Registration is now open for the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency, an innovative nine-day intensive course designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians to learn cultural competency and ministry to the country’s Latino/Hispanic population.             

Offered by the Episcopal Church Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries in partnership with Seminary of the Southwest, the course will be offered June 18 – 27, 2017, at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX, and will be taught by seminary faculty, lay church leaders and clergy with extensive experience in Latino and intercultural ministry.

“The purpose of Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency course is to provide a hands-on, cultural competency of the history, culture, socio-demographic, and religious aspects of the Latinos/Hispanics in the United States,” noted the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén,     

Episcopal Church Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries. “This course provides foundational tools necessary for diocesan staff, lay leaders, clergy and seminarians to be able to discern and explore the type of Latino/Hispanic ministry that best fits a congregational setting and its context.”

Guillén added, “This multi-faceted, intensive course also exposes students to the general profiles and ministry distinctions between the immigrant/first generation Latinos and the U.S born, multi-generational Latinos which require more of a bicultural, bilingual or English-dominant ministry and evangelization.”

Enabled by General Convention 2015 Resolution AO86:  Create a Network of Partners on Latino/Hispanic Congregational Ministry Development,  the course will combine academic learning with hands-on experience to provide foundational tools for church leaders to gain a deep understanding of ways of welcoming and serving Latino families and sharing spiritual, sacramental and community life together.

“This course is exactly what the church needs right now,” observed Scott Bader-Saye, Academic Dean at Seminary of the Southwest. “The missional future of the Episcopal Church must include creative and culturally competent ministry in Latino/Hispanic contexts.”

The course will be conducted in English; bilingual faculty will interpret as needed, from Spanish to English.

Registration is available here Registration includes tuition; hotel accommodations; meals; transportation to and from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport; and transportation during the course.  Registration does not include texts. Discounts are available for multiple registrations per church/parish.

Early bird registration deadline is April 7. Registration deadline is May 5 (Cinco de Mayo!) 

Among the goals of the course are:

• Show a familiarity with the general Latino culture and “religiosity” context of Latino worship and sacramental pastoral care.
• Learn to manage and address the worshiping needs of a dual language congregation, or to prepare for a special liturgical event involving English and Spanish speaking attendees.
• Acquire a fundamental competency in learning the general aspects of the pastoral and congregational ministries aimed at the immigrant and first generation, plus the ministry focused especially on the more acculturated and English-language speaking Latinos of the second and third generation.
• Define and interpret the broad historical and demographic profile of the Latino/Hispanic population in the United States through designated readings, course lectures, written reflections, class participation and experiential trips.
• Acquire first-hand knowledge of the church in mission in the borderlands and identify the political, social, and pastoral issues revolving around immigration from Mexico as well as Central and South America and the Caribbean. (Borderlands refers to either the US/Mexico border or immigrant entry points in urban centers.)

Future offerings will be held at Bexley Seabury, Chicago, IL (October 15-24, 2017), and at Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, CA (June 10-19, 2018).

For more information, contact Guillén,

Note: the course is accredited by the Seminary of the Southwest and offered for Academic Credit/CEU credit, and for three seminary credit hours.  

Future offerings will be held on the campus of Bexley Seabury, Chicago, IL (October 15-24), and Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, CA (June 10-19, 2018).

The Task Force for Latino/Hispanic Congregational Development and Sustainability

Coordinating the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency are members of the Cultural Competency sub-committee:

• The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, Episcopal Church Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries; Diocese of Los Angeles;

• The Rev. Victor H. Conrado, Associate Rector, St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn, IL, Diocese of Chicago; Adjunct Faculty Instructor, Bexley-Seabury Seminary;
• The Rev. Edward Gomez, Vicar, San Pablo/St. Paul’s, Houston, TX, Diocese of Texas;
• The Rev. Al Rodriguez, Adjunct Faculty Instructor and Interim Director of Latino/Hispanic Studies at Seminary of the Southwest, Diocese of Texas;
• The Rev. Ema Rosero-Nordalm, Deacon, Diocese of Massachusetts – ELCA, Iglesia Nuevo Amanecer, East Boston, MA;
• The Rev. Oscar A. Rozo, Priest-in-Charge, St. Mark’s, Beaver Dam, WI, Diocese of Milwaukee; Church Planter/Priest-in-charge, Comunidad de Todos los Santos, Watertown, WI, Diocese of Milwaukee – ELCA South Central Synod of Wisconsin;
• Virginia Vagt, Vestry Member, St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn, IL, Diocese of Chicago.

