Latina Theologian Dr. Daisy Machado presents a “Vision for Justice” at Berea College Sept. 27 for Accent on Christian Faith Week

On Friday, Sept. 28, at noon, Rev. Machado will lead a Worship Service in Danforth Chapel, which includes a light lunch afterward in the Chapel’s Fireside Room.

The events are part of Berea’s annual “Accent on Christian Faith Week” sponsored by the Campus Christian Center and are free and open to the public.

A former Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Lexington Theological Seminary, Rev. Machado was the baccalaureate speaker at graduation ceremonies at Berea College in 2005.

Dr. Machado’s professional focus is U.S. Christianities, with a particular interest in the concept of “borderlands” – as a specific geographic location but also a social, economic, political and personal location within society.

Born in Cuba, Machado emigrated with her parents at the age of three to New York City where she was raised and educated.  With her ordination in 1981, she was the first Latina ordained to the ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  She has served inner city Latino congregations in Connecticut, Spanish Harlem in Manhattan, and Brooklyn New York and also worked as pastor developer of two congregations in Texas.

In 1996, Rev. Machado graduated with the Ph.D. in the history of Christianity from the University of Chicago, making her the first Latina Protestant in the United States to complete a doctorate in any field in theology.  She also holds degrees from Brooklyn College, the Hunter College School of Social Work and Union Theological Seminary in New York.

She has held positions at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University and taught at Harvard University as the Henry Luce Guest Scholar in Urban Ministry.  Her publications include articles, book chapters and sermons and a book “Of Borders and Margins:  Hispanic Disciples in the Southwest, 1888-1942.”

Rev. Machado’s honors and awards include being named in 2003 by Hispanic Business Magazine one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States.”

For more about Accent on Christian Faith Week activities at Berea, call the Campus Christian Center at (859) 985-3926 or 859-985-3134.