The Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School, in collaboration with its partner the Americas Initiative for Transformation and Reconciliation (AITR), will hold its Second Institute of the Americas for Transformation and Reconciliation on the theme, "Transformation and Reconciliation for Peaceful and Just Coexistence in the Americas” from October 2021 through May 2022.

The Institute of the Americas offers an opportunity for interdisciplinary theological and contextual formation around reconciliation and transformation in the western hemisphere. Through the CFR’s methodology of the Word Made Flesh, and incorporating a gender perspective, participants share in an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual pilgrimage that brings the Theology of Reconciliation into dialogue with various approaches to knowledge and practice in the fields of social transformation and the cultivation of just peace in local contexts.

The institute will consist of four modules (three sessions in each module) conducted through Zoom. All institute sessions will be conducted in Spanish, with simultaneous English and Portuguese translation available.  A separate free registration is required for each session of the institute.

Attendance at all institute sessions also fulfills one component of a non-degree certificate program offered by AITR and Duke Divinity School. A separate registration is required for this non-degree certificate program.

Dates and topics for the Americas Institute for Transformation and Reconciliation are:

  • Introductory Session
    • October 28, 2021, 7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, Welcome and Institute Overview   
  • Module 1: On New Creation  
    • November 4, 2021, 7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, Session I: Biblical and theological perspectives on building peace and justice 
      • Key presenter: Dr. Nina Balmaceda (Peru/US) 
    • November 18, 2021, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EST, Session 2: Biblical and theological perspectives on human coexistence
      • Key presenters: Dr. Leonardo Boff (Brazil) and Yohan Álvarez (Colombia)
    • December 2, 2021, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EST, Session 3: Biblical and theological perspectives on caring for creation
      • Key presenter: Dr. Timoteo Carriker (Brazil) 
  • Module 2: On Lament 
    • January 27, 2022, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EST, Session 1: Importance of lament in the Americas
      • Key presenters: David Nacho (Bolivia/Canada) and Laura Leon (Colombia)  
    • February 10, 2022, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EST, Session 2: Panel on lament featuring indigenous and Afro-descendant Christian leaders
      • Panelists: Ras André Guimaraes (Brazil) and Benita Simon (Guatemala)
      • Facilitator: Yohan Alvarez (Colombia)
    • February 24, 2022, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EST Session 3:  Lament for the Amazon Jungle
      • Key presenter: Juliana Morillo and Justino Piaguage (Siekopai Nation, Ecuador)
      • Facilitator: Bishop Juan de Dios Peña Gallegos (El Salvador)
  • Module 3: On Hope and Liberation  
    • March 10, 2022, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EST, Session 1: Signs of hope and liberation in the Americas: The work of the Holy Spirit in contexts of pain and suffering
      • Key presenter: Dr. Daniel Castelo (USA) and Yudi Llocclla Cruz (Peru)
      • Facilitator: Luis Vasquez (Argentina)
    • March 24, 2022, 7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, Session 2: Panel on indigenous and Afro-descendant theologies of hope and liberation in the Americas
      • Panelists: Dr. Maricel Mena (Colombia) and Jocabed Solano (Panama)
      • Faciltator: TBD
    • April 7, 2022, 7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, Session 3: Roundtable on creation’s lament
      • Panelists: TBD
  • Module 4: On Vocation  
    • May 5, 2022, 7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, Session 1: Becoming agents for peaceful coexistence in contexts of polarization and conflict
      • Key presenter: Dr. Rolando Peréz (Peru) 
    • May 19, 2022, 7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, Session 2: Cultivating a Christian environmental stewardship in everyday life 
      • Key presenter: Dr. Ryan Juskus (USA) and Simone Vieira (Brazil)
    • June 2, 2022, 7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT, Session 3: Cultivating a Christian spirituality for justice and peace
      • Key presenter: Dr. César Lopes (Brazil)  and José Vinces (Ecuador)