Hispanic Summer Program

The Hispanic Summer Program is a network of theological schools from around the United States that have come together to promote theological education for Latino students and those interested in Latino ministries. There are currently around 38 schools ("Sponsors") in the network. Each Sponsor contributes $4,500 per year to the HSP's operating budget.The Hispanic Summer Program (HSP) normally offers 7 choices of 3-credit, accredited courses geared toward master-degree level Latina/o seminarians and graduate students. The program is designed primarily for Latina/o students enrolled in theological seminaries and university departments of theology or religion. Because of the pandemic, we made the decision to move our program online and offered 6 choices of 3-credit courses. In fiscal year 2022, the HSP had 30 participants from the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing a wide variety of traditions, denominations, and theological perspectives. We have also welcomed about 10% of non-Latina/o students nationwide who are involved in Latino-centered ministries and advocacy. The (HSP) provides the opportunity for students to study with Latina/o peers and professors.

Through Hispanic Eyes (T.H.E.) is a cross-cultural program created over a decade ago to help expand the reach and impact of the Hispanic Summer Program as a program of theological education that is shaped by a truly Latino/Hispanic perspective. While the Hispanic Summer Program sessions held each year are primarily for first degree masters level Latina/o students enrolled in ATS schools, T.H.E. seeks to engage and gather in constructive and critical conversation non-Latino seminary presidents, academic deans, faculty, as well as those very important staff members who work with students,admissions officers and student life directors.The main goal of the T.H.E. workshop is to focus on the issue of theological education from a Latino perspective while holding in tension some other important related issues, the hire and retention of Latina/o faculty, curriculum needs of Latina/o students, race, gender, immigration, student retention, and the reality of the U.S. Latino church.In fiscal year 2022, 6 participants attended this program.

El Semillero was offered for the first time in FY 2022 and 10 participants attended. Latinx practitioners were invited to learn about the soil of fundraising, finance, and development so that they can grow their missional organizationswhether they be churches, non-profits, or institutions of higher and theological educationin ways that are economically sustainable and can, as a result, provide a greater impact fortheir communities of concern. Through El Semillero we hope to empower our Latinx theological leaders with practical tools that will help them build sustainable and equitable institutions that can positively impact the Latinx community for generations to come.