Dr. Alvin Padilla Returns to Gordon-Conwell as Dean of the Latino and Global Ministries Program
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary welcomes back alumnus Dr. Alvin Padilla as Professor of New Testament and Dean of Latino and Global Ministries (LGM). Originally known as the Hispanic Ministries Program, Dr. Padilla conceptualized and launched the program himself in 2010.
Today, Latino & Global Ministries offers cohort-based programs in Spanish, Portuguese, English, and the seminary is honored to again have Dr. Padilla in its leadership.
Dr. David Currie, Gordon-Conwell’s Vice President of Cohort-Based Education, shares that, “No one could better reflect and implement Gordon-Conwell’s full commitment to providing the highest quality theological education to some of the least served populations as close to their communities as possible than Dr. Alvin Padilla. Dr. Padilla pioneered our Hispanic Ministry Program… and his creativity, passion, and commitment to making theological education accessible to Spanish-speakers and beyond are unsurpassed.”
Dr. Padilla served Gordon-Conwell for nearly 20 years in various capacities. Prior to his roles as Dean of the Hispanic Ministries Program, he provided executive leadership in enrollment, academics, and spiritual formation as Executive Dean and Professor of New Testament of Gordon-Conwell’s Boston Campus, the Campus for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME). During his tenure, he also reactivated the CUME Board of Advisors and relocated the campus to a strategic location in the historic Boston neighborhood of Roxbury.
A graduate of Gordon-Conwell’s Master of Divinity program, Dr. Padilla went on to obtain a Master of Philosophy and a PhD from Drew University in New Testament and Early Christian Literature. He taught at Nyack College, Spanish Eastern School of Theology, New York Theological Seminary and pastored Fort Washington Heights Presbyterian Church in New York City. He is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and has also served as the interim pastor of churches in Newton and Lawrence, MA, and Windham, NH.
For the past five years, Dr. Padilla supported Western Theological Seminary as Academic Dean, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, and Director of Advanced Degrees.
In addition to his leadership, pastoral, and teaching roles, Dr. Padilla is a bilingual author and presenter with expertise in urban ministry, the Church and postmodernity, and multiculturalism. He holds professional memberships in the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the Asociación para La Educación Teológica Hispana. Having written commentaries on the Gospels of John and Luke for Fortress Press, he is currently working on a commentary on the Book of Hebrews.
Dr. Padilla states that he is “thrilled to be returning to Gordon-Conwell.” We celebrate his return and pray the Lord’s blessing over this work and ministry.