Journal Of Latin American Theology Volume 14 Number 2

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 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 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.

Corruption... The mere word brings up negative, and all too prevalent, images in our minds: bribes, abuse of power, and favoritism among our political leaders, business leaders, and even among our religious leaders. It is commonplace for Christians to rail against rampant corruption and lament its existence. What is not so common is to hear a thoughtful analysis of the factors that lead to and feed corruption. Even more scarce are practical and proven steps that we can take to reduce the levels of corruption in our societies. With these thoughts in mind, the Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana invited Christian leaders to tackle this issue head on at an international conference titled “Corruption Kills: Biblical, Contextual, and Ethical Perspectives.” Held in Lima, Peru from July 23–25, 2016, participants gave presentations that ranged from biblical and theological analysis of corruption to practical experiences of fighting it. Though our hearts are heavy due to the subject matter, it is our privilege to share with you in this issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology some of the key presentations of that conference.

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.

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.

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.

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 Special issue on the Comentario biblico contemporaneo Vol. 11, No. 1, Spring 2016 The Journal of Latin American Theology enters its second decade with this current issue, which presents an English-language sample of the exciting Comentario biblico contemporaneo (CBC, Contemporary Bible Commentary), forthcoming in Spanish from publisher Certeza Unida and in English from Zondervan. This full-Bible, one-volume commentary has been years in the making and contains some of the finest biblical exegesis and pastoral theology by contemporary Latin American Protestant leaders. This issue includes the CBC's commentaries on three entire books of the Bible: Ruth, Obadiah, and Galatians; as well as seven of the short articles included in the CBC which treat some of the most vital issues for the church today, including migration, racism, and sexual identity. We are overjoyed to present this gift from the Latin American church to English-speaking Christians around the globe.

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 Sanchez 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 Noelliste 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.