McCormick Names Rev. Lis Valle as Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Worship

04-17-2018

McCormick Theological Seminary announces the appointment of Rev. Lis Valle as Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Worship.

Rev. Valle will begin teaching during the fall term.

Currently, Rev. Valle is a candidate for the Ph. D. in Homiletics and Liturgics at Vanderbilt University, where she has also studied gender and sexuality. Her dissertation, “The Body as Preacher: Prophetic Performance as Disruptive Preaching,” explores ways in which prophetic preaching as a performance event challenges oppressive systems. Rev. Valle has researched the theology of the sermons of Latina clergy and has provided worship and chaplaincy leadership in interdenominational gatherings of Latina pastors.

McCormick Interim President David Crawford said, "We are thrilled that Lis Valle is coming to McCormick. She is a wonderful scholar with the heart of a dedicated pastor. Her academic work, her work with the church, and her background as both an actor as well as a lawyer have given her a unique voice that we hope she will share with our students and community for years to come. We are all looking forward to having Lis join our amazing faculty.”

An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Valle received a Th. M. in Homiletics from Princeton Theological Seminary and an M. Div. from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She also holds a J. D. from the University of Puerto Rico. With a B. A. in Education with an emphasis in Theater, Valle has continued to combine her study of theology with her work as an Actress and an Artistic Director.

The Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ted Hiebert stated, “We’re excited to welcome Lis to our faculty. The unusual and rich combination of skills, experiences, and interests Lis brings to McCormick will enrich our community and lead us in new directions of theological education. She is just the kind of faculty member we were looking for to further our goals of ecumenical and cross-cultural theological education in the service of justice.”

Rev. Valle is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Association of Theopoetics Research and Exploration, and the Academy of Homiletics, among other professional organizations. She has been a fellow with the Forum for Theological Education and the Hispanic Theological Initiative.