Mexico City Semester Program Mission Statement: 

Drawing upon our Lutheran roots that we are justified by God’s grace without exception so that all humanity has worth by virtue of being claimed as God’s people, we are called to:

• create a space for theological exploration and the development of a theological imagination through which issues of poverty can be understood and addressed pastorally and prophetically;

• develop tools for critical analysis of the forces that lead to the wide disparity that exists in access to the world’s resources and to the degradation of the global  environment;

• explore appropriate and effective forms of action in defense of the excluded and in furthering the well-being of the planet; and

• foster a spirituality in solidarity with those who suffer poverty and injustice and learn from and with them what can be done to oppose unjust practices and policies;

so that those of means, searching for meaning in life, and those without means, searching for life, can work together to discern the mission of the church in response to God’s intention for creation.  The semester program in Mexico will contribute to the theological formation of students who feel called to pursue this ministry of accompaniment. This program is designed to give students a cross-cultural experience while carrying a normal course load, which meets the academic requirements at Luther Seminary.

Context:

We live in a world with an ever increasing disparity between the rich and the poor.  Approximately 20% of the world’s population now controls over 80% of the world’s resources.  35,000 children die daily of hunger related diseases.  The dominant economic system which makes possible the accumulation of great wealth for some has also contributed to the depletion of nonrenewable natural resources, the contamination of the natural environment, and threatens the future ecological viability of the planet.

Mexico City with a population of twenty-five million people and more than 3000 new arrivals every day provides a window into this global reality.  As a cosmopolitan city, Mexico City has pockets of great economic wealth, a vibrant intellectual life, and a rich culture as well as large concentrations of extreme poverty.  The new arrivals typically come from rural areas seeking work and a new beginning but often end up marginalized in shanty towns on the periphery of the city or on the banks of ravines.  Their presence contributes to a massive “informal economy” through which they eke out a marginal living without guaranteed salary, benefits, or the most basic of human rights.

In their struggle for survival, many of the poor have turned to base ecclesial communities formed out of an encounter with God’s Word as allies in their fight against oppressive conditions and in the pursuit of a more just and humane society.  A faith based “solidarity economics” movement is growing that emphasizes human dignity and communal life over maximizing profits.  In the process, autonomous communities are organized by indigenous people in the effort to see that their rights and traditions are respected.

Mexico City is thus strategically located at a crossroads where the complexities of the global economic system play themselves out in the lives of people who know the crushing reality of poverty without accepting its inevitability.  A spirituality that faces reality honestly but is also amazingly resilient is nourished by a rich cultural history and the desire for a better life.  Participation in the semester program is intended to immerse students in the complexities of such matters; provide opportunities for probing causes, responsibility, and possible courses of action; and assist students in understanding both the complicity and the opportunity of various agents in these realities, including the church.

Rationale:

In order to fulfill its vision of becoming a more inclusive church, the ELCA is committed to understanding the situation of the growing immigrant population and people living in poverty and enter into ministry with them and on their behalf.  The commitment requires the preparation of leaders who are capable of learning from and serving in such settings.  The semester program in Mexico City will contribute to the theological formation of students who feel called to pursue this ministry of accompaniment.