Religion Professor - Author - Scholar Activist
CURRICULUM VITAE
CURRICULUM VITAE
Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre
Professor of Social Ethics and Latino/a Studies
OFFICE: Iliff School of Theology
2201 University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80210
303.765.3133 (office)
303.777.0164 (fax)
www.drmigueldelatorre.com (web page)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Ph.D. 1999 Temple University (Religion)
M.A. 1996 Temple University (Religion)
M. Div. 1995 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
M.P.A. 1985 American University (Public Affairs)
B.S. 1983 Florida International University (Political Science)
SINGLE-AUTHORED BOOK PUBLICATIONS:
Liberation Theologies for Arm Chair Theologians, Westminster John Knox Press, forthcoming in 2012.
Genesis: Belief, A Theological Commentary on the Bible, Westminster John Knox Press, 2011.
A La Familia: A Conversation About Our Families, the Bible, Sexual Orientation and Gender, Human Rights Campaign, 2011.
Latina/o Social Ethics: Moving Beyond Eurocentric Moral Thinking, Baylor University Press, 2010.
Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration, Orbis Books, 2009.
Liberating Jonah: Toward a Biblical Ethics of Reconciliation, Orbis Books, 2007.
A Lily Among the Thorns: Imagining a New Christian Sexuality, Jossey-Bass, 2007.
Leer la Biblia desde los Marginados, Ediciones Mensajero, 2005.
Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins, Orbis Books, 2004.
Santería: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004.
La Lucha for Cuba: Religion and Politics on the Streets of Miami, University of California Press, 2003.
The Quest for the Cuban Christ: A Historical Search, University Press of Florida, 2002.
Reading the Bible from the Margins, Orbis Books, 2002.
Ajiaco Christianity: Toward an Exilic Cuban Ethic of Reconciliation, Ph.D. diss., Temple University, 1999.
MULTI-AUTHORED BOOK PUBLICATIONS:
The Quest for the Historical Satan, co-authored with Albert Hernandez, Fortress Press, 2011.
Introducing Latino/a Theologies, co-authored with Edwin Aponte, Orbis Books, 2001.
EDITED BOOKS:
Ethics: A Liberative Approach, Fortress Press, forthcoming in 2012.
Beyond the Pale: Reading Christian Theology from the Margins, co-edited with Stacy Floyd-Thomas, Westminster John Knox Press, 2011.
Beyond the Pale: Reading Christian Ethics from the Margins, co-edited with Stacy Floyd-Thomas, Westminster John Knox Press, 2011.
Out of the Shadows, Into the Light: Christianity and Homosexuality, Chalice Press, 2009.
The Hope of Liberation within World Religions, Baylor University Press, 2008.
AAR Career Guide for Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession, American Academy of Religion, 2007.
Rethinking Latino/a Religion and Ethnicity, co-edited with Gaston Espinosa, Pilgrim Press, 2006.
Handbook on Latino/a Theologies, co-edited with Edwin Aponte, Chalice Press, 2006.
Handbook on U.S. Theologies of Liberation, Chalice Press, 2004.
ENCYCLOPEDIA EDITOR:
Encyclopedia on Hispanic American Religious Culture, Volume 2, ABC-CLIO Publishers, 2009.
Encyclopedia on Hispanic American Religious Culture, Volume 1, ABC- CLIO Publishers, 2009.
JOURNAL EDITOR:
Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion, Sopher Press, since January, 2010. www.raceandreligion.com.
BOOK CHAPTERS:
A Bembe for our Asian Hermano/as, New Overtures: Asian North American Theology in the 21st Century, Eleazar S. Fernandez, ed., Sopher Press, forthcoming in 2012.
Pray for Elián, Elián González: The Critical Reader, Paul Allatson, ed. University of Wisconsin Press, forthcoming in 2012.
Ethics, The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Practical Theology, Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Blackwell Publishing (2012): 337-46.
Oct. 9-15, Preaching God’s Transforming Justice: A Lectionary Commentary, Ronald J. Allen, Dale P Andrews and Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm, eds., Westminster John Knox Press, (2011): 438-43.
Ephesians 1:15-23; 1 Peter 3:13-22; and 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:5-11, theological entries for Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, Vol. 2: Lent through Eastertide, David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds., Westminster John Knox Press (2011): 484-88; 508-512; 532-36.
Beyond Machismo: A Cuban Case Study, Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection, Marvin M. Ellison and Kelly Brown Douglas, eds., Westminster John Knox Press, (2010): 221-38.
