University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2019 "En el Poder del Espíritu": A Qualitative Research Study on Social Ethics/Theology Among U.S. Latina/o Pentecostals Néstor A. Gómez Morales University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons Recommended Citation Gómez Morales, Néstor A., ""En el Poder del Espíritu": A Qualitative Research Study on Social Ethics/ Theology Among U.S. Latina/o Pentecostals" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1581. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1581 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. "En el Poder del Espíritu:” A Qualitative Research Study on Social Ethics/Theology among U.S. Latina/o Pentecostals __________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by Néstor A. Gómez Morales June 2019 Advisor: Miguel De La Torre ©Copyright by Néstor A. Gómez Morales 2019 All Rights Reserved Author: Néstor A. Gómez Morales Title: "En el Poder del Espíritu:” A Qualitative Research Study on Social Ethics/Theology among U.S. Latina/o Pentecostals Advisor: Miguel De La Torre Degree Date: June 2019 ABSTRACT Are most US Latina/o pentecostals concerned about sharing the gospel without having any interest in the reality of oppression, discrimination, and marginalization? Are they just dancing and singing in their temples, having ecstasies and emotional experiences while ignoring the poor and their social struggle? Many scholars see US Latina/o pentecostalism as a tradition with an anemic social ethic, one that lacks any significant interest in the needs of the poorest in society. However, new research on progressive pentecostals shows a different panorama. The theological perspectives and social ethics of a vast sector of US Latina/o churches have changed considerably since its origins as a religious movement. New generations of pentecostals are ably addressing the needs of the poorest and marginalized in the context of the United States. Hence, this research project challenges the idea that Latina/o pentecostals are socially apathetic through a qualitative research study carried out in Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer, a Hispanic pentecostal church in Los Fresnos, TX, just outside Brownsville and South Padre Island. This church has a social ministry called The Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries that primarily serves refugees seeking safety from persecution in their home countries. Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a mainline Protestant denomination. ii The research questions explore the pentecostal mission, theology, and ethics that motivate Latina/os to social ministry. The hypothesis of this proposal is that the pneumapraxis observed in the daily life of the US Latina/o pentecostals is fundamental for understanding their social concern with the oppressed and marginalized. The pneumapraxis is analyzed not only as a practice of the Espíritu, but as lived experiences of the articulation of practices, convictions, beliefs, and affections of the Latina/o pentecostal ethos and spirituality in an integrative model. The study concludes that US Latina/o pentecostals speak less about mission, theology, and ethics as motivating them to serve the poor. Rather, Latina/o pentecostals experience the mission of Jesus when they preach the gospel and help the poor; they do not have an articulated theology but live it every day; and they do not conceptualize their moral values but embody the fruit of the Espíritu as moral virtues and as a testimony of an authentic Christian moral life. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A doctoral dissertation is a not only an individual work, but a communal one. The completion of my doctoral dissertation has been the result of the support and encouragement of many people. There is no space to mention all those who influenced my work, but I will mention a few in particular. I am grateful to my committee who invested time and provided me with the support needed to complete this work: Miguel De La Torre, Debora Ortega, and Jennifer S. Leath. Miguel De La Torre, my advisor, walked with me throughout this journey of experience and knowledge. Debora Ortega provided me a grant through the University of Denver Latino Center for Community Engagement and Scholarship, to do my research in Los Fresnos, TX. Jennifer S. Leath made great comments and suggestions to improve my dissertation proposal. Thanks also to the late professor Luis León, who assessed my dissertation methodology and recommended that I write one extra chapter about the history of Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer. My