THEOLOGICAL COMMUNITY OF MEXICO
(COMUNIDAD TEOLÓGICA DE MÉXICO)
The Theological Community of Mexico is an ecumenical consortium of seminaries and organizations located on the south side of Mexico City, near the National University (UNAM). It was formed in the mid-1960’s as a cooperative effort between Anglicans, Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists and several other church bodies. All of these churches continue to participate in the Theological Community, and in recent restructuring they have been joined by a Reformed faculty (mostly of Presbyterian background) and the Mexican Association of Rural and Urban Transformation (AMEXTRA).
While each of the seminaries that forms part of the Theological Community remains independent, they all work together in preparing their students, especially through a common core curriculum. Students take classes not only at their own seminary but at the Theological Community and at the other seminaries that form part. Thus, for example, Lutheran students will study their general courses in Bible, theology, history, and ministry not only at the Lutheran Seminary but at the Theological Community or one of the other Seminaries. However, their courses in things such as the Lutheran Confessions, the life and thought of Martin Luther, and Lutheran theology, history, and worship will be taken at Augsburg Lutheran Seminary. Of course, these classes in Lutheranism are also open to students from the Theological Community or any of the other seminary programs.
The buildings on the left and far right belong to the Theological Community. The white buildings in back are the Lutheran Center to the left and the Anglican Seminary to the right.
The Theological Community has its own property that is jointly administered by the participating Seminaries. This includes classroom and office space, a chapel/auditorium, and the library. The Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist and Methodist churches all own their own property adjacent to the Theological Community, so that the various seminaries have spaces of their own as well.
The Methodist Seminary can be seen in the back on the left. On the right is the Theological Community’s main building.
Rather than enrolling in one of the Seminaries, many students instead enroll in the Theological Community itself, especially those who are not from any of the denominational backgrounds represented by the various seminaries. This means that we receive students from a very wide variety of denominational backgrounds.
The Theological Community understands its mission in terms of promoting critical reflection that has a solid biblical and theological foundation yet remains firmly focused on serving persons and communities both within and outside of the church by means of a praxis that reflects faithfully the vision and values associated with Jesus’ proclamation of God’s reign.
In addition to offering the traditional four-year study program that many Christian churches require for ordination into the pastoral ministry, the Theological Community offers Diploma and Master’s Degree programs in the areas of Biblical Studies, Theology, Christian Education, Liturgy and Worship, Pastoral Psychology, and Critical Studies in Gender and Theology. Virtually all of the members of the faculty and student body are involved in ongoing pastoral and social service activities in addition to their academic work, resulting in a biblical and theological reflection that is holistic in nature and promotes forms of spirituality characterized not only by a concern for issues related to Christian living but a strong sense of social responsibility as well.
The classes I have taught at the Theological Community have included not only courses in Theology and Biblical studies, but also in practical areas such as worship and homiletics (preaching). I enjoy teaching a wide variety of subjects rather than being restricted to one area in particular.
