Arisbe Gomez Centeno
Master of Arts (MA)
What is your favorite memory of your time at LSTC?
Time together sharing moments and conversations around cultures, experiences, contexts. I rarely managed to join the student circles to but when I did, they were moments I enjoyed, and learned so much.
What was the most meaningful class you took?
There were several courses and subjects studied that were significant, I could make a list, but I believe I can mention Public Church and Spiritual Formation. Besides the fact that its content was great, I feel that it connected faithfully to develop my emphasis on systematic theology.
How did you feel supported during your seminary journey? Were you the recipient of any major scholarships? What communities or people uplifted you during your studies?
I always felt supported, I never lacked anything. At the beginning, it was sometimes difficult to understand because of the language, but everything got better as time went by. In the church where I attended, I was very useful. The experience helped me to understand a context that was useful in my theological reflections and research. The Chicago Metropolitan Synod and the ELCA through the vitality community’s department supported me with a financial gift that was deposited in my LSTC account.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I am pursuing my desire to study for a PhD, but I must go back to my country first and share my experience in the church so far. My doctoral degree will give me the best opportunity to be an institutional representative in the future and to apply to be a seminarian teacher in my region.
How did LSTC shape you as a future leader of the public church?
I found that the tool of theological intersectionality is a key to future leadership. The public church makes us integral, because it does not focus on socio-political diakonia but is the voice that seeks to make visible what others do not see. Transforms perceptions that reshape lives. Pursue Justice in requires topics.
