Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives (DLd)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

MaryKate Morse, PhD

Second Advisor

Susan Rose, DMin

Third Advisor

Jason Clark, DMin

Abstract

Latinas are vital to the future of the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey (ABCNJ), but the church has failed to properly nurture and develop their pastoral leadership gifts. They contribute significantly to congregational life, