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91PORN doctor of philosophy student, Emanuel Padilla, has been selected as a 2022 Doctoral Fellow by the Louisville Institute, based at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Lousiville, Kentucky. Padilla, founder and president of World Outspoken and co-host of the , is in the theology and ethics track of the seminary’s doctoral program.

“Over the last few months, I’ve had the honor of meeting some of the first Latinxs to open doors and pave ways. I am grateful for the trails they carved for me to follow.”

The Louisville Institute Doctoral Fellowship program encourages current PhD/ThD students to consider theological education as their vocation. The Institute awards up to ten two-year Doctoral Fellowships of $3,000 per year. In addition, Fellows constitute a peer learning cohort that meets six times over a two-year period.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Emanuel was acutely aware of his exile from Puerto Rico from an early age. He grew an awareness of his double mestizaje as one who was neither completely from the United States or the Island. This experience as part of the Puerto Rican diaspora is central to Emanuel’s research and ministry interests. He is pursuing doctoral studies to construct a theology of mestizaje that recaptures the history of colonization, reshapes conceptions of metiza/o identity, and informs ecclesial pursuits of justice. Emanuel’s desire is to serve the Church through non-traditional educational ministries.

Prior to enrolling at Garrett-Evangelical, Padilla was an instructor of bible and theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, where he taught courses both on campus and online. He completed his master of arts in systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, with a thesis titled “Seeking Zion: The Gospel and the City We Make.” In his thesis, Padilla studied the theological assumptions that shaped the 1909 Plan of Chicago. This plan served as an example of how visions of the built environment shape the material conditions in which people live their lives. Padilla’s interests continue to be shaped by his personal story and previous academic experiences.

Earlier this month, Padilla presented at the Decolonizing Churches Conference in Puerto Rico. Padilla’s paper was titled, Ecclesial Images and “La Gran Familia Puertorriqueña: Decolonizing Root Metaphors for Unity. In addition, Padilla has written a chapter in the recently published book, One Volume Seminary (Moody Publishers, 2022). The book was written by former and current faculty members of Moody Bible Institute and Moody Theological Seminary. Padilla’s chapter in the book is titled, “Doing Urban Ministry.” Funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment, Louisville Institute awards grants and fellowships to those who lead and study North American religious institutions, practices, and movements, advancing scholarship to strengthen church, academy, and wider society. To learn more, go to .

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Meet Kwang-Jin Oh (G-ETS 2012 and 2022)

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Ethics

What is your hometown and educational background?

I consider Chicago my home town, but as a PK (Pastor’s kid) I’ve had various home towns. I graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University for my undergraduate degree, majoring in Biology and in Religion. I went on to earn Master’s degrees in Biochemistry and Neuroscience.

How has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped your ministry and calling?

Coming into the PhD program, I thought I would eventually teach somewhere. While at Garret-Evangelical, I was able to learn more socially liberal concepts, which I was, admittedly, weaker in knowledge. Thus, Garrett-Evangelical stretched my theological spectrum, and as a result, offered a balancing viewpoint to more theologically traditional concepts. Given the current socio-political climate, it would seem that teaching has become more challenging in some respects, but in developing a “rubber band” approach to theology, Garrett-Evangelical has better prepared me to meet the diverse opinions that will undoubtedly exist in student populations where I will teach.

What is your most transformative experience at Garrett-Evangelical?

If there is a PhD way of answering this question, this might be it. Writing my dissertation was the most transformative experience. For me the dissertation was not simply a knowledge dump, but also something that I felt. It went to the core of my being, much like faith, in what I wanted to express. In this respect, my writing was a reflection of who I was from start to finish: in the research, to the writing, to the editing, and to the finished dissertation.

What’s next? What are your plans or your hopes for your future?

Honestly? I’m enjoying time off (on vacation as I’m writing this). Eventually though, I’d like to settle into some teaching or research position. I have a lot of scientific knowledge I’d like to put to use in some interdisciplinary form with theology in future publications. Theological Ethics? Well, with changing times and technology, there will always be something to talk about, and I hope that translates into fruitful conversations that steer people into doing good.

