The Latin American Conference was December 1 - 3, 2020 online coordinated from San José, Costa Rica.
The theme was “ Renewed Christian University Semper Reformanda Est : Higher Education, Christian Identity, and Public Impact in Latin America”
The proceedings of the conference were published into a Spanish language book in 2022. For purchasing options, click here.
English description (translation from publisher page):
This volume is the product of the Seventh Latin American Consultation promoted by the International Network of Christian Higher Education (RIESC), co-sponsored by the Community for Interdisciplinary Theological Studies (CETI) and the Latin American Theological Fraternity (FTL), which took place in the context of and as part of the year-long celebration of the FTL's 50th anniversary. With the general theme of Higher Education, Christian Identity, and Public Advocacy in Latin America , the consultation was held virtually from December 1 to 3, 2020, with the city of San José, Costa Rica, as its administrative center. Nearly one hundred people from more than 20 nations participated, mainly from Latin America and the Hispanic Caribbean, but also some from the United States, Europe (the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands), and Oceania (Australia).
The papers published here address substantive issues concerning Christian Higher Education (CHE) in Latin America, such as an overview of its current situation and the challenges it faces in its essential functions of teaching, research, and social outreach. Emphasis is placed on the importance of national and international interuniversity cooperation, as well as the critical role of the student body. A dedicated section on specific challenges in important disciplinary fields is included, preceded by a cutting-edge experience bridging the gap between theological and interdisciplinary. The final document of the consultation is presented, summarizing its contributions in thought and suggesting priority action guidelines for the decade. Digital links are provided to audiovisual material from each day's sessions, allowing users to listen to all the presentations, including the questions and final comments from the audience.
“Recognizing the dialectic established between the nature of institutions, their mission, and the context of action (…) it is the responsibility of Latin American Protestantism to forge higher education centers in keeping with the signs of the times (…) seeking its permanent internal renewal – universitas christiana… semper reformanda est . Only in this way will it be able to be an instrument of transformation of the Church itself, of which it is a part, as well as of the society toward which its broader calling is oriented.”