UUFSMA: Liberation Theology vs. Liberal Theology

Sunday, July 7, 10:30am 

Liberation Theology vs.
Liberal Theology

Rev. Angela Herrera

At this Sunday’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Service, the Rev. Angela Herrera examines the differences between Liberation theology and Liberal theology as practiced by Unitarian Universalists.

Liberation theology is a synthesis of Christian theology and Marxist socio-economic analyses that emphasizes social concern for the poor and the political liberation for oppressed peoples. In the 1950s and the 1960s, liberation theology was the political practice of many Latin American theologians,

Religious liberals like the idea of liberation theology. It’s fearless, systems-oriented, and speaks truth to power. With its focus on ending oppression and transforming our world with justice and equity, liberation theology resonates with our UU social justice values. In a world seemingly obsessed with online click-bait, liberation theology goes deep and challenges the usually tacit, underlying values that have led to our world economy and balance of power.

However, liberal and liberationist theologies are markedly different. Although both Unitarian Universalism and liberation theology share the goal of justice in human relations, and both have roots in the Christian tradition, UU theologian Paul Rasor suggests they are fundamentally incompatible. How can that be? Is he right? Drawing on insights from classical and new liberation theologies, Rev. Herrera delves into Rasor’s critique.

The Rev. Angela Herrera is Senior Minister at First Unitarian Church in Albuquerque, an 850-member congregation where she has served since 2010. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School, and a Bachelors in Religion and Philosophy from Marylhurst University.

She is committed to creating a big-hearted, open-minded faith community that serves people from many backgrounds and walks of life. Before entering parish ministry, she worked as a birth doula, and then as a student chaplain in a men’s maximum security prison and an inner city hospital. Recently, she and her congregation have taken an active role in welcoming the thousands of asylum seekers who’ve crossed the southern US border and protesting US immigration procedures that include incarcerating children.

Angela is the author of Reaching for the Sun, a collection of meditations published by Skinner House books, and was on the editorial team for  Lifting Our Voices: Readings in the Living Tradition. She served as a member of the Faith and Reproductive Justice Leadership Institute at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC from 2014-2016. She currently serves as a Teaching Pastor for Meadville Lombard Theological School.

For more information about the UUFSMA, including our Sunday morning Children’s Religious Education program, Social Action outreach, weekly discussion groups, social activities, and Care Team, join us any Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hotel La Aldea or visit our website at uufsma.org.

Our fellowship was born in 1987 when a small group of expatriate religious liberals came together to meet as Unitarian Universalists in San Miguel de Allende. The fellowship has been active and thriving ever since. Every UU church has it’s own flavor, and we are no exception. We are a combination of expats and visitors, each actively engaged and contributing to this wonderful Mexican community we love. Because there is a coming, going, and returning aspect, our spiritual community is extremely fluid.  There is a magic in San Miguel which draws us in and binds us together—both as members of the church and of the larger community. Our programming is led by visiting ministers, community leaders, and church members, so the variety is lively. We have opportunities to meet as UU’s each week at discussion groups, breakfasts, luncheons, and in various other ways. Depending on the season, attendance fluctuates between 40 and 140. Our primary focus is on funding social action within the surrounding community. We love good music, good discussion, good food, and having visitors. We invite you to join us any Sunday morning.

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