Constructing a Cuban-Centric Christ, Jesus in the Hispanic Community, Harold Recinos and Hugo Magallanes, eds., Westminster John Knox Press, (2010): 58-73.
Beyond Machismo: A Cuban Case Study, Men and Masculinities in Christianity and Judaism: A Critical Reader, Björn Krondorfer, ed., SCM-Canterbury Press, (2009): 444-59.
Dancing with Ochún: Imagining How a Black Goddess Became White, Black Religion and Aesthetics: Religious Thought and Life in Africa and the African Diaspora, Anthony Pinn, ed., Cambridge University Press, (2009): 113-34.
Confessions of a Latino Macho: From Gay Basher to Gay Ally, Out of the Shadows and into the Light: Struggling with the Sin of Heterosexuality, Chalice Press, (2009): 59-75.
Pastoral Care from the Margins: The Hispanic Community, Injustice and the Care of Souls: Taking Oppression Seriously in Pastoral Care, Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook and Karen Montagno, eds., Fortress Press, (2009): 59-72.
Dealing with Diversity, Best Advice: Wisdom on Ministry from 30 Leading Pastors and Preachers, William J. Carl III, ed., Westminster John Knox Press, (2009): 57-62.
For Immigrants, Church and Public Life: An Agenda for Change, Rebecca Todd Peters and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, eds., Westminster John Knox Press, (2008): 73-84.
For Strength to Fight for Justice, Prayers for The New Social Awakening: Inspired by the New Social Creed, Chistian Iosso and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, eds., Westminster John Knox Press, (2008): 65-66.
Introducton, The Hope of Liberation within World Religions, Baylor University Press, (2008): 1-12.
Religion and Religiosity, Latino/as in the U.S.: Changing the Face of America, Havidán Rodríguez, Rogelio Saenz, and Cecilia Menjivar, eds., Springer Publishing, (2007): 225-40.
Dealing with Difficult Issues, AAR Career Guide. Miguel A. De La Torre, ed., American Academy of Religion, (2007): 111-36.
Job Search, AAR Career Guide. Co-authored with Mary C. Campbell, Miguel A. De La Torre, ed., American Academy of Religion, (2007): 27-48.
Rethinking Mulatez, Rethinking Latino/a Religion and Ethnicity, Miguel A. De La Torre and Gaston Espinosa, Pilgrim Press, (2006): 158-75.
Religion and Power in the Study of Hispanic Religions, Rethinking Latino/a Religion and Ethnicity, Miguel A. De La Torre and Gaston Espinosa, eds., Pilgrim Press, (2006): 286-98.
Alternative Traditions, Co-authored with Edwin Aponte, Edwin Aponte and Miguel A. De La Torre, eds., Handbook on Latino/a Theologies, Chalice Press, (2006): 206-11.
Pray for Elián: Religion, Politics, and Power in Miami, Hispanic Churches in American Public Life, Gaston Espinosa, ed., Oxford Press, (2005): 249-62.
Cuban Religiosity, A Handbook of the U.S. Latina/o Experience, Hector Avalos, ed., Brill Academic Publishers (2004): 66-85.
Scripture, Handbook of U.S. Theologies of Liberation, Miguel A. De La Torre, ed., Chalice Press, (2004): 85-100.
Afterword, Papal Overtures in a Cuban Key: The Pope’s Visit and Civic Space for Cuban Religion, Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, ed., The University of Scranton Press, (2002): 125-36.
La funcion del barrio en la doctrina del pecado original Mas Voces de la Iglesia Hispana, Luis G. Pedraja, ed., Arbingdon Press, (2001): 81-94.
Constructing our Cuban Ethnic Identity while in Babylon, A Dream Unfinished: Theological Reflections on America from the Margins, Fernando F. Segovia and Eleazar Fernandez eds., Orbis Books, (2001): 185-202.
Cubans in Babylon: Exodus and Exile, Religion, Culture and Tradition in the Caribbean, Hemchand Gossai and Nathaniel Samuel Murrell, eds., St. Martins Press, (2000): 73-91.
Miami and the Babylonian Captivity, Sacred Text, Secular Times: The Hebrew Bible in the Modern World, Leonard Greenspoon and Bryan F. Le Beau, eds., Fordham University Press, (2000): 267-282.
ARTICLE PUBLICATIONS:
A Bembe for Chino Cubanos, Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion, Vol. 3, No. 2.16 (January, 2012): 1-16.
Expanding on a Journal Like This, Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion, Vol. 3, No. 1 (January, 2012): 1-6.
Hispanics Playing in the AAR’s Field of Dreams, Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion, Vol. 2, No. 2.4 (January, 2011): 1-22.
