Asbury Theological Seminary Signs Global Partnership in Costa Rica
Asbury Theological Seminary is pleased to announce a new global partnership with the Evangelical Methodist Seminary-University of Costa Rica. The agreement solidifies a commitment to partner together in ministry efforts. The Memorandum of Understanding explains, “The growth of the Global Church… calls for a level of collaboration that will garner greater fruit through theological education than either institution could accomplish by itself.”
Both institutions share a common mission and doctrine. In addition, ties in leadership made it an easy bond. The founder of the Methodist Seminary, Bishop Luis Fernando Palomo, serves on Asbury Seminary’s Board of Trustees. Furthermore, Dr. Stephen Gober, the Director of Operations and Spiritual Formation on the Florida Dunnam Campus, previously served as the president of the Methodist Seminary for eight years.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on December 2, 2011 during the General Conference of the Methodist Church of Costa Rica. Asbury Seminary’s President, Dr. Timothy C. Tennent, was there for the signing and the conference. His trip marks the first ever visit to the Methodist Seminary by an Asbury Seminary President. Dr. Gober says, “The evening was charged with a great spirit of celebration because of the high esteem with which Asbury Seminary is revered by the pastors and leaders of the church.” Gober explained further that the Methodist Seminary has been a catalyst in the transformation in the life of the Church in Costa Rica, and Asbury Seminary alumni have been key to the process.
The partnership will facilitate travel courses, professor exchanges, and student exchanges to allow members of both communities to experience cross-cultural expressions of Christian life. The partnership is an especially beneficial tool for the Florida Dunnam Campus, which serves a large Hispanic population. Gober says, “We will jointly seek to discover significant Spanish resources and create translations of existing English materials that would be an asset to both institutions.” Professors from Costa Rica will teach on the Florida Dunnam Campus; additionally, professors from the Florida Dunnam Campus will teach in Costa Rica and participate in language studies through immersion.
Dr. Gober says it’s a mutually beneficial partnership. “For Asbury Seminary, it will help us pursue concrete expressions of Global engagement and strengthen our understanding and connections to better serve the Hispanic population in the USA, as well as participate in the expansion of the Kingdom of God through Latin America.” This is the fourth global partnership for Asbury Seminary in 2011. Previously, Asbury Seminary signed partnerships with Africa International University, West Africa Theological Seminary, and Seoul Theological University. Through these partnerships, Asbury Seminary continues its missional outreach by engaging the Global Church.