gratitude also to Edwin D. Aponte and the great staff at the Louisville Institute, which provided me with a dissertation fellowship to complete my work. Joanne Rodríguez, Executive Director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative, introduced me to Ulrike Guthrie, who was so patient and professional and who edited all my writing. Thank you so much, Uli. Thanks also to some good friends who assisted me with their support. In particular to: Aaron Conley, a great friend who helped me edit part of my work, and with whom I have enjoyed thousands of coffees and beers discussing many issues about my theology and ethics; and R. J. Hernández, who opened many spaces of time and place to discuss many ethical perspectives that came alive in these pages. Iliff was a space of refugee. Staff, students, and faculty—what great people they are! Finally, iv I have no words to express my enormous gratitude to the people at Iglesia Cristana Ebenezer. They were so friendly and kind when I was in the field. They made me feel at home. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One: Introduction ………………………………………………………. 1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………… 3 Defining the Topic ………………………………………………………. 4 General Literature Review ………………………………………………. 9 Thesis and Scope ………………………………………………………… 20 Conceptual Framework ………………………………………….. 21 Main Theorists …………………………………………………… 26 Research Methodology …………………………………………………… 32 Significance and Contribution to the Field ………………………………. 35 Positionality Toward the Research ………………………………………. 36 Outline of Chapters ………………………………………………………. 37 Chapter Two: Methodology ………………………………………………………. 40 Introduction ………………………………………………………………. 41 Rationale for Qualitative Research ……………………………………….. 43 Studying Lived Religion as a Phenomenological Approach ..……………. 45 Research Participants ……………………………………………………… 53 Overview of Research Design ……………………………………………. 54 Literature Review ………………………………………………………… 55 Data Collection …………………………………………………………… 55 Phase I: Exploring and Contacting ……………………………….. 56 Phase II: Recruiting ………………………………………………. 57 Phase III: Interviewing ……………………………………………. 58 Phase IV: Reviewing ……………………………………………… 62 Data Analysis and Synthesis ……………………………………………… 62 Phase I: Reading ………………………………………………….. 62 Phase II: Initial Coding …………………………………………… 63 Phase III: Theming the Data ……………………………………… 65 Ethical Considerations ……………………………………………………. 67 Credibility ………………………………………………………… 68 Dependability and Confirmability ……………………………….. 70 Transferability ……………………………………………………. 71 Risks ……………………………………………………………… 72 Benefits to Subjects / Future Benefits ……………………………. 73 Positionality of the Researcher …………………………………… 73 Summary …………………………………………………………………. 75 Chapter Three: History of Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer …………………………… 76 Introduction ………………………………………………………………. 76 The Christian Church Disciples of Christ: A Brief Sketch ………………. 77 A Historical Encounter …………………………………………………… 96 A Theological Encounter …………………………………………………. 106 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………… 112 vi Chapter Four: Pentecostal Misión Integral ……………………………………….. 114 Introduction ………………………………………………………………. 114 Misión Integral is Associated with Past Experiences …………………….. 118 Misión Integral Means Change …………………………………………… 130 Misión Integral Supplies the Needs of the Poor ………………………….. 141 Misión Integral as Making Disciples …………………………………….. 149 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………... 155 Chapter Five: Pentecostés as Narrative Theology ………………………………... 157 Introduction ………………………………………………………………. 157 Pentecostés Theology of Imago Dei ……………………………………… 162 Pentecostés Theology of Love ……………………………………………. 172 Pentecostés Theology of Spiritual Gifts ………………………………….. 181 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………... 197 Chapter Six: Pentecostal Social Ethics …………………………………………… 198 Introduction ……………………………………………………………….. 198 Pentecostal Ethics as Virtues of the Espíritu ……………………………… 201 Pentecostal Ethics of Acompañamiento ………………………………….. 219 Pentecostal Ethics for a Dignification of Life ……………………………. 231 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………... 239 Chapter Seven: Conclusions ……………………………………………………… 240 Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………… 254 Appendices ………………………………………………………………………… 274 Appendix A ……………………………………………………………….. 274 Appendix B ……………………………………………………………….. 275 Appendix C ……………………………………………………………….. 276 Appendix D ……………………………………………………………….. 277 Appendix E ……………………………………………………………….. 278 Appendix F ……………………………………………………………….. 279 Appendix G ……………………………………………………………….