The Mestizo/a Community of the Spirit

"The most important theological questions at the turn of the twenty-first century are ecclesiological-what is it to 'be' and 'do' church? Oscar Garcia-Johnson's provocative and critical Laino/a postmodern ecclesiology of the Spirit is an important and needed contribution to contemporary theological dialogue. The Mestizo Community of the Spirit is a must read for those interested in 'listening' to the emerging and creative Latino/a 'voices.'"

--Eldin Villafane

Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Founding Director, Urban Ministerial Education, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary



"In this stunning and original theological work, Oscar Garcia-Johnson dips deep into the flowing stream of the Latino/a community and finds there a new theological paradigm where a culture of the Spirit emerges. This is a culture where revelation and praxis come together and where cruciformity is not only a Christological praxis but is a transforming social ethic. . . . Pastors as well as theologians will soon have this book at the top of their'must read' book list."

-Ray S. Anderson

Senior Professor of Theology and Ministry, Fuller Theological Seminary



"Garcia-Johnson challenges the Latino/a church to become a mestizo/a community of manana by allowing the Spirit to guide it within the complexity, unpredictability, and randomness that is Latino culture in a postmodern world. He presents a contextualized Latino/a theology that recognizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in the community that believes in God's future. I am grateful to him for showing us how Latino/a churches can be committed communities of survival, hope, and belief."

-Juan Martinez

Assistant Dean for the Hispanic Church Studies Department and Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies and Pastoral Leadership, Fuller Theological Seminary



Oscar Garcia-Johnson's postmodern ecclesiology of the Mestizo/a Community is a powerful testimony to the fact that constructive Latino/a theology has not only arrived but has come of age. . . . Here is an inspiring 'commuting story' of the church that speaks both to the Latino/a communities and the rest of us.

--Veli-Matti Karkkainen

Professor of Systematic Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary; Docent of Ecumenics, University of Helsinki, Finland