Left Behind: The American Dream and the Hispanic Dilemma, Review & Expositor: A Consortium Baptist Theological Journal, Vol. 107, No. 4 (Fall 2010): 513-524.
Moving Beyond Hospitality, Journal of Lutheran Ethics (JLE), Vol. 10, No. 4 (April 2010): 1-11
Why a Journal Like This, Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January, 2010): 1-11.
A Christian Bioethicial Response to Health Care for Hispanics, American Journal of Bioethics, Vol. 8, No. 10 (October, 2008).
On Being the Academic Other, “Diversifying Knowledge Production: The Other within Christianity,” AAR Spotlight on Teaching, Vol. 22, No. 4 (October, 2007): ii, xi.
Living on the Borders, The Ecumenical Review, Vol. 59, No 2-3 (April/July 2007): 214-20.
Career Guide for Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Religious Studies News, Vol. 21, No. 3 (May 2006): 10, 26.
AAR Produces Career Guide for Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Religious Studies News, Vol. 20, No. 4 (October 2005): 13, 19.
Response to Houlden’s Book Review, Conversations in Religion and Theology, Vol 1, No. 1 (May 2003): 8-11.
The Challenge of Lazarus, Celebration: An Ecumenical Worship Resource, Vol. 31, No. 3 (March 2003): 99-100.
Martí’s Contribution to the Construction of the Cuban Christ, APUNTES, Year 22, No. 3 (Fall, 2002): 84-106.
Evangelism: A Hispanic Perspective, Church and Society, Vol. 92, No. 3 (January/February 2002): 11-24.
Ochún: [N]either the [M]Other of All Cubans, [N]or the Bleached Virgin, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 69, No. 4 (December, 2001): 837-61.
Confesiones de un macho cubano, Prespectivas, No. 4 (Summer, 2001): 65-87.
The Quest for the Historical Hispanic Christ, Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought, Vol. 14, No. 10 (December 1999): 5-8.
Beyond Machismo, The Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics, Vol. 19 (1999): 213-33.
A Preferential Option for McDonalds, APUNTES, Year 19, No. 2, (Summer, 1999): 51-59.
Masking Hispanic Racism: A Cuban Case Study, Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology, Vol. 6, No. 4 (May 1999): 57-73.
Book Review of Teología en Conjunto, by José D. Rodríguez and Loida I. Martell-Otero. Koinonia, X: 2 (Fall 1998): 256-58.
Cubans Reading Psalm 137, The Schuykill, Vol. 1, No. 2, Feb/Mar 1998.
Toward Cuban Reconciliation: An Ajiaco Philosophical Foundation, Koinonia, IX: 1 & 2 (Spring/Fall 1997): 58-78.
The Role of the Barrio in the Doctrine of Original Sin, APUNTES, Year 16, No. 3, (Fall, 1996): 78-90.
REFERENCE ENTRIES:
Afro-Caribbean Religions, entry in Cambridge History of Religion in Latin America, ed. by Virginia Garrard-Burnett and Paul Freston, Cambridge University Press, forthcoming in 2011.
Conscientization, Liberation Ethics, and Praxis, entries in Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics, Joel Green, ed., Baker Academics (2011): 169-70, 482-85, 617-18.
Santería, entry in Encyclopedia on Religion in America, Vo. 4 Q-Z, Charles H. Lippy and Peter W. Williams, eds., CQ Press (2010): 2031-34.
Latino/as, entry in Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity, Daniel Patte, ed., Cambridge University Press, (2010): 715-16.
Thirty entries in Encyclopedia on Hispanic American Religious Culture, Volume 1, Miguel A. De La Torre, ed., ABC-CLIO Publishers, (2009): xii-xxi, 15, 17, 26-28, 30, 36-38, 110, 124, 131, 153, 156-58, 157, 161, 166, 171-75, 209-12, 220-24, 230-36, 231, 236, 256, 263, 277, 299, 315, 325-27, 346-48, 347, 371, 373.
Twenty-five entries in Encyclopedia on Hispanic American Religious Culture, Volume 2, Miguel A. De La Torre, ed., ABC-CLIO Publishers, (2009): 400, 411, 441, 443, 447-49, 454-56, 489-91, 498-501, 499, 503, 505, 513-15, 515-17, 518-25, 522, 524, 538-39, 539-41, 561-63, 717, 720, 721, 729, 752.
