FACES. of the LATIN AMERICAN BIBLICAL UNIVERSITY, Number 40, November Edwin Mora

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1 FACES of the LATIN AMERICAN BIBLICAL UNIVERSITY, Number 40, November 2012 Edwin Mora Apdo , San José, Costa Rica Tel.: (+506) Fax: Edited by: Becky Harrell / Layout: Damaris Alvarez 2012

2 Edwin José Mora Guevara... I have seen many young people pass through our classrooms, receiving training and preparation to serve in their respective countries, churches and ministries. I w a s born in 1962 in a small village called Desamparados, south of the capital city of San Jose Costa Rica. My grandparents and their children (including my mother) were farmers. During the war of 1948 the family migrated in the dark of night in an ox drawn cart from Frailes to Desamparados. The move was due to the intolerance of the people in that area toward the political convictions of my grandfather. When I was born, my mother had been a widow for only a few months, so I never had the opportunity to know my father, except through the loving stories told by my mother. Growing up in a household with four brothers we were blessed to have had such a strong woman as my mother who labored long hours at the Clinica Biblica to support us. During our youth the Methodist Church was our second home and often the local pastors collaborated with my mother to guide her in the dual roles she served as mother and father. Raising five boys was not easy, but I thank God for that time in my childhood and the pastors that helped to lead us. I completed studies at a technical high school and for a while I worked in Guanacaste on the west side of the country, but later decided to return to San Jose and begin studies in theology at the Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano (Latin American Bible University), where I received my BA degree in theology. I was aware of the UBL as many of my friends in my Alajuelita Conception Church attended the seminary. During this time I also focused on the study of Sacred Music at the Biblical Temple downtown and served my local church in music ministry. 2 In 1985 I had the opportunity to travel to Argentina, sponsored by Basel Mission (now known as Mission 21) and study at the Higher Institute of Theological Studies in Buenos Aires. There I received my advanced degree and also had the opportunity to study Sacred Music and singing for five years. While in Buenos Aires I served as Pastor with the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina (IEMA). I returned to Costa Rica in 1990 and started working in the Latin American Biblical Seminary as a professor. That same year I completed my degree in the SBL and later my Masters degree in Theology. From 1990 until today I have served as Professor of Theology in the fields of liturgy, theology and Pastoral Counseling. I have held various positions during my 22 years of work with the UBL, such as public relations, Dean, and Director of the Department of Community Welfare, besides teaching. The academic work and educational relationship with students motivated me to study another field comparable to Theology which is Psychology. I received my Bachelor, Master and Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Psychology at the Universidad Autónoma de Centro América in Costa Rica. The doctoral program of study was supported by a grant from the United Methodist Church of the U.S.. For the past four years I have represented the UBL by serving as Vice President of the Synod in Mission board of Mission 21 (Basel Switzerland) During these years of work in the SBL and UBL I have seen many young people pass through our classrooms, receiving training and preparation to serve in their respective countries, churches and ministries. I believe in young people and their ability to excel. I enjoy the work I do with them whether in the classroom or in pastoral counseling. I have two children, Gabriela who is a biologist and Daniel who is studying medicine. For next year I face a new challenge, that of serving the UBL as Vice-President and a part of the team of the newly appointed President for 2013, Dr. Nancy Cardoso. By sharing these aspects of my life, I want to thank all of you for your support of our institution, the UBL, and for your prayers which multiply in the lives and history of so many of us in Latin America and the Caribbean, like I have shared with you today about my life.