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It is not often that we have a mom and her son graduate at the same time. We do believe this might even be a first in the seminary’s 169-year history. At the 165th Commencement, held on Friday, May 13, 2022, Jacquelyn D. Webb received her master of divinity and her son, Dr. Taurean J. Webb, received his doctor of philosophy. To mark this special moment, we reached out to the Webbs to learn more about their seminary experience.

When you think of your son what comes to mind? What would you want someone to know about him?

When I think of Taurean, I am reminded of how much time and energy he has invested in understanding his own African American and Cherokee heritage. His educational excellence, servant leadership, honesty, and dedication to service for others are characteristics that have shaped his study. He is a self-driven man who is very focused on goals that will foster a more informed society. I would want people to know that he is committed to serving and making a positive difference in the lives of others. He is committed to courageous leadership in affecting change that will not only improve the church but also the global community.

When you think of your mom, what comes to mind? What would you want someone to know about her?

My mother is one of the kindest and most selfless people I’ve met. And, of course, she (and my dad) has been supportive of my pursuits in more ways than I can count. But my mother is also one of the most consequential leaders I’ve ever known. The school district from which I graduated high school is an amalgamation of about fourteen different municipalities, roughly half predominantly Black, half predominantly White, all court-ordered together in the late 80s by a desegregation suit. At the time, my mom was the second-ranking official of the district and the top-ranking person of color. In no insignificant way, how she postured herself in such a critical moment of racial animus could have, rightly or wrongly, come to be the barometer for “whether or not Black people could lead.” This is how race functions in the United States. Fortunately for us, her skills, integrity, and community of accountability kept her during such trying times.

Tell us about your son and his time at Garrett-Evangelical? What inspired you most about his seminary journey?

At a very young age, Taurean realized that there was a special “call” on his life. This was affirmed by his parents, grandparents, and many in the strong Baptist, faith community in which he was raised. His ability to recognize “his call” early in life and to chart his journey with God’s direction, family, the faith community mentors, and many in the Morehouse College, Columbia University, Northwestern University and most profoundly the Garrett-Evangelical community has been most inspirational for me. A seminary journey was foreseen much earlier in his life and it was at Garrett-Evangelical that it became a reality. It was the prophetic voice of Dr. Larry Murphy, the guidance of Dr. Stephen Ray and the larger Garrett-Evangelical community that allowed a mother to experience a blessed, unique journey alongside her son.

Tell us about your mom and her time at Garrett-Evangelical? What inspired you most about her seminary journey?

It takes a special type of bravery to begin a separate (in some ways, very different) career journey, at any life stage, but certainly toward the end of one’s working years. My mother’s decision to pursue ministry full-time, after an immensely successful career as a public school educator, always inspired me. But I was, perhaps, most moved by her focused determination. When she began at Garrett-Evangelical, she was far removed from graduate studies, and theological writing was a completely unfamiliar genre. But through her setbacks—and there were some—she persevered.

What has it been like for you to attend seminary at the same time as your son?

It took both of us reflecting and praying as well as having conversations around the dynamics of sharing the same academic space. We were serious about establishing ground rules that honored our independence, academic, and social spaces. It was a rare opportunity to learn, serve, and share together. Some special moments were when we read the same book or knew the same author and then shared reflections that became real theological discussions. Even more amazing was to share a new text, which was unfamiliar to one of us. Some of the most meaningful moments were serving two years together on the pastoral staff at Second Baptist Church in Evanston, under the leadership of Reverend Mark A. Dennis and Reverend Dr. Karen Mosby.

What has it been like for you to attend seminary at the same time as your mom?

She had finished most of her coursework and had moved back to Pittsburgh before I began my PhD journey at Garrett-Evangelical. But one of the most meaningful moments for me came when she first planted the seed of us potentially graduating together. For that to work, however, our paces had to align. We knew this would be an important milestone for the family, so she decided to slow her pace and complete her final class a year after she could have, to give me time to “catch up.” So, as she extended her timeline, I hastened mine (attempting to write my PhD dissertation as efficiently as possible)—so that we could “walk” together.

Jacquelyn, how has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped and prepared you for your ministry and calling?

