Commitment to Hispanic Ministries

The primary mission of Perkins School of Theology, as a community devoted to theological study and teaching in the service of the church of Jesus Christ, is to prepare women and men for faithful leadership in Christian ministry.

Perkins School of Theology affirms its relationships to the community of learning that is Southern Methodist University, to the universal church (inclusive, ecumenical, and global), to The United Methodist Church specifically, and to its particular geographical and cultural setting in the southwestern United States.  In response to its particular geographical and cultural setting it has provided educational services for Hispanic ministries since the early 1950’s. 

Program History

The Mexican American Program was founded in 1974 so that Perkins School of Theology could become a center for preparing church leaders with the knowledge and skills for effective ministry in the Spanish-speaking context and culture.  From its beginning the Mexican American Program has had a commitment to the ongoing work of recruiting, preparing, and providing continuing education of persons for ministry with Latinos.  It continues to enable Perkins School of Theology to be a center of Hispanic theological thought and writing and to advocate before the general church with and in behalf of Hispanic congregations and ministries.