent, and responsible relationships in the power of Christ’s Spirit, the Ruah.

This special issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology is a collaboration with Memoria Indigena on Indigenous theology. The explanatory preface by guest editor Drew "Andres" Jennings-Grisham sets the stage for why Indigenous theologies and contributions are so needed by the global church. Toward that end, this issue of JLAT features more Indigenous voices than any of our previous publications. These voices reach us through poetry (Francisco Perez Alonzo and Jocabed Solano), a devotional reflection (Benita Simon Mendoza), comments on Bible translation (Sabayu), a documentary film on weaving (reviewed by Samuel Lagunas), and the final summary document of a 2021 Memoria Indigena gathering on theological education. They come through articles, an interview, and a group response that challenge the church to decolonialize its theology and practice (Juana L. Condori Quispe, Fernando Quicana, Drew Jennings-Grisham, and the FTL's 3i Working Group). They come through a historical review of mission work (Azucena Rosal), of Indigenous social movements (Julian Guaman Gualli), and of FTL publications (Drew Jennings-Grisham). Two master's theses have been summarized and adapted herein. One draws on Andean Kichwa spirituality to shape a holistic Christian theology of life (Maria Alejandra Andrade) and the other develops a hermeneutical proposal for dialoguing with scriptural narratives from, with, and for a specific Indigenous community (Jocabed Solano). We trust that engaging with these articles will lead us all into more mutual, interdependent, and responsible relationships in the power of Christ's Spirit, the Ruah.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology contains articles from some of the newest members of the FTL who presented papers in local chapters in fulfillment of an essential requirement for active membership in the FTL: the presentation of a written work reflecting original theological thought, rigorous dialogue with other pertinent sources and research instruments, and relevance to Latin American situations. Through this requirement, the FTL provides a strong impetus to practical scholarship and fosters relevant, robust contextual theological reflection. This issue showcases men and women from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Honduras, El Salvador, Uruguay, and Argentina who explore many aspects of church, generosity, identity, art, the prophetic imagination, and liberation.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology addresses several themes: we continue our up-to-date analysis of Christianity in each country in Latin America; we examine how a Christian community in Central America is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; and we celebrate the life and ministry of Juan Stam, a giant of a man and in uential member of the FTL who passed into the presence of the Lord on October 16, 2020. Leopoldo Cervantes-Ortiz reviews Juan Stam’s more than seven decades of teaching, writing, and mentorship while Stam’s daughter and editor Rebeca Stam offers a more intimate look at his later life. Luis Carlos Marrero Chasbar helps us understand the complex interplay of the varieties of Christianity in Cuba, then David López discusses how religious persecution has shaped Protestant involvement in the current political arena in Colombia. Tomás Gutiérrez describes the evangelical church in Peru with an eye toward the impact of the coronavirus in the country, and Heidi Michelson and the sisters and brothers of Casa Adobe in Costa Rica share how they walk with God and serve their neighbors in the midst of the pandemic. This volume closes with two samples of theopoetry that re ect on different aspects of the Christian faith in quarantine and a book review of David Kirkpatrick’s A Gospel for the Poor.

Journal of Latin American Theology: Christian Reflections from the Latino South Special Issue on the 2015 Sao Paulo Conference on the Occasion of the FTL's 45th Anniversary Vol. 11, No. 2, Fall 2016 This issue of our Journal of Latin American Theology: Christian Reflections from the Latino South brings together some of the most representative papers from the FTL's 2015 continental conference, "45 Years of the FTL and Contemporary Theological Borders," held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Building on the milestones of that past, participants faced the challenges of the present and future. Herein, Brazilian theologians and practitioners offer reflections on the FTL's early days, Pentecostal theology, the intended "irrelevance" of the church, the oral nature of the Gospels, and race relations within church and society. Spanish-speaking theologians and practitioners discuss public theology and the joyful dreams of God the Creator. A presentation of theological poetry rounds out this issue.

Journal of Latin American Theology: Christian Reflections from the Latino South Vol. 10, No. 2, Fall 2015 It is our privilege to include in this issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology three of the papers presented at the FTL's 2014 conference in Costa Rica and the final document of the conference. Jocabed Solano tells her story of being an indigenous (Guna) woman and follower of Jesus in Panama today; Natanael Disla writes about the common characteristics of masculinity within Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism and the new model of "hombre" that each has produced. Historian Sidney Rooy helps us navigate the history of Latin American Protestantism to explore the impact, or lack thereof, of the Lausanne Covenant on church life in the Latin American world. The Affirmation of San Rafael de Heredia, the final document from the 2014 conference, is a challenging yet deeply encouraging document that will guide the FTL on a large and small scale in the coming years. Finally, Juan Jose Barreda, focusing on the Bible's overarching emphasis on excluded peoples and availing himself of the tools of biblical sciences, takes us on a tour of different approaches to reading the sacred texts.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology is dedicated to the memory of C. René Padilla (1932–2021). In “The Life and Legacy of C. René Padilla,” historian Daniel Salinas presents the essential events of René’s life and ministry. In 2008, Darren C. Marks published René’s own account of his theological journey in Shaping a Global Theological Mind. We are grateful to reprint “My Theological Pilgrimage,” in which René described the factors that contributed to his development as a theologian and practitioner. Next, the five children René had with his late wife Catharine Feser Padilla offer a heartfelt overview of their father’s life. A sample of tributes from friends and family members then describes not only René’s writings and mental brilliance but also his humility, hospitality, courage, and gentleness as a mentor. And the three poets included herein give testimony to René’s unflagging dedication to encouraging and publishing other writers across the genres. Next, historian Dinorah Méndez reviews René’s last literary venture, Raíces de un evangelio integral: misión en perspectiva histórica and demonstrates that the primary theological emphasis of René’s life—misión integral—has been practiced by the people of God in their various contexts throughout history. Finally, with the combined efforts of several scholars, we have compiled as complete a bibliography of René’s published works as possible.