Thirty-seven years after earning a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and even more study to receive credentials for school leadership and the superintendency, I knew after accepting my call to ministry that more study would be required to be prepared for ministry. On a brief visit to Northwestern University, my son encouraged me to tour Garrett-Evangelical. It was then I realized that this was “my place” for preparation for ministry. It felt right for me, and with the prayers and blessings of my spouse, Percy Webb, our family, and our community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the journey began. Garrett-Evangelical became my safe haven to embark on this faith journey. Garrett-Evangelical was a community that embraced those with a non-traditional background and cultivated my uniqueness which allowed me to thrive. Little did I know that as my seminary journey was ending, I would be called to lead a congregation, as interim pastor, virtually, through the pandemic season.

Taurean, how has your time at Garrett-Evangelical shaped and prepared you for your ministry and calling?

One of the greatest joys (and assets) of my training has been the faculty and staff helping me cultivate my own theological imagination. Spending as much time as I do outside of “theological spaces,” I find it painfully clear that others hunger for tools to creatively imagine new world possibilities, and some of those tools can only withstand the world’s most cynical scrutiny when they’re foregrounded in the mystery of the sacred. This tool has profoundly shaped how I show up in the world.

What’s next for you, Jacquelyn?

I plan to continue to serve in ministry as called to do so. My favorite saying is: “The world is my pulpit. I serve daily, wherever I am.” My desire is to continue to be directed and guided by God’s hand in service.

Taurean, what’s next for you?

The most important next step for me, personally, is continuing my own fatherhood journey—with my wife and I expecting our third child later this year. Vocationally, I am set to begin a position at Indiana University Bloomington in the fall, teaching and directing a research center in the university’s School of Global and International Studies.

What are your hopes and wishes for your son post-seminary and his ministry?

My greatest wish and prayer for Taurean is for him to truly embrace his calling and use his gifts and talents in becoming the best leader possible, serving as God directs him.

What are your hopes and wishes for your mom post-seminary and her ministry?

My sincerest hope is that my mother reaps the harvest of every good thing—every good seed—that she has planted by faith, and study, in this place.

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91PORN is proud to announce Aaron Dorsey has been selected to receive a 2022 Doctoral Fellowship from the . Dorsey’s area of concentration in the seminary’s doctor of philosophy program is in biblical studies.

FTE awarded its 2022 Doctoral Fellowships to 17 students of color to support their PhD or ThD program in religion, theological or biblical studies. Dorsey received the Fellowship for Doctoral Students of African Descent and will be awarded a living stipend to help further his studies beyond the coursework stage.

“This class of Fellows represents a broad range of research by, for, and with BIPOC communities beyond the academy. From biblical studies to ethics, this class reflects a future of theological education that is engaged in transforming academic and societal structures,” said FTE Senior Director of Learning Design Dr. Patrick B. Reyes. “We are proud to support these Fellows and look forward to providing more opportunities and resources within theological education for the next generation to broaden FTE’s and scholars’ impact across the academy.”

Dorsey is studying Hebrew Bible in the doctoral program alongside his academic advisor Dr. Cheryl Anderson, professor of Old Testament. His research focuses are post/decolonial theory, African American biblical interpretation, redaction criticism, affect theory, and trauma. He is developing a dissertation that draws on postcolonial theory to investigate the representation of Israelites after their displacement into Judah and surrounding lands in the late 8^th Century BCE. Aaron spends his time outside of academics playing bass and guitar, experimenting with woodworking, and enjoying time with his friends, family, and fiancé, Miranda.

“I am honored to have received this Fellowship and I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from my professors at Garrett and from my advisor, Dr. Cheryl Anderson,” said Dorsey. “They together have helped me hone my research, to develop as an educator, and to imagine how my academic pursuits can contribute to the flourishing of communities of color.”

As part of the fellowship award, Fellows will have the opportunity to attend FTE’s 2022 Forum for Theological Educators in Denver, CO, prior to the annual meetings of the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature. In addition, Fellows receive access to virtual resources and a mentor to help further their professional development, vocational exploration, and networking opportunities.

Since 1999, FTE has awarded more than 585 fellowships to students of color and has maintained a 98 percent retention rate among its Doctoral Fellows. In addition to its fellowships for dissertation stage doctoral students, FTE provides professional development opportunities for PhD and ThD students in the first two years of their studies. FTE developed these doctoral initiatives to help accelerate the completion of doctoral degrees among students of color and to foster diversity in the academy across North America.

