When Dr. Emma A. Escobar began her work at Garrett Seminary in 2024, she was tasked with expanding the institution’s work with and for the Latine community. A year later, Garrett is gathered for a week of celebration with the debut of Centro Raíces Latinas (previously, the Hispanic-Latinx Center). This launch is the product of a year of work where Dr. Escobar led members of Garrett outside the seminary and into many communities from the Evanston Public Library all the way to Chile.
The Centro Raíces Latinas is built on the pillars of faith, solidarity, education, and culture, elements that became evident as Dr. Escobar met members of the Latine community in Evanston and asked, “How do you see a center housed in a theological seminary serving your community?” It’s a deeply intentional question considering the tensions between the Latine community, the church, and the academy, which Dr. Escobar explains stem from “issues of accessibility, power dynamics, and a lack of mutual trust.” For this reason, the Centro Raíces Latinas seeks to heal and nurture these relationships so that each entity may be enriched by their mutual wisdom.
Garrett’s Vision Mirrors Latinas
The pillars of the Centro Raíces Latinas reflect an intersection between Garrett’s vision “for the healing of the world” and recurrent themes from the conversations Dr. Escobar had with Latine organizations, leaders, and community members. “Faith and solidarity came up together a lot when talking about social justice and justice movements,” says Dr. Escobar. “We had conversations about how we are living through these times, this government, and what is happening around the world. How are we in solidarity with one another? How do we engage in conversations of decolonialization as we look at how we practice our faith and read our sacred text?”
These questions revealed the need for another pillar: Education. This work has two sides—Latine communities learning from the resources Garrett has to offer and Garrett as an institution learning from el pueblo, the people. The Centro Raíces Latinas will nurture education in multiple ways. One important project is building partnerships with seminaries and universities across Latin America. Last year, Garrett entered a partnership with the Methodist Church of Chile, beginning with a visit from Rev. Dr. Miguel Ulloa. The director of Chile Methodist Seminary, served as a speaker for the Escuela de Ministerio at Garrett,a gathering that trained Latine clergy and lay leaders throughout the North Central Jurisdiction. And last summer, a delegation from Garrett visited Chile to learn about how the Methodist church is cultivating education, public health, and ecological regeneration.
Students Will Have Opportunities to Do Field Education
Garrett students will also benefit from these partnerships. The Centro Raíces Latinas will offer chances for students to do their field education in different parts of Latin America. “One of my dreams for the Centro Raíces Latinas is that we can provide opportunities for our second or third generation Latine students to visit Latin America,” says Dr. Escobar. “I’m really excited to facilitate experiences for our students so they can go back to their roots and learn from our partner universities.”
The last pillar of the Centro Raíces Latinas is culture. As the Latine communities throughout the United States grow exponentially, seminaries are tasked with forming leaders capable of serving multicultural, diverse churches. Through the work of the Centro Raíces, Garrett can be a point of connection for non-Latine ministers to learn with, from, and about the Latine experience.
The re-launch of the Centro Raíces Latinas coincides with a moment when the Latine community in Chicago faced increased persecution from federal authorities. In the midst of these forces, Dr. Escobar reminds us that celebrating Latine culture is a form of building solidarity. “We love to gather and celebrate in the midst of the struggle,” she says. “Celebration is how we lift each other up, and it is a beautiful part of how our communities build resilience.”
Your Generosity Matters
Your support of the Ministerial Education Fund Apportionment helps schools like Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary to prepare people to discover their calling through the challenging curriculum. Your generosity enables the church to increase financial support for recruiting and educating ordained and diaconal ministers and to equip annual conferences to meet increased demands.
excerpt from a story by Wendy Cordero Rugama, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
This story shows the power of the Ministerial Education Fund—one of seven apportionment funds of The United Methodist Church—to prepare and equip those answering God’s call to ministry. Your church’s support provides theological education, scholarships, and leadership development through our United Methodist seminaries and boards of ordained ministry. Together, we ensure that faithful, well-prepared leaders continue to guide the Church into the future.
When your church supports the Ministerial Education Fund, you invest in the next generation of United Methodist clergy and leaders.
