Orlando Morales Cintrón (MATS Student)

Dr. Eldin Villafañe, emeritus distinguished professor of Christian social ethics, proposed three metaphors in his book Seek the Peace for the City: Reflections on Urban Ministry that explain his pastoral concern for the Quo Vadis of Hispanic scholarship (“where are you going?”).[1] The three metaphors were sierva (Spanish word for servant), santificadora (sanctifier) and sanadora (healer). By Villafañe’s own description, this was “a sketchy attempt to preempt a trajectory that has been the maldición y muerte (curse and death) of traditional scholarship in the guild.” I propose a fourth metaphor: adoradora (worshiper). This will serve as a reminder to Hispanics involved in theological endeavors that theology is done not for the sake of the academic “rewards,” but to know God and praise him in the process.

Much has happened in the academic Hispanic community since Villafañe proposed these metaphors. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) reported in 2023-2024 that across all member schools, 270 Hispanic males and 85 females completed an MDiv program. In ATS DMin programs there were 80 males and 16 females. These are not enormous numbers, but it shows active involvement from the Hispanic community in the theological endeavor.

Hispanics had responded to the challenge of praxis mentioned many years ago by theologian Loida I. Martell Otero,[2] but it is my fear that for the sake of growth in the theological academy, Hispanics have forgotten the most important challenge highlighted by Martell Otero—to place the theological task at the service of the Lord and his reign. If Hispanic theologians and theologians-in-formation are not doing that, we are compelled to ask: Has our academic progress made us fall into what Villafañe feared—a trajectory that has been the maldición y muerte of traditional scholarship? Is the academy at the service of the Hispanic church and their expression of worship?

We should amplify Villafañe’s metaphors by adding this fourth one, scholarship as Adoradora. This metaphor seeks to present scholarship as the joyful and festive praise response of those who experience the goodness of God. Hispanics participate in the fiesta of the Spirit by announcing through academic gifts the wondrous works and awesome deeds of God. As the Scripture says,

One generation shall extol your works to another
And shall declare your mighty acts.
They will recount the glorious splendor of your majesty,
And on your wondrous works I will meditate.
They will recount the glorious splendor of your majesty,
And on your wondrous works I will meditate.
They will proclaim the might of your awesome deeds,
And I will declare your greatness.
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness
And shall sing aloud of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:4–7)

Theological academic pursuit should not be motivated by the applause and approval of the academy itself, but rather it should be the ceaseless pursuit of the delight of witnessing and learning the mysteries of God and exalting him for such overwhelming greatness. If worship reflects the loving grace of God with and in his people, then scholarship should always show itself as Adoradora.

[1] Eldin Villafañe, Seek the Peace for the City: Reflections on Urban Ministry (Eerdmans, 1995), 7-11.
[2] Loida I. Martell Otero, “The Ongoing Challenge of Hispanic Theology,” Teología en Conjunto: A Collaborative Hispanic Protestant Theology, eds. José David Rodríguez and Loida I. Martell Otero (Westminster John Knox Press, 1997), 147.