Amor hablado aquí (Love spoken here)
09-01-2022
Haga clic aquí para leer en español
Taught in the Spanish language, McCormick’s Certificate in Latinx Theology and Ministry and its Master en Artes Ministeriales are making theological education accessible to more Spanish-speaking students by removing language barriers in today’s increasingly diverse world.
Serving in a rape crisis center for her field study assignment, Maria Sullivan-Marrero, MAM’20, noticed that something was missing. None of the brochures were in Spanish. How would Spanish-speaking women learn about the help and support they would need for such trauma?
Sullivan-Marrero, who came to the U.S. from Puerto Rico as an adult, would provide the translation and more. “This was a resource I could bring to my community,” says Sullivan-Marrero, a retired nurse who had offered health and wellness workshops at her church for many years. “It’s not a topic many churches want to talk about, but it’s one my journey at McCormick prepared me to offer.”
Moving ministry beyond the walls of the church was one of the reasons students like Sullivan-Marrero and Lucrecia Mercado came to McCormick. “There are people outside the church who are crying out and we never hear them because we are focused on our own issues,” says Mercado, who is currently in the second year of her Master en Artes Ministeriales degree. Attending McCormick was an opportunity for Mercado, a former schoolteacher and co-founder of a church in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community, to retool and recharge so that she could be better equipped to respond to the needs of her community.
“I’ve learned so much at McCormick,” says Mercado, who came to the U.S. from Guatemala when she was 19. “McCormick has opened me up to so many ministry ideas. Before McCormick, I had placed a boundary around myself…I didn’t work with other churches. Now I see how I can work with others for the good of my community. I take advantage of community events to let people know we are here to help, especially people who are undocumented. Helping others can bring new energy to a congregation.”
Somos una comunidad discente (We are a learning community)
McCormick seeks to co-create opportunities for students to experience how their theological education can be applied in their contexts, notes Rev. Dr. Leslie Diaz-Perez, M.Div.’06, D.Min.’12, senior director of Admissions.
“By offering students opportunities to have learning experiences in various contexts and with different cultures, students can discover innovative and effective ways to help ministries be more relevant to today’s needs,” she says.
“I received encouragement from my professors,” states Sullivan-Marrero, “I had identified the need for vital information within my community then I was supported in my efforts to identify other resources and networks that could be part of my work. It took time, but I was able to start a support group for non-English speaking women in my church. It’s a beautiful and safe space where women can find advocates, information, and hope.”
La comunión construye comunidad (Communion builds community)
The trend among seminarians today, including a growing number of Spanish-speaking seminarians, is that they are undertaking a seminary program while also working in ministry, vocations, and taking care of a family, recognizes Rev. Dr. Diaz-Perez. “After students are accepted to the seminary, McCormick continues to identify resources and support that can help them navigate the ins and outs of the academic environment. Students shouldn’t feel as if they are on this journey alone.”
Engaging classroom learning is where students get to know all members of the class and find out how their learning can be applied in different contexts, adds Rev. Dr. Diaz-Perez. “Having these kinds of interaction in students’ own language can help them engage each other and the material with confidence,” she says. “We don’t want language and cultural context to be a limitation. We are continuously working to create an environment where all students are respected, languages and cultures are recognized, and the gifts, talents, and ministries that students are already involved in are valued.”
Find out more about Certificate in Latinx Theology and Ministry and Master en Artes Ministeriales.
Lucrecia Mercado
Second-year student, Master en Artes Ministeriales (MAM)
Maria Sullivan-Marrero
Master en Artes Ministeriales
(MAM) ‘20