Fifty biblical expositions in The People’s Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Aprocrypha, ed. by Curtiss Paul DeYoung, Wilda C. Gafney, Leticia A. Guardiola-Sáenz, George Tinker, and Frank M. Yamada, Fortress Press, (2008): 1415, 1417, 1419, 1423, 1434, 1436, 1453, 1460, 1462, 1473-75, 1477, 1486-88, 1490, 1498-99, 1501, 1503, 1509, 1512, 1519-20, 1538-39, 1543, 1547, 1552, 1555, 1579, 1590, 1596, 1603, 1607, 1625-26, 1633, 1637, 1638, 1657, 1668, 1672, 1682, 1702, 1723, 1728.
Social Ethics 3: Latin America, entry in The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Vol. 5, Erwin Fahlbusch, et al., eds., William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company & Brill, (2008): 54-57.
Propaganda: Antireligious (Cuban), entry in The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief, Tom Flynn, ed., Prometheus Books (2007): 620-21.
Eleven dictionary entries in The Westminster Dictionary of Theologians, Justo L. González, ed. Westminster John Knox Press (2006): 96, 98, 126, 166, 169, 172-173, 178-179, 351.
Eleven dictionary entries in Diccionario de teólogos y teólogas, Justo L. González, ed., Kairos Press (2004): 133, 137, 168, 226, 230, 232-34, 239-41, 473.
Cuban American Religious Communities, entry in Religion and American Cultures: An Encyclopedia of Traditions, Diversity, and Popular Expressions, Vol. 1, Gary Laderman and Luis León, eds., Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO Publishers (2003): 187-191.
BOOK SERIES EDITOR:
New Perspectives in Latino/a Religion, 12 volume-set, Baylor University Press, forthcoming in 2010-2016.
Books include:
a) Edwin D. Aponte, Protestant Churches from a Latina/o Perspectives: Understanding Latino/a Evangélico/a, Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Mainline Protestants
b) Jorge Aquino, Racism from a Latina/o Perspective: Nation-Building and Religious Identity in Our America
c) Maria Teresa Dávila, Economic Mobility from a Latina/o Perspective: The Latina/o Middle Class and the Option for the Poor
d) Alberto Hernandez, Spirituality from a Latina/o Perspective: Encountering God at the Margins
e) Hajmil Martinez-Vazquez, Religious History from a Latina/o Perspective: New Methodologies in the Search for Memory
DOCUMENTARIES:
Gospel without Borders, interviewed on the documentary dealing with the immigration dilemma, produced by Ethics Daily, 2011.
Who is my Neighbor, interviewed on the documentary dealing with the immigration dilemma, produced by the Colorado Council of Churches, 2008.
Beneath the Skin: Baptists and Racism, interviewed on the documentary dealing with the racism within Baptist churches, produced by Ethics Daily, 2008.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES:
2003- present. Syndicated column for Ethics Daily, appearing bi-monthly on a Baptist run website: www.ethicsdaily.com
2008-2010. Syndicated column for Associate Baptist Press, appearing bi-monthly on a Baptist run website: www.abpnews.com
2002 - 2005. Syndicated column for the Holland Sentinel, appearing bi-monthly in the Editorial Section.
2000-2001. Syndicated column for the Holland Sentinel, co-authored with Deborah De La Torre and titled Salsa for the Soul, appearing bi-monthly in the Saturday Religion Section.
NEWS SPOKESPERSON:
Dr. De La Torre has been an expert commentator concerning ethical issues on several media outlets including, but not limited to: CNN News, CNN Saturday Night with Rick Sanchez, CNN en español, Univision News, Telemundo News, NPR Michigan, NPR North Carolina, Time Magazine, The Miami Herald, The LA Times, The New York Post, Dallas News, The Houston Chronicle, The Denver Post, Grand Rapids Press, The Washington Times, The Orlando Sentinel, and The Winston-Salem Journal. In addition, Dr. De La Torre has appeared in international media outlets including, but not limited to: Mexico City’s La Prensa, Canada’s The Ottawa Citizen, Moscow's CrossTalk and The Kuwait Times.
HONORS:
2010 Received the Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award for encyclopedia Hispanic American Religious Cultures.
2005 Received the Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award for Santería: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America.
2005 Received an Honorable Mention in Educational Books by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada for Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins.
2005 Received ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Finalist Award for Santería: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America.
2004 Summer Writing Grant from Hope College ($3,600).
2003 Received First Place in Educational Books by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada for Reading the Bible from the Margins.
2003 McGregor Award ($2,000).
2002 "Outstanding Hispanic Educator" award by the Michigan Hispanic Legislative Caucus.
