The Hispanic-Latinx Center was established in 1988 to bring Hispanic-Latinx culture and experience into the life of the seminary. The Center’s mission has been to meet the needs of Hispanic-Latinx students, pastors, parishioners, and community leaders in creative, insightful, useful, and organic ways.
Our goal is to provide resources and academic discussions on relevant topics for Hispanic-Latinx communities addressing theological and practical aspects of ministry in cross-cultural contexts. Furthermore, we offer opportunities for reflection on complex issues related to Hispanic-Latinx experiences from a theological and social justice standpoint, while seeking to promote dialogue and partnership with community leaders and non-profit organizations that together work for the common good.
Dr. Emma Escobar serves as the Director of the Hispanic-Latinx Center and as the Assistant Professor of Faith-Based Organizing.
This Fellows Program recognizes the unique gifts of our Hispanic and Latinx applicants who will be ministering in bilingual settings and/or who have significant contributions to make to the global religious landscape. Priority is given to United Methodist bi-lingual and/or first and second generation Hispanic and Latinx students.
Cátedra Paulo Freire is a yearly conference that seeks to collectively imagine what it means to be a responsible Christian in today while expanding and deepening our participation in society as public theologians.
There is a sense in which every Christian is a theologian, and so I hope to help my students become the best theologians that they can in the context of their particular calling.
Dr. Nancy Bedford
Georgia Harkness Professor of Theology
Through my interdisciplinary approach to education, my areas of interest range from Paulo Freire’s work, critical pedagogy, global citizenship, intercultural and postcolonial studies, cultural-historical theory activity (Lev Vygotsky), and liberation theologies.
Dr. Débora Junker
Associate Professor of Critical Pedagogies
As a liberative ethicist, my pedagogy is grounded in the pursuit of justice and education inclusivity.
Dr. Rudolph P. Reyes II
Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics and Latinx Studies
In my teaching, I seek to inform and train future religious leaders in the practices of ‘true generosity’ so that the Church is an engine of transformation and liberation in the world, rather than a perpetuator of ‘false charity.’
Rev. Dr. Javier A. Viera
President and Professor of Education and Leadership
We can be in partnership with communities where people are being agents of change, walking with one another.
Dr. Emma Escobar
Assistant Professor of Faith-Based Organizing
Director, Hispanic-Latinx Center
Founded in 1989, the Hispanic Summer Program (HSP) seeks to shape the next generation of Latinx theological and academic leaders. Garrett students can join with students from across the country annually for a two week summer intensive. Participants get the opportunity to take accredited, graduate level courses with some of the nations top Latinx faculty in an environment that centers Latinx methods, pedagogies, and stories.
Garrett is proud to partner with HYLA on our campus for Hispanic-Latinx college students. HYLA is a United Methodist leadership initiative that provides an intensive summer leadership academy and a long-term mentoring experience around the topics of calling, education and Latino@ identity.
