Perkins Receives Latin American Pastor Training Grant

The grant will allow Perkins to invite six pastors each year for the next four years to study theology within the context of the school’s regional Course of Study program. In the fall of 2008, Perkins Dean William B. Lawrence paid a visit to three Latin American countries—Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica—further developing relationships with the Methodist churches and their episcopal leaders in each of those countries.

Perkins has long been a leader in the denomination in the area of Hispanic studies within a theological context, as well as in Spanish-language ministerial training. The school’s Mexican-American Program has guided and shaped this dimension of the Perkins curriculum for more than thirty years.

Currently the regional Course of Study School at Perkins, held during the summer, has an offering of 20 basic courses; 10 of these are taught in Spanish as well as English. Students of the program gather daily for bilingual chapel services and share an array of other cross-cultural learning experiences as well.

For more information, contact Rev. Jeannie Trevino-Teddlie, Director of the Mexican-American Program and the Regional Course of Study School at 214-768-2768 or jtrevted@smu.edu.

The Course of Study School at Perkins School of Theology is one of eight United Methodist regional course of study schools, and one of three that offer the Basic Course of Study in Spanish.