2002 Faculty Fund for Faith ($4000 + a semester sabbatical).
2001 Summer Writing Grant from the Jobe and Julie Morrison Family. Faculty Development Fund in combination with the Norman and Ruth Peale Fund ($3600).
2000 Post-Doctoral Summer Writing Grant from the Hispanic Theological Initiative ($8000).
2000 The Hispanic Churches in American Public Life Writing Grant ($3000).
1999 Frederick Douglass Summer Teaching Fellowship ($1,800).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2012 – present Cofounder of the Society of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
2012 Elected President of the Society of Christian Ethics
2012-2015 Elected to the Program Committee of the American Academy of Religion
2011 - 2014 Appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion
2011 - 2014 Elected to the Board of Directors of the Society of Christian Ethics
2011 – 2013 Appointed to the Finance Committee of the Society of Christian Ethics
2011 Elected Vice-President of the Society of Christian Ethics
2011 Appointed to the Finance Committee of the American Academy of Religion
2010 Founder of the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
2009-2011 Appointed to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Religion
2009 - 2010 Chair of the American Academy of Religion Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession Committee
2009-2010 Appointed to the AAR Centennial Advisory Committee
2008 - 2010 Convener of the Latino/a Working Group of the Society of Christian Ethics
2008 Founder and organizer of the Latino/a Working Group of the Society of Christian Ethics
2006 - 2011 Elected to the Board of Directors of the Society of Christian Ethics
2006 - 2012 Co-chair of the American Academy of Religion Ethics Section
2006 - present Member of the Human Rights Campaign Religion Council
2005 - 2007 Member of the American Academy of Religion Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession Committee
2005 & 2008 & 2011-13 Member of the Society of Christian Ethics Program Committee
2004 Visiting Co-Editor for Perspectivas: Occasional Papers published by the Hispanic Theological Initiative.
2003-2005 Member of the Board of Director of Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity.
2001 - 2005 Elected Executive Board Director of Tulipanes, the Latino Art and Film Festival, a non-profit corporation which celebrates the cultural and artistic heritage of Latino/as and their contribution to the greater Holland area.
2003 Member of the West Michigan Strategic Alliance, whose responsibility is to establish a "smart growth" development plan for the West Michigan region.
2000 - 2002 Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Religious Ethics.
2000 - 2002 Elected Vice-president of LAUP (Latin Americans United for Progress), a civil action group which advocates for the social and political needs and concern of Latina/o residents in Holland, MI.
2000 - 2001 Elected Vice-president of La Comunidad, an academic organization which meets during the American Academy of Religion for the purpose of advancing the needs and concern of Latina/o scholars within academia.
1999 - 2001 Member of the Society of Christian Ethics’s Committee for the 21st Century, charged with thinking about future self-understandings and directions which the Society might adopt, sustain, or create as it enters a new century.
1998 - 1999 Consultant for a project titled The Community Serving Role of the Hispanic Protestant Church, conducted by Claremont School of Theology for its Urban Leadership Institute, and funded by the Pew Charitable Trust.
1996 - 1998 Research Assistant for a project titled Negotiating Political and Economic Crises: Peruvian and Salvadoran Christians in Latin America and the United States, conducted by The University of Florida Departments of Religion and Political Science, and funded by the Pew Charitable Trust.
1993 - 1994 An ordained pastor of Goshen Baptist Church in Glen Dean, KY.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2005 - Present Iliff School of Theology, Associate Professor:
Ethics Perspectives on Justice & Peace
Ethical Analysis and Advocacy
Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins
Biblical Ethics
Erotic Bible
Fanon, Foucault, and Friends
Formative White Male Figures in Christian Ethics
Immersion course in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Immersion course on the U.S. Borders
Latino/a Ethics
Multicultural Issues
Postcolonial Ethics
War & Peace
Womanist Ethics
1999 - 2005 Hope College, Assistant Professor:
The Quest for Reconciliation;
Black & Latino/a Theology;
Marx, Foucault & Liberation;
Immersion course in La Habana, Cuba;
Introduction to Liberation Theology;
Reading the Bible from the Margins;
Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins;
The Exotic Bible: Sex for Believers.
1999 West Chester University, Visiting Professor
Introduction to Philosophy
1999 Immaculata College, Visiting Professor
Business Ethics
1997 Rutgers University, Visiting Professor
Religion and Contemporary Culture
1995 - 1999 Temple University, Instructor:
Hebrew Bible;
Introduction to World Religion;
Religion in America;
Racial Justice: A Religious Mandate of Obedience and Revolt.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
American Academy of Religion
Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana
Society of Biblical Literature
Society of Christian Ethics
Society of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion
