The Rev. Dr. Francisco Javier Goitía Padilla

Caribbean Lutherans

History & Biography

“This is the first comprehensive history of the Caribbean Synod as part of the history of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its predecessors. In his narrative--which includes important contextual and historical connections, inspiring stories, and detailed statistics--Dr. Rodríguez turns our invisibility in our Lutheran history books and denominational life into a text that documents important dimensions of the Lutheran traditional missionary ethos and its relationship with communities at the margins. Many of the dilemmas and issues presented by Rodríguez are vivitos y coleando (alive and kicking) in our days. As we launch efforts to renew and reform our denomination, this book is a must-read to help us be a church of the cross.”