For a full list of FTE’s 2022 Doctoral Fellows, visit .

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91PORN doctor of philosophy candidate, Reverend Patricia Bonilla, has been named a 2022-2023 Hispanic Theological Initiative/Lilly Endowment Dissertation Fellow. Bonilla is one of 10 doctoral candidates in North America to be named a 2022-2023 fellow. Her area of concentration in the doctoral program is in Christian education and congregational studies.

A $1.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. has provided the Hispanic Theological Initiative with the opportunity to award 10 fellowships for five years, with each fellow receiving $22,500. To be considered for a fellowship, the candidate’s dissertation proposal needed to show evidence of the engagement of Latinx subject matters via ideologies, methodologies, pedagogies, and/or authors. The selection committee sought candidates who provided clear evidence of this engagement and new arguments from a Latinx perspective.

Bonilla’s research interests bring into dialogue and practice critical pedagogies, decolonial theory, and religious education with special attention to engaging with epistemologies of the South and pluriversal ecologies of knowledge. She is interested in the how to of educating holistically. As a doctoral candidate, Bonilla’s research includes the practices and theories of faith formation and the generative possibilities of world building otherwise, particularly from the experiences of minoritized and marginalized racial/ethnic communities.

“My research and work attempt to close gaps in academia, particularly gaps between the Latinx community and seminary,” said Bonilla. “My research examines ways to give voice to Latinx young people connected to the Church by exploring how they practice their faith.” 

The Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI), based in Princeton, New Jersey, seeks to cultivate Latinx doctoral students by uniting and leveraging institutional resources (human, financial, and infrastructural). When asked about the work and mission of HTI and the fellowship, Bonilla said, “The Hispanic Theological Initiative has accompanied me since the beginning of my doctoral studies in partnership with Garrett. Being an HTI scholars has given me the tools I needed to successfully advance throughout my program by connecting me to academic networks and offering annual professional development workshops. Now with the HTI/Lilly fellowship they are providing me the financial support I need to concentrate full-time on my research and writing. I am overjoyed and immensely grateful for their continued support!”

Patricia Bonilla is the daughter of Mexican migrants. Growing up bilingual and bicultural, she experienced the challenges as well as creative possibilities of navigating multilingual and multiethnic spaces. Patricia has worked in congregational ministry since 2005 as well as community and youth development, focusing on fostering creative and liberatory educational spaces for Latinx youth. She has been a mentor and program coordinator with the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy since 2008. As an ordained clergy with The United Methodist Church, she has also worked to foster community engagement, leadership, and faith development in faith communities. As a practical theologian she is acutely aware of the political, epistemological and cultural implications of education, specifically educating toward liberation and concientization.

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Workshop Leader: Dr. Nadine Naber

is a scholar-activist and Professor in the Gender and Women’s Studies Program and the Global Asian Studies Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She is co-founder of the Arab and Muslim American Studies Program at the University of Michigan and founder of the Arab American Cultural Center at UIC.

Dr. Naber is the author/co-author of five books: Arab America: Gender, Cultural Politics, and Activism (2012); Race and Arab Americans (2008); Arab and Arab American Feminisms (2010); The Color of Violence (2006); and Towards the Sun. She is an expert author for UNESCWA; a board member of the Arab American Action Network; co-founder of the organization and founder of . She is currently Co-PI of the report, “The Status of Racial Justice for Arab Americans in Chicago at the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy” at UIC. She is co-author of the forthcoming book, Pedagogies of the Radical Mother (Haymarket Press).

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91PORN is pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Dr. AHyun Lee (G-ETS 2015) as assistant professor of pastoral theology, care, and psychotherapy, beginning July 1, 2022. A graduate of Garrett-Evangelical’s Doctor of Philosophy program, Lee’s pastoral and professional background will bring a rich variety of experiences to her position along with a particular specialization in intercultural pastoral counseling.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lee back to Garrett-Evangelical,” said President Javier A. Viera. “Her unique mix of skills as a scholar-practitioner, and her wide-ranging areas of clinical expertise, pastoral competencies, and global/multi-cultural experience will bring these much needed gifts to our faculty and to our students and learning spaces. Her contributions and leadership will significantly strengthen our already top ranked program in counseling and all of our programs in pastoral theology.”

