Alabadle: Hispanic Christian Worship

Rating:
Summary: Soli Deo gloria
Review: One of the strengths of 'Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship' edited by Justo Gonzalez is that it dispels the notion that all Hispanics are the same. There is a great deal of diversity that underlies the simple descriptor 'Hispanic' - for one thing, as Gonzalez notes in the opening chapter, Hispanics come from various parts of a geographic region roughly one quarter the size of the entire world. While the largest group of Hispanics in America come from Mexico, there are significant communities from each of the Hispanic nations - and not all speak Spanish (Brazil, the largest nation in terms of both population and land mass, has Portuguese as its official language).

Also, the denominational situation is different from the dominant Anglo culture. The idea that all Hispanics are Catholic is wrong to begin with, but the balance between Catholic and Protestant in Latino cultures is different; Protestantism there tends to be very pointedly anti-Catholic, and the Catholics tend to see Protestant Hispanics as traitors to the culture as well as unfaithful to the church.

Gonzalez has a team of writers who look at Hispanic worship from denominational perspectives:

* Hispanic Catholic Worship - Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ
* Hispanic Pentecostal Worship - Samuel Solivan
* Hispanic United Methodist Worship - Maria Luisa Santillan Baert
* Hispanic Baptist Worship - Miguel Angel Darino

Also, Gonzalez highlights various aspects of general Hispanic concerns with his concluding three sections:

* The Mestizo Church - Teresa Chavez Sauceda
* Hispanic Hymnody - Raquel Gutierrez-Achon
* Worship Resources (as an appendix) - Pablo A. Jimenez

These issues are important across the board - Chavez Sauceda is a Presbyterian, and talks about the incorporation of different kinds of rituals into a fairly standard Presbyterian pattern of worship; she also talks about the difficulties of raising children in a culture that is both secular and generally non-hispanic in orientation.Guiterrez-Achon looks at the theory, history, and some practical considerations for Hispanic hymnody in the church today. Jimenez offers hymns, litanies and creeds, as well as suggestions for further research for guidance. The book concludes with a useful glossary, too.

Overall, this relatively brief book is an excellent introduction to the diversity of Hispanic worship, and through that, the culture, as it exists in America today. I recommend it for seminary students, pastors, and lay leaders, particularly in areas where there is a significant or growing Hispanic population of any persuasion, and for those congregations who are seeking to incorporate a more welcoming environment and practice for Hispanics.

Rating:
Summary: Soli Deo gloria
Review: One of the strengths of 'Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship' edited by Justo Gonzalez is that it dispels the notion that all Hispanics are the same. There is a great deal of diversity that underlies the simple descriptor 'Hispanic' - for one thing, as Gonzalez notes in the opening chapter, Hispanics come from various parts of a geographic region roughly one quarter the size of the entire world. While the largest group of Hispanics in America come from Mexico, there are significant communities from each of the Hispanic nations - and not all speak Spanish (Brazil, the largest nation in terms of both population and land mass, has Portuguese as its official language).

Also, the denominational situation is different from the dominant Anglo culture. The idea that all Hispanics are Catholic is wrong to begin with, but the balance between Catholic and Protestant in Latino cultures is different; Protestantism there tends to be very pointedly anti-Catholic, and the Catholics tend to see Protestant Hispanics as traitors to the culture as well as unfaithful to the church.

Gonzalez has a team of writers who look at Hispanic worship from denominational perspectives:

* Hispanic Catholic Worship - Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ
* Hispanic Pentecostal Worship - Samuel Solivan
* Hispanic United Methodist Worship - Maria Luisa Santillan Baert
* Hispanic Baptist Worship - Miguel Angel Darino

Also, Gonzalez highlights various aspects of general Hispanic concerns with his concluding three sections:

* The Mestizo Church - Teresa Chavez Sauceda
* Hispanic Hymnody - Raquel Gutierrez-Achon
* Worship Resources (as an appendix) - Pablo A. Jimenez

These issues are important across the board - Chavez Sauceda is a Presbyterian, and talks about the incorporation of different kinds of rituals into a fairly standard Presbyterian pattern of worship; she also talks about the difficulties of raising children in a culture that is both secular and generally non-hispanic in orientation.Guiterrez-Achon looks at the theory, history, and some practical considerations for Hispanic hymnody in the church today. Jimenez offers hymns, litanies and creeds, as well as suggestions for further research for guidance. The book concludes with a useful glossary, too.

Overall, this relatively brief book is an excellent introduction to the diversity of Hispanic worship, and through that, the culture, as it exists in America today. I recommend it for seminary students, pastors, and lay leaders, particularly in areas where there is a significant or growing Hispanic population of any persuasion, and for those congregations who are seeking to incorporate a more welcoming environment and practice for Hispanics.