Latino Pastoral Development Program

Why would a School of Divinity, a Center for Latino Leadership and a Hispanic Ministers Association decide to devote resources and energy to launch a regional effort to reach out to Hispanic colleagues in ministry and Anglo and Hispanic churches?

It is widely accepted that seminaries, bible schools and universities ought to simply concentrate on training ministers and offer theological degrees.  For some, however, the church does not intersect with education. So is it legitimate to ask ourselves why? Why seek to reach Hispanic pastors? Why seek to provide education to Hispanic congregations? Why this Latino Pastoral Development Program? Why now?

  • Of the 41.3 million Latinos in the United States in 2004, about 23 percent (9.5 million) identify themselves as Protestants or other Christians.
  • 37 percent (14.2 million) of all Latino Protestants and Catholics say they have been born again or are evangelical. This means that there are more Latino Protestants in the United States than American Jews, Muslims, Episcopalians or Presbyterians. (Latino Religions and Civic Activism in the United States Espinoza, 2005, Oxford University Press)
  • Unrealistic expectations are a major factor in pastor burnout) — 70% of clergy report experiencing major distress (Malony & Hunt, The Psychology of Clergy)
  • 45% have no close friends; almost half felt constrained to develop close friends in the local church context (Survey of 228 Pastors' wives revealed Ministries Today, Nov / Dec 1992)
  • Pastoral development of Latino ministers in the United States is of vital importance.

The Latino Pastoral Development Program (LPDP) is a resource for pastors and ministers in the state of Virginia and beyond. It is a collaborative effort between the Tidewater Hispanic Evangelical Ministers Association and Regent University School of Divinity and the Center for Latino Leadership. We offer times of ministry renewal and offer opportunities for pastors and those in church leadership to relate to one another while building strategic partnerships. The Latino Pastoral Development Program LPDP seeks to create opportunities where pastors and those in church leadership can come together for learning and encouragement. It also provides coaching for pastors and congregations who find themselves in challenging situations.

The LPDP seeks to foster and maintain the vital links between local churches and Regent University through:

  • offering training seminars to be held at churches or at Regent University
  • providing guest speakers from Regent and its affiliates
  • linking Anglos and Hispanic churches for mutual support
  • connecting students and churches for internships

The seminars are proposed by the ministers and developed by the university and its affiliates. Current areas of training include but are not limited to: church and pastoral ministries, ministerial care, leadership development, ministerial social and civic engagement and Christian counseling.

To learn more about this year activities check our Calendar of Events.

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