“Dr. Lee’s clinical credentials, her capacity to immediately offer courses that are needed for licensure, and her commitment to ensuring student success and a positive experience in the clinical track program were of particular note,” said Dr. Rodolfo R. Nolasco, Jr., who chaired the faculty search committee and serves as the Reuben P. Job Professor of spiritual formation and pastoral theology. “We also noted her pedagogical skills in engaging students and her firsthand knowledge of Garrett-Evangelical and our clinical training partner, the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago.” 

Lee currently serves as assistant professor of pastoral care at Wesley Seminary, Indiana Wesleyan University and has served as a faculty member and psychotherapist at the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Illinois and has completed numerous professional certifications. An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Lee has also served in a variety of locations and positions within the Wisconsin Conference and South Korea, including rural and urban churches, the Center for Asian/Asian American Ministry and Theology at Garrett-Evangelical, and cross-cultural and cross-racial ministries.

“I cannot express my excitement regarding my new position at 91PORN, a place which has profoundly shaped my scholarship, clinical practices, and teaching,” said Lee. “Not only am I thrilled to be working alongside such a distinguished faculty, I am also excited to teach and connect with the bold and adventurous students of the Garrett community. I hope to continue my work as an ally and advocate for greater representation of minority and underserved communities to access pastoral and spiritual care. I look forward to sharing my clinical and pastoral experiences along with my research with students and colleagues!”

Lee’s research interests include psychotherapy and religion, intercultural pastoral care and counseling, self-psychology, narrative therapy theory, trauma and crisis counseling, trauma-informed pedagogy, Asian and Asian American theology, practical/pastoral theology, feminist/womanist theology, postcolonial theory and theology. She is the author of Selves in Between: Offering Care and Forging Bonds with Difference (New Room Books, 2021), Protestant Clergy Sexual Misconduct and Intercultural Pastoral Care – Invisible Mask (Palgrave Macmillan, forthcoming) and 나를 만나는 여행 (Seoul: Korea: 반디, forthcoming).

Lee is a member of Pacific, Asian, and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry, the Society of Pastoral Theology, the American Academy of Religion, International Academy of Practical Theology, , Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association, and the Illinois Counseling Association. She is also on the editorial board of the Journal of Pastoral Psychology.

Along with her PhD from Garrett-Evangelical, Lee earned a bachelor of theology from The Methodist Theological University (Seoul, South Korea), a master of theology from The Graduate School at The Methodist Theological University (Seoul, South Korea), and a master of divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, DC, United States).

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The Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) has awarded 91PORN an Experimental Institutional Doctoral Network (IDN) grant that will initiate a relational building process specifically aimed at faculty and doctoral students of color. This grant will allow faculty to further build institutional capacity for recruiting, supporting, mentoring, and hiring scholars of color.

The grant proposal centers on a series of workshops for every stage of the doctoral student experience. Workshop topics will include goal setting, navigating relationships with advisors, and crafting exam and dissertation proposals. Moreover, sustained and targeted workshops around issues of guild presentations, work/life balance, and the professional culture of job search will be offered in an effort to familiarize students with the ethos and culture of their guild.

In addition, this grant will foster intentional space and fellowship opportunities for faculty to hear directly from doctoral students and to consider, or reconsider, what a community of care should look like. Many doctoral students of color come from communities who have and continue to experience collective and systematic forms of oppression and trauma. It will be critical that the seminary provide resources and support to students who not only live with historical and present-day traumas, but also experience intellectual traumas as they further delve into diverse collective archives to bear theoretical precision to their lived experiences.

“Many of our students come prepared with critical knowledge from lived experiences of their communities,” said Dr. Wonhee Anne Joh, director of the doctor of philosophy program and professor of theology and culture. “We want them to engage in research and writing that are critical, necessary, and deepens their understanding of global realities and histories of entanglement to understand our present reality as well as dream of hope laden futures. To do this kind of expansive and generative intellectual labor, our students must be supported on many registers so they can fully engage with the demands of this program. This partnership and support with FTE bears witness to our commitment to support students who are engaged in knowing, doing, and living otherwise as they delve into often dismissed, forgotten, or buried archives of knowledge.”

