Registration is now open for a special Virtual Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course (VELMC), an innovative five-day intensive course designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians to gain practical knowledge and cultural competency for Latino/Hispanic ministry.  Originally offered in person at the School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee, the course will be conducted online in English, August 10-14, 2020.

The five-day VELMC includes 20 hours of online classroom presentations, worship services, and group dialogue, with comfortable breaks and an ample lunch time factored in from 11:00am to 5:30pm (EDT) each day.

These popular sessions are offered by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries and taught by seminary faculty, clergy, and lay leaders with extensive experience in Latino and intercultural ministry.

“Combining academic learning with hands-on experience, the purpose of this multi-faceted intensive course is to provide cultural competency of the history, culture, socio-demographic, and religious aspects of the Latinos/Hispanics in the United States,” explains the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, Episcopal Church missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries. “Also, this course will provide the foundational tools necessary for church leaders to discern and explore the type of Latino/Hispanic ministry that best fits a congregational setting and its context.”

At the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Describe the socio-demographic, cultural, and religious characteristics of Latinos/as in the United States, including generational distinctions.
• Discuss the religious history of Latinos/as and theological issues related to Latino/Hispanic ministry.
• Recognize the worshiping needs of dual-language congregations and prepare for multicultural liturgical celebrations.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the general aspects of ministries aimed at immigrant and first-generation Latinos/as, as well as ministries focused on the more acculturated and English-language speaking Latinos/as of the second and third generation.
• Articulate the complex issues related to Latino immigration, including its political, socio-demographic, and pastoral implications.

VELMC has an Early Bird registration rate of $250, if registered by July 3.  Regular registration of $300 has a deadline of August 3. 

Plans are underway for ELMC to be held in person in 2021, again at the School of Theology in Sewanee, as well as Boston University.

Registration:

• Click here to register.
• For more information, contact Anthony Guillén.

NOTE: Continuing education units are available for all participants upon completion of the course.