News Release
October 2005
Bethlehem, Pa. October 12, 2005—Moravian Theological Seminary’s
annual Couillard Memorial Lectures will be held Friday, November 4 from 9:30 a.m. until
2:30 p.m. This year’s set of lectures is titled “Who is my Neighbor? Christian
Responses to Globalization,” and will be presented by Dr. Miguel De La Torre, associate
professor of social ethics at Iliff School of Theology and director of Iliff’s
Justice and Peace Institute in Denver, Colorado. The lectures will discuss current economic
conditions in relation to biblical thought and Christian ethics and how they should be
pursued “from the margins” in order to follow the life and teaching of Jesus.
After De La Torre’s presentation, audience members will have the opportunity to
examine several case studies arising from current globalization trends.
De La Torre is a prolific author on religious subjects. His published books
include Reading the Bible from the Margins, The Quest for the Cultural Cuban
Christ: A Historical Search, La Lucha for Cuba: Religion and Politics on the
Streets of Miami,
Santería: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America, Handbook
of U.S. Theologies of Liberation, and Doing Ethics from the Margins. In the next two years,
he expects the release of AAR Career Guide (an e-book), Rethinking Latino/a
Religion and Ethnicity (co-edited with Gaston Espinosa), Liberating Jonah: Toward
a Biblical Ethics in Reconciliation, and Re-imagining Christian Sexuality. In addition, he has authored
many articles and reference book entries. De La Torre earned a Master of Divinity Degree
from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts and doctorate in religion
from Temple University. He also holds a Master of Public Affairs from American University.
Before coming to the Iliff School of Theology, he spent six years teaching at Hope College
in Holland, Michigan.
The Couillard Memorial Lectures in Christian Doctrine and Theology were
endowed in 1962 by Dean and Mrs. Vernon Couillard in memory of their son, Justin. They
were later extended to honor Dean Couillard as well.
“Who is My Neighbor?” is free to attend. Register for the program
by filling out the registration form on the seminary’s website, or by mailing the
registration form enclosed in the seminary’s Continuing Ed Program 2005-2006 Catalog.
The registration deadline is October 21. To request a catalog or further information,
call Millie Román-Buday at 610-861-1519. Those in attendance will receive 0.4
Continuing Education Units.
