This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology contains articles from some of the newest members of the FTL who presented papers in local chapters in fulfillment of an essential requirement for active membership in the FTL: the presentation of a written work reflecting original theological thought, rigorous dialogue with other pertinent sources and research instruments, and relevance to Latin American situations. Through this requirement, the FTL provides a strong impetus to practical scholarship and fosters relevant, robust contextual theological reflection. This issue showcases men and women from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Honduras, El Salvador, Uruguay, and Argentina who explore many aspects of church, generosity, identity, art, the prophetic imagination, and liberation.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology presents a selection of papers from the July 2017 conference, "Where is Protestantism in Latin America Headed? A Future-Oriented, Multidisciplinary Vision 500 Years after the Reformation." This event was cosponsored by IAPCHE, the FTL, and CETI in Lima, Peru in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. It was a look back, with gratitude to God, for positive contributions in Latin America that can be traced to the Reformation. It was also a sobering recognition of the shortcomings of that renewal movement. Even more importantly, the scholars and practitioners involved proposed faithful steps for Protestant churches in Latin America to take in the foreseeable future. Some forty individuals gathered to explore many angles of the Reformation's legacy in Latin America, including history, human rights, social justice, aesthetics and literature, church education, ecology and economic sustainability, and communication. The articles included here address Protestantism and Christian higher education, epistemology, autochthonous identity, Anabaptism, and development and decolonialism.

Journal of Latin American Theology: Christian Reflections from the Latino South Vol. 10, No. 2, Fall 2015 It is our privilege to include in this issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology three of the papers presented at the FTL's 2014 conference in Costa Rica and the final document of the conference. Jocabed Solano tells her story of being an indigenous (Guna) woman and follower of Jesus in Panama today; Natanael Disla writes about the common characteristics of masculinity within Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism and the new model of "hombre" that each has produced. Historian Sidney Rooy helps us navigate the history of Latin American Protestantism to explore the impact, or lack thereof, of the Lausanne Covenant on church life in the Latin American world. The Affirmation of San Rafael de Heredia, the final document from the 2014 conference, is a challenging yet deeply encouraging document that will guide the FTL on a large and small scale in the coming years. Finally, Juan Jose Barreda, focusing on the Bible's overarching emphasis on excluded peoples and availing himself of the tools of biblical sciences, takes us on a tour of different approaches to reading the sacred texts.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology addresses several themes: we continue our up-to-date analysis of Christianity in each country in Latin America; we examine how a Christian community in Central America is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; and we celebrate the life and ministry of Juan Stam, a giant of a man and in uential member of the FTL who passed into the presence of the Lord on October 16, 2020. Leopoldo Cervantes-Ortiz reviews Juan Stam’s more than seven decades of teaching, writing, and mentorship while Stam’s daughter and editor Rebeca Stam offers a more intimate look at his later life. Luis Carlos Marrero Chasbar helps us understand the complex interplay of the varieties of Christianity in Cuba, then David López discusses how religious persecution has shaped Protestant involvement in the current political arena in Colombia. Tomás Gutiérrez describes the evangelical church in Peru with an eye toward the impact of the coronavirus in the country, and Heidi Michelson and the sisters and brothers of Casa Adobe in Costa Rica share how they walk with God and serve their neighbors in the midst of the pandemic. This volume closes with two samples of theopoetry that re ect on different aspects of the Christian faith in quarantine and a book review of David Kirkpatrick’s A Gospel for the Poor.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology is dedicated to the memory of C. René Padilla (1932–2021). In “The Life and Legacy of C. René Padilla,” historian Daniel Salinas presents the essential events of René’s life and ministry. In 2008, Darren C. Marks published René’s own account of his theological journey in Shaping a Global Theological Mind. We are grateful to reprint “My Theological Pilgrimage,” in which René described the factors that contributed to his development as a theologian and practitioner. Next, the five children René had with his late wife Catharine Feser Padilla offer a heartfelt overview of their father’s life. A sample of tributes from friends and family members then describes not only René’s writings and mental brilliance but also his humility, hospitality, courage, and gentleness as a mentor. And the three poets included herein give testimony to René’s unflagging dedication to encouraging and publishing other writers across the genres. Next, historian Dinorah Méndez reviews René’s last literary venture, Raíces de un evangelio integral: misión en perspectiva histórica and demonstrates that the primary theological emphasis of René’s life—misión integral—has been practiced by the people of God in their various contexts throughout history. Finally, with the combined efforts of several scholars, we have compiled as complete a bibliography of René’s published works as possible.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology features articles with pastoral perspectives for postpandemic times as well as reflection on justice and theological education. Edesio Sánchez Cetina addresses the difference between how disease is dealt with in the Bible and modern understandings of illness and healing. Fabio Salguero Fagoaga wrestles with COVID-related suffering in light of Christian hope in the resurrection. Mary Luz Reyes Bejarano proposes an interdisciplinary model of pastoral care that puts victimology in dialogue with psychology and theology. She does this within the framework of a regional program in Colombia for women dealing with the aftermath of violence. Daniel S. Schipani develops a psycho-theology of lament and offers keys for walking alongside and supporting—“companioning”—people facing crisis situations. Luis Cruz-Villalobos identifies eleven positive keys to coping evidenced by Paul in 2 Corinthians, and these become the basis of a proposed hermeneutic of post-traumatic Christian praxis. Esteban M. Voth discusses how the Hebrew term tsedeq is rendered in Bible translations in English (“righteousness”) and Spanish (“justicia/justice”). He then connects the impact of the translation to how followers of Jesus live out their theology. Dieumeme Noëlliste celebrates the collaborative nature of advanced-degree programs and the prophetic, missional approach taken by many institutions of theological education in the global South. Four book reviews, a film review, and one poem close out this volume.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology addresses several themes: we continue our up-to-date analysis of Christianity in each country in Latin America; we examine how a Christian community in Central America is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; and we celebrate the life and ministry of Juan Stam, a giant of a man and in uential member of the FTL who passed into the presence of the Lord on October 16, 2020. Leopoldo Cervantes-Ortiz reviews Juan Stam’s more than seven decades of teaching, writing, and mentorship while Stam’s daughter and editor Rebeca Stam offers a more intimate look at his later life. Luis Carlos Marrero Chasbar helps us understand the complex interplay of the varieties of Christianity in Cuba, then David López discusses how religious persecution has shaped Protestant involvement in the current political arena in Colombia. Tomás Gutiérrez describes the evangelical church in Peru with an eye toward the impact of the coronavirus in the country, and Heidi Michelson and the sisters and brothers of Casa Adobe in Costa Rica share how they walk with God and serve their neighbors in the midst of the pandemic. This volume closes with two samples of theopoetry that re ect on different aspects of the Christian faith in quarantine and a book review of David Kirkpatrick’s A Gospel for the Poor.

