The Latin American Conference was November 3, 2023 online coordinated from San José, Costa Rica.
The theme was “Incidencia Publica del Protestantismo en clave global: una mirada latinoamericana desde la education superior
Public Incidence of Protestantism in a Global Key: a Latin American View from Higher Education”
The Conference was recorded. English subtitles are available if you watch the video on YouTube. Choose the YouTube icon on the video to the right after you press play.
The proceedings of the conference were published into a Spanish language book in 2024. For purchasing options, click here.
English description (translation from publisher page):
A topic of relevance to Protestantism in the Americas is the substantive connection between "Church-laity and public advocacy," analyzed in its national and international repercussions, often contradictory to the Gospel. While missionary processes create links between churches in the North and South of the continent, particularly marked in the case of denominational churches, it is important to establish a dialogue on this matter, especially given the decisive impact and projection of decisions and processes taking place in the North on countries in the South.
Thus, given the Protestant background of the North due to its particular historical process, it is possible to significantly identify the presence of actors of such affiliation in the highest spheres of public administration [mainly the US], whose decisions and policies not only have internal consequences for their own country, but also have international effects in various and decisive aspects.
To openly discuss, on the one hand, the discourse that ecclesial agencies and networks from the North promote in countries of the South, regarding what they expect from lay people when they engage in the public life of their countries, in coherence with the Gospel. On the other hand, we discuss what is really happening in their countries of origin with lay people serving in the public arena, given the consequences of their decisions not only at the domestic and national levels, but especially at the international level—economic, political, social, and cultural repercussions—in the South where they promote missions.
More specifically, then, we must ask ourselves to what extent Christian Higher Education (CHE), both in the North and the South, contributes to or ignores the issue. Is it concerned about the decisions of those lay people involved in public life, linked to the churches, and possibly graduates of their institutions? Is it linked to changing this inconsistency or to the status quo ? Undoubtedly, Christian Higher Education must take up this discussion urgently and seriously. The issue is not minor, as it is at the heart of the most important discussions about what development, or issues of peace and security, look like in the world.