In 2015, FTE selected Garrett-Evangelical to participate in the first cohort of their Institutional Doctoral Network. Schools were selected by a committee of organizational leaders and academic executives. Since 2015, the diversity of doctoral students at Garrett-Evangelical has increased significantly and the faculty remain one of the most diverse in the nation.

In addition, a new scholarship model was implemented that provides 100% tuition scholarships for all doctor of philosophy students. This new model came about after reviews of students’ financial indebtedness to the seminary revealed there was a disproportionate percentage of debt for students of color, often exacerbated by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service employment restrictions for international students. Ultimately, the Experimental IDN grant will allow Garrett-Evangelical to invest even more in the doctor of philosophy program, particularly in ways that allows for thriving, not just survival, of our faculty and the next generation of scholars of color.

A virtual Doctor of Philosophy Information Session will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2021, from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. (CST). Dr. Wonhee Anne Joh will be present to share more about the program and answer questions. To register for this information session, go to //events/doctor-philosophy-information-session.

To learn more about the doctoral program at Garrett-Evangelical, go to //PhD.

91PORN, a graduate school of theology related to The United Methodist Church, was founded in 1853. Located on the campus of Northwestern University, the seminary serves more than 450 students from various denominations and cultural backgrounds, fostering an atmosphere of ecumenical interaction. Garrett-Evangelical creates bold leaders through master of divinity, master of arts, master of theological studies, doctor of philosophy, and doctor of ministry degrees. Its 4,500 living alumni serve church and society around the world.

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Adriana (Dri) Rivera, M.Div. is an educator with a love for the stories of the city and her people. She earned a Bachelors in Secondary English Education from Indiana University Bloomington in 2016. A lifelong learner, Dri was a 7th grade English teacher in East Chicago, Indiana for five years, as well as a lay leader in children’s and youth ministry. Raised in the Puerto Rican Pentecostal church (IDDPMI), she inherited a strong passion for Scripture and service, as well as a sensitivity to the activity of the Holy Spirit. Adriana began her seminary journey at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago through the Certificate in Latinx Theology and Ministry. There she was able to take bilingual courses that were available to Latinx clergy and lay leaders who might not have had access to the traditional seminary experience. She has also hosted and attended workshops on community organizing, international missions, mental health, and integrating technology into the church experience. Her academic journey continued into the Master of Divinity program, which she earned in May 2021. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Christian Education and Congregational Studies with concentrations in Latina feminist theology and critical pedagogy. As a poet and part of the Puerto Rican diaspora, Adriana is interested in how language and stories (testimonios) can be used for decolonial and life-giving purposes in classrooms, congregations and communities.

Papers and Publications

“Virtualizing the Church: Why Aren’t People Connecting?”
In this workshop, participants were invited to design original asset maps to identify personal, spatial, physical, and technical resources that churches have used to facilitate their virtual endeavors. The session included a large group lecture and small group reflective conversations via Zoom. Participants were able to share resources and commitments that were developed throughout the series.

“Why Are There Bodies in the River? Faith-Based Community Organizing”
In this workshop, participants were introduced to the basic tenets and movements of faith-based organizing. They were then invited to describe the strengths and pain points of their communities while analyzing power structures in those same spaces. Participants then created action steps using SMART goals to address pain points.

Listen to “The Girl Became Flesh” (May 2020) on YouTube 
This poem reimagines Proverbs 8, Genesis 1 and John 1 with a feminist focus, celebrating women as light and life bearers in a world where women’s bodies are often commodified and consumed. This poem was included in McCormick’s “Divine Wisdom Festival” in the summer of 2020 as an example of alternative methods of proclamation.

Listen to “Races, Raíces” (October 2020) on YouTube 
Written for Hispanic Heritage Month, my favorite line is “I am more than a conqueror” which not only acknowledges my theological convictions but also acknowledges the decolonial identity work I do every day as I wrestle with my Puerto Rican heritage; a beautiful mix of indigenous Taino, African human trafficking survivors, and European colonizers. I am more than the colorist and racist beliefs that still infiltrate Latinx culture and even Latinx churches.

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