Latin American seminary leaders hold historic meeting

MIAMI (FBC)—In what is believed to be the first meeting of its kind, representatives from 10 Latin American and Caribbean seminaries convened to discuss educational support with representatives of the Florida Baptist Convention and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) in Miami Sept. 19-20.

The Convention and NOBTS have a long-standing partnership to provide theological education across Florida. During this meeting, members of this partnership explored plans to further the theological training of pastors and seminary professors in Bolivia, Panamá, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Uruguay, Costa Rica, México and Cuba.

The meeting was organized by Alfredo Quezada, associate director of the Theological Education and Distance Learning Department, who directs the seminary extension program in Miami. Representatives of the Florida Baptist Convention served as mediators and coordinators of the gathering.

"What are your needs, and how can we help you?" asked Jimmy Dukes, NOBTS dean of extension center systems, of the ten seminary directors who attended the meeting.

"The goal of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is to equip leaders to fulfill the Great Commission through the work of the church. We look forward to working with you on this mission," said Dukes.

Leaders at the "historic" meeting proposed the educational support of seminaries in Latin America and Cuba, which the directors of the seminaries voiced as a need, considering the International Mission Board’s decreased role in overseas seminary education.

In 2000, IMB leaders acknowledged a philosophical shift in the organization’s focus. Funding sources reflect a strategy shift to church starting and the repositioning of missionaries previously involved in areas such as missionary education.

Possibilities offered by NOBTS to strengthen theological education in the various countries included one-week workshops in the United States; short term courses at the seminaries; student and professor exchange programs; and video lectures. All ideas require further investigation and approval of the seminary’s accreditation board.

Marcelino Tapi, a representative of Bolivia, said his school lacks written materials and textbooks in Spanish.

Carlos Villanueva of Argentina, said: "The seminary in Argentina needs not just graduate degrees but specialization in subjects like Greek and Hebrew."

Ten seminary directors from various countries attended the open forum portion of the two-day gathering. They also participated in the Hispanic Fellowship meeting in Miami and attended a banquet in their honor.

Attendees at the meeting were Ricardo Montenegro, Panama; Oscar Pereira, Chile; Richard Serrano, Venezuela; Welvi Henríquez, Uruguay; Harold Segura, Costa Rica; Cipriano Palacios, Mexico; Leoncio Veguilla, Cuba and Jaime Goytía, Bolivia.

Mark Stephens, director of the Convention’s Theological Education and Distance Learning Department, said educating and strengthening theological training in Central, South America and Cuba may one day help to better minister to an increasingly diverse Florida.

"This relationship is a mission opportunity for Florida Baptists," said Stephens.

John Sullivan, the Convention’s executive-director attended the meeting and expressed his support of the newly established relationship, saying that it will "advance church starting efforts here in Florida and across the Americas."

"The day has arrived for us to walk hand in hand as friends," concluded Quesada.

The group hopes to reconvene within the next two years to evaluate the project’s progress.