The Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course

Image o teachers and learners from the ELMC 2026 course at Sewanee!

A few weeks ago, I was in Sewanee, Tennessee at the University of the South’s School of Theology. I, along with various other clergy and lay leaders from across the country were gathered at the Episcopal Seminary there for the Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course.

For five days, we learned about demographic shifts within the United States, we learned about the complex intergenerational dynamics of Latino identity, and the true complexity of the term “Latino” - specifically how it is a singular term for a vast, diverse group of people from throughout this hemisphere. We dove into Latin American and Latino theologies, and learned about historical expressions of Christianity from throughout Latin America. We discussed the complexity of bilingual worship and some of the challenges and strategies for cultural inclusiveness in primarily anglo-Episcopal churches.

We received a primer on immigration law, borderlands ministry, different tools to take a look at for developing our ministries, and even learned some new music from The Rev. Yuri Rodriguez - an Episcopal priest who recently came out with a beautiful album!

(To learn a bit more about The Rev. Yuri, and her album titled Caminemos con Maria, click here!)

On top of some of the amazing information we learned, a major component of the joy over the week was meeting leaders in the church engaged in Latino ministry and learning from them. We learned from Karla duPlantier, Latino missioner for the Episcopal Church whose passion and knowledge for this work radiated off her. We met church planters in Idaho doing the work of evangelism and church growth to reach new people. We met seminarians, future clergy of the church, who were entering their final year and already considering how to develop their ministry! The relationships which we developed was part of the joy of this meeting!

This program was rooted in our desire to be a church for all people, where all people can come and meet the Lord, and be loved and welcomed exactly as God has made them. And I am left with lots of ideas, and I hope to work alongside many of the parishioners here to continue to help make St. Andrew’s known as a parish which welcomes all people - through our bilingual worship and music, our raucous joy, and the blessed Sacraments.

As we look ahead to this coming year, I am genuinely excited to continue in the work of ministry alongside everyone in this congregation!

Yours in Christ,

Alex+