Since 2020, funded by a Leadership Development grant from Trinity Church Wall Street, the Iona Collaborative has been in partnership with The Episcopal Church Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries to develop Spanish-language curricula suitable for use throughout the United States, Province IX, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
The primary goal of this project is to establish two accessible, high-quality, non-degree pathways for ordination for Spanish-speaking leaders in the Iona Collaborative network and throughout Province IX and Latin America. This will be done by completing a catalog of digitally-based Spanish-language theological formation curriculum, and launching a Zoom-based pilot program beginning in the Spring of 2023 that is suitable for preparing priests and deacons for ministry.
Nandra Perry, Director of the Iona Collaborative shares: “This project grows in part out of Seminary of the Southwest’s commitment to contextually rooted theological formation, most particularly to Latinx communities and ministries. We are excited to partner with the Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries and theological educators throughout Latin America to close access gaps to future leaders serving the church.”
Through this partnership, the Iona Collaborative has learned that geography and demographics present significant barriers to seminary-based theological education for Spanish-language leaders in The Episcopal Church and Province IX. Additionally, it presents difficulties to the diocesan-based model through which the Iona Collaborative distributes its English-language curriculum.
Comunidad Teológica Episcopal: Iona Latina will bring together students and instructors from across the U.S. and Latin America to engage in a diverse, highly interactive online learning community that prepares Spanish-language clergy for leadership throughout The Episcopal Church and Province IX.
If you are interested in the program, please register and fill out the online form, with all the criteria applied to you, and more information will be sent to you on the 2023 admissions process.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