3 Afternoon with the Bible Presentations The culture and religion of women A VIEW FROM THE CONTEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Women s Religious Culture in the Old Testament was the subject of an Afternoon with the Bible. Based on the recent publication in the School of Biblical Studies journal, Elisabeth Cook shared her research on women s lives and religious practice in the world of the Old Testament. Women were intimately involved with all processes related to birth, life and death, including the production of food, clothing and other goods. Giving birth was often a life-threatening process, both for the mother and the child. Prayers and incantations from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, suggest that women felt threatened by spirits who would steal newborns (a way of understanding new-born mortality). Protection from the insecurities of life, and critical issues such as infertility, in a context where disease, hygiene and such were not understood scientifically, was sought from different deities. The Old Testament is concerned with the official religion of Israel, the god Yahweh, but even in the text, we find evidence that other gods and goddesses played an important role in the everyday life of men and women. It wasn t until the exile that monotheism, and the exclusive adoration of Yahweh, began to dominate religious life. Although the Bible does not give much information about women s lives, archaeology and texts from nearby peoples offer ideas about what their life and concerns may have been.... The Old Testament is concerned with the official religion of Israel, the god Yahweh, but even in the text, we find evidence that other gods and goddesses played an important role in the everyday life of men and women. 3

4 QUEER THEOLOGY PRESENTATION Queer Theology Presentation by Dr. André Musskopf, School of Theology Professor at Sao Leopoldo, Brazil. His research is in areas of feminist studies, theories of gender, queer theory, masculinity, homosexuality and sexual diversity in its relationship to religion and theology. Department of Theology Love as the basis for resistence presented by Matilde Moros First TCU (Trabajo Comunal Universitario) of 2012 Received TCU Theme: A Foster Home in the City of Calasanz The TCU of Maria Lidia Vasquez Jimenez was based on her work with an educational project in Calasanz, Colombia which offers at risk teenagers and young people opportunities to study and receive training so they may make positive contributions to their society. 4

5 Touch me I have AIDS: a Biblical-pastoral approach to HIV-AIDS Held on Wednesday, September 5th to coincide with the recognition of the International Day of the Bible, the purpose of the conference was to see life and the Bible with new eyes. We explored personal and community values, feelings and behaviours that move us, consciously or unconsciously, to approach people with HIV and AIDS. The scriptures and confronting the realities of HIV and AIDS give us guidelines to accompany our communites and congregations in the rediscovery of others, not to see others as a threat, but as those made in God s image and likeness....give us guidelines to accompany our communites and congregations in the rediscovery of others, not to see others as a threat, but as those made in God s image and likeness. 5

6 Gender and Human Rights Conference Sponsored by the United Methodist Women of the U.S. Seminario Integrado 2012: Gender, Diversity and Religion 6

7 Catedra MacKay "Power, Diversity and Religion The annual Catedra MacKay conference was held at the UBL with guest speaker Dr. Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Director of the Harvard School of Divinity. The theme of the conference was Power, Diversity and Religion. 7

8 VIOLETA ROCHA PUBLISHES BOOK Alvaro Perez Guzman, Librarian UBL Publishes Book Alvaro Pérez Guzmán, UBL Librarian, has recently published Origen and Evolution of Librarianship in Costa Rica. The newly published book The Weaving of the Bible and Life, by Violeta Rocha, is available through the UBL bookstore by contacting or at UBL Represented at International Book Fair in San Jose, Costa Rica EARTHQUAKE A 7.6 earthquake rocked Costa Rica and neighboring countries the morning of September 5th 2012, sending out tidal wave warnings along the Pacific Coast from Chile to Mexico. The epicenter was located in the northwest region of Costa Rica offshore from Nicoya Peninsula where the greatest damage was concentrated, damaging hospitals, homes, roadways, etc. Fortunately no tidal waves occurred. The UBL was blessed with only very minor damages and with no injuries, although our library books needed reshelving. 8

9 FACES AROUND THE UBL Daughter of UBL Student Rosa Lillian Herrera of Honduras UBL students Maria Lidia Vásquez (Colombia) and Luz Piedad Castillo (Peru) Elsa Tamez and her granddaughter visit the UBL Ana of Venezuela UBL Board of Directors Edesio Sánchez UBL Professors Martin Hoffman (Lutheran Church of Germany) and Karla Koll (Presbyterian Church USA Missionary) in a recent meeting Student Asmiria Niño (Venezuela) with UBL Vice President Nidia Fonseca UBL student Elizabeth Gareca (Bolivia) UBL student Ignacio Miranda (Peru) 9 Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church team leader Audrey Phelps with professor Dr. Genilma Boehler (UMC GBGM Missionary to the UBL)