Corruption... The mere word brings up negative, and all too prevalent, images in our minds: bribes, abuse of power, and favoritism among our political leaders, business leaders, and even among our religious leaders. It is commonplace for Christians to rail against rampant corruption and lament its existence. What is not so common is to hear a thoughtful analysis of the factors that lead to and feed corruption. Even more scarce are practical and proven steps that we can take to reduce the levels of corruption in our societies. With these thoughts in mind, the Fraternidad Teologica Latinoamericana invited Christian leaders to tackle this issue head on at an international conference titled "Corruption Kills: Biblical, Contextual, and Ethical Perspectives." Held in Lima, Peru from July 23-25, 2016, participants gave presentations that ranged from biblical and theological analysis of corruption to practical experiences of fighting it. Though our hearts are heavy due to the subject matter, it is our privilege to share with you in this issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology some of the key presentations of that conference.

This issue of the Journal of Latin American Theology contains articles from some of the newest members of the FTL who presented papers in local chapters in fulfillment of an essential requirement for active membership in the FTL: the presentation of a written work reflecting original theological thought, rigorous dialogue with other pertinent sources and research instruments, and relevance to Latin American situations. Through this requirement, the FTL provides a strong impetus to practical scholarship and fosters relevant, robust contextual theological reflection. This issue showcases men and women from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Honduras, El Salvador, Uruguay, and Argentina who explore many aspects of church, generosity, identity, art, the prophetic imagination, and liberation.

This book is a sweeping reexamination of the evolution of the state, covering the indigenous orders of pre-Columbian America, the Spanish, Portuguese, and British Empires in the Americas, and their major successor states of Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. Exploring the mechanisms of colonial order construction and the way in which that process prepared the ground for the emergence of national empires after independence, Niaz contends that the destruction of indigenous demography and culture was so complete that the societies and states of the New World are colonial in their basic fabric, thereby diverging from the Asian and African experience of European colonial rule. Independence from European empires intensified repression, instability, and inequality in each of the successor states, turning the rhetoric of equality and revolutionism into a legitimizing device for extraordinarily brutal regimes that completed the colonizing mission begun by European states. The volume examines these contradictions from a South Asian perspective and places the Americas in the broader narrative of the world’s historical experience of governance and arbitrary rule. New World Empires is intended for academics, professionals, and students interested in American Studies, political studies, and the history of governance in the Americas.