Registration is now open for the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency, an innovative nine-day intensive course designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians to learn cultural competency and ministry to the country’s Latino/Hispanic population.             

Offered by the Episcopal Church Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries in partnership with Seminary of the Southwest, the course will be offered June 18 – 27, 2017, at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX, and will be taught by seminary faculty, lay church leaders and clergy with extensive experience in Latino and intercultural ministry.

“The purpose of Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency course is to provide a hands-on, cultural competency of the history, culture, socio-demographic, and religious aspects of the Latinos/Hispanics in the United States,” noted the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén,     

Episcopal Church Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries. “This course provides foundational tools necessary for diocesan staff, lay leaders, clergy and seminarians to be able to discern and explore the type of Latino/Hispanic ministry that best fits a congregational setting and its context.”

Guillén added, “This multi-faceted, intensive course also exposes students to the general profiles and ministry distinctions between the immigrant/first generation Latinos and the U.S born, multi-generational Latinos which require more of a bicultural, bilingual or English-dominant ministry and evangelization.”

Enabled by General Convention 2015 Resolution AO86:  Create a Network of Partners on Latino/Hispanic Congregational Ministry Development,  the course will combine academic learning with hands-on experience to provide foundational tools for church leaders to gain a deep understanding of ways of welcoming and serving Latino families and sharing spiritual, sacramental and community life together.

“This course is exactly what the church needs right now,” observed Scott Bader-Saye, Academic Dean at Seminary of the Southwest. “The missional future of the Episcopal Church must include creative and culturally competent ministry in Latino/Hispanic contexts.”

The course will be conducted in English; bilingual faculty will interpret as needed, from Spanish to English.

Registration is available here Registration includes tuition; hotel accommodations; meals; transportation to and from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport; and transportation during the course.  Registration does not include texts. Discounts are available for multiple registrations per church/parish.

Early bird registration deadline is April 7. Registration deadline is May 5 (Cinco de Mayo!) 

Among the goals of the course are:

• Show a familiarity with the general Latino culture and “religiosity” context of Latino worship and sacramental pastoral care.
• Learn to manage and address the worshiping needs of a dual language congregation, or to prepare for a special liturgical event involving English and Spanish speaking attendees.
• Acquire a fundamental competency in learning the general aspects of the pastoral and congregational ministries aimed at the immigrant and first generation, plus the ministry focused especially on the more acculturated and English-language speaking Latinos of the second and third generation.
• Define and interpret the broad historical and demographic profile of the Latino/Hispanic population in the United States through designated readings, course lectures, written reflections, class participation and experiential trips.
• Acquire first-hand knowledge of the church in mission in the borderlands and identify the political, social, and pastoral issues revolving around immigration from Mexico as well as Central and South America and the Caribbean. (Borderlands refers to either the US/Mexico border or immigrant entry points in urban centers.)

Future offerings will be held at Bexley Seabury, Chicago, IL (October 15-24, 2017), and at Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, CA (June 10-19, 2018).

For more information, contact Guillén,

Note: the course is accredited by the Seminary of the Southwest and offered for Academic Credit/CEU credit, and for three seminary credit hours.  

Future offerings will be held on the campus of Bexley Seabury, Chicago, IL (October 15-24), and Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, CA (June 10-19, 2018).

The Task Force for Latino/Hispanic Congregational Development and Sustainability

Coordinating the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency are members of the Cultural Competency sub-committee:

• The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, Episcopal Church Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries; Diocese of Los Angeles;

• The Rev. Victor H. Conrado, Associate Rector, St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn, IL, Diocese of Chicago; Adjunct Faculty Instructor, Bexley-Seabury Seminary;
• The Rev. Edward Gomez, Vicar, San Pablo/St. Paul’s, Houston, TX, Diocese of Texas;
• The Rev. Al Rodriguez, Adjunct Faculty Instructor and Interim Director of Latino/Hispanic Studies at Seminary of the Southwest, Diocese of Texas;
• The Rev. Ema Rosero-Nordalm, Deacon, Diocese of Massachusetts – ELCA, Iglesia Nuevo Amanecer, East Boston, MA;
• The Rev. Oscar A. Rozo, Priest-in-Charge, St. Mark’s, Beaver Dam, WI, Diocese of Milwaukee; Church Planter/Priest-in-charge, Comunidad de Todos los Santos, Watertown, WI, Diocese of Milwaukee – ELCA South Central Synod of Wisconsin;
• Virginia Vagt, Vestry Member, St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn, IL, Diocese of Chicago.