10 UBL student Mikyung Kim (Korea) with professor Ruth Mooney (American Baptist Missionary to the UBL) DAP Office Becky Harrell (UMC- GBGM Missionary to the UBL) and UBL Librarian Alvaro Pérez. UBL student Rodrigo Riffo (Argentina) with professor Elisabeth Cook (PCUSA Missionary to the UBL) Professor Martin Hoffman with UBL student Joel Rodríguez (Honduras) Administrative Staff Silvestre Cortés Administrative staff Carlos Carvajal UBL students Viviana Machuca (Colombia), Michel Monterroza (El Salvador), Olga Gudelo (Colombia) and Blanca Aida Rivas (Honduras) United Methodist Church Individual Volunteer in Mission to the UBL Library, Philippa Lauben 10

11 UBL students Guadalupe Núñez (Venezuela) and Mikyung Kim (Korea) Missouri UMC Conference Mission Team participant Libby enjoying mamon. Colombian consultant for the Masters Degree in Theology Program with emphasis in HIV-AIDS Edgardo Hernández (CTEH- Honduras) UBL Professor Jaime Prieto UBL President Violeta Rocha and former student Azucena López (Nicaragua) UBL Professors in training for UBL online courses 11

12 Annual Assembly of the UBL - November 14, 2012 Changing Offices - Violeta Rocha As is the process of the office of president of the UBL, we bid farewell to Violeta Rocha who has served as President of the institution for the past 5 years. But we do not say goodbye as she will continue as a professor of New Testament in the Bible Department. We thank Violeta for her past service and continuing ministry to the UBL and her students. Her heart for the Lord is in the service to the poor, indigenous, and marginalized. In the Annual Assembly of the UBL Nancy Cardoso Periera was approved as President of the UBL for the period of Nancy comes to the UBL from the Methodist Church of Brazil and is a theolgian and professor with experience in the Methodist University in her home country and who will bring much experience to the position. We look forward to her arrival and ask your prayers for her ministry in the UBL. 12

13 Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church Supporting the UBL Audrey Phelps of the Missouri Conference of the UMC and two team members arrived to the UBL in August 2012 to serve in the construction of the UBL new student-family housing, video tape students at the UBL and visit with many of the faculty and staff. While at the UBL they also had the opportunity to share in the Mother s Day celebration August 15 th. As the Missouri Conference has partnered with the UBL to assist in the completion of 20 units of the New Student-Family Housing, we look forward to receiving more teams from the conference and are grateful for their prayers and continued support. For more information regarding Mission Teams to the UBL contact Becky Harrell at becky.dap@gmail.com 13

14 Mission First United Methodist Church Mt. Holly, North Carolina Teams to the UBL. June First Baptist Church of Greencastle, Indiana through November 2012 Cedar Creek United Methodist Church, Texas 14

15 Mission North Raleigh Presbyterian Church, North Carolina Teams to the UBL. June White s Chapel United Methodist Church, Southlake, Texas through November 2012 Bertram United Methodist Church, Texas 15

16 The 4 casitas (houses) in phase I of our construction project are dried in and we are hopeful they will be completed by July Phase II of the 20 unit project will begin in the second half of 2013 and we pray you will consider joining us in this work in 2013 or Status of the student-family housing construction For more information or to schedule a team contact Becky Harrell at becky.dap@gmail.com Give to the UBL for Pastor and Laity training in Latin America and the Caribbean General Giving Online go to Through the United Methodist Church Or Advance Special 10247B Student Scholarship Fund online at Advance Special 09139A Christian Education Support at Through the Presbyterian Church (USA) E PCUSA online donation page