Justo Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Justo L. González is a Cuban-American Methodist
historian, theologian, a prolific author, and an influential contributor in the development of Latino/Latina [Hispanic] theology.
on August 9, 1937, attended United Seminary in Cuba, received his M.A. from Yale
, and then went on to receive his Ph.D. He was the youngest person to be awarded the historical theology doctorate at Yale.
of Emory University
in Georgia for eight years followed by eight years at United Seminary. He also served as adjunct professor of history at Columbia Theological Seminary
in Decatur, Georgia
and is now retired from the Interdenominational Theological Center
in Atlanta, Georgia
. He was also a member of the Rio Grande Conference of The United Methodist Church.
He is a leading voice in the growing field of Hispanic theology, comparable to such figures as Virgilio Elizondo
, Orlando Costas, and Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
. González is one of the few first generation Latino theologians to come from a Protestant background. (See list of Hispanic theologians.) With Mexican-American United Methodist minister Roy Barton, González helped found the first academic journal related to Latino/a theology, Apuntes published by the Mexican American Program of Perkins School of Theology
at Southern Methodist University
. He also helped to found the Association for Hispanic Theological Education, for which he has twice served as Executive Council Chair. He was the first Academic Director of the Hispanic Summer Program and helped found the Hispanic Theological Initiative.
A festschrift
has been published for him: Hispanic Christian Thought at the Dawn of the 21st century: Apuntes in Honor of Justo L. González, edited by Alvin Padilla, Roberto Goizueta, Eldin Villafañe (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005) with contributions from Roman Catholic and Protestant Latina and Latino theologians, historians, and biblical scholars.
Justo González is the main narrator for the video lessons of the Christian Believer study course from Cokesbury publishing.
Additional books include:
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
historian, theologian, a prolific author, and an influential contributor in the development of Latino/Latina [Hispanic] theology.
Education
Justo L. González was born in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on August 9, 1937, attended United Seminary in Cuba, received his M.A. from Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
, and then went on to receive his Ph.D. He was the youngest person to be awarded the historical theology doctorate at Yale.
Teaching
González taught at Candler School of TheologyCandler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...
of Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Georgia for eight years followed by eight years at United Seminary. He also served as adjunct professor of history at Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.-Description:...
in Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
and is now retired from the Interdenominational Theological Center
Interdenominational Theological Center
The Interdenominational Theological Center is a consortium of denominational seminaries located in Atlanta, Georgia. Today ITC educates and nurtures women and men who commit to and practice a liberating and transforming spirituality; academic discipline; religious, gender, and cultural diversity;...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He was also a member of the Rio Grande Conference of The United Methodist Church.
He is a leading voice in the growing field of Hispanic theology, comparable to such figures as Virgilio Elizondo
Virgilio Elizondo
Virgilio Elizondo is a Mexican American, Roman Catholic priest who divides his time between his parish in San Antonio, Texas, and teaching at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He is a major theologian in liberation theology and Hispanic theology. He has been named by Time...
, Orlando Costas, and Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
Ada María Isasi-Díaz is professor emerita of ethics and theology at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. As a Hispanic theologian, she is an innovator of Hispanic theology in general and specifically of Mujerista theology...
. González is one of the few first generation Latino theologians to come from a Protestant background. (See list of Hispanic theologians.) With Mexican-American United Methodist minister Roy Barton, González helped found the first academic journal related to Latino/a theology, Apuntes published by the Mexican American Program of Perkins School of Theology
Perkins School of Theology
Perkins School of Theology is one of Southern Methodist University's three original schools. The theology school was renamed in 1945 to honor benefactors Joe J...
at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. He also helped to found the Association for Hispanic Theological Education, for which he has twice served as Executive Council Chair. He was the first Academic Director of the Hispanic Summer Program and helped found the Hispanic Theological Initiative.
A festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
has been published for him: Hispanic Christian Thought at the Dawn of the 21st century: Apuntes in Honor of Justo L. González, edited by Alvin Padilla, Roberto Goizueta, Eldin Villafañe (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005) with contributions from Roman Catholic and Protestant Latina and Latino theologians, historians, and biblical scholars.
Justo González is the main narrator for the video lessons of the Christian Believer study course from Cokesbury publishing.
Writings
In 1984–5 González wrote a popular two volume textbook entitled The Story of Christianity that covers the history of the church from founding till the present in a readable style. He is also the author of a three volume work titled History of Christian Thought. Both works commonly are used as college and seminary textbooks.Additional books include:
- Acts: The Gospel of the Spirit
- The Apostle's Creed for Today
- The Changing Shape of Church History
- Christian Thought Revisited: Three Types of Theology
- Cristianismo : culto o profecía : el hecho religioso andino
- The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation
- Entre la cruz y la espada : evangelización o adoctrinamiento en América Latina
- Essential Theological Terms
- Faith and Wealth : A History of Early Christian Ideas on the Origin, Significance, and Use of Money
- For the Healing of the Nations: The Book of Revelation in an Age of Cultural Conflict
- Heretics for Armchair Theologians
- The Liberating Pulpit
- Mañana : Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective
- Santa Biblia : The Bible through Hispanic Eyes
- Para la Salud de las Naciones: El Apocalipsis en tiempos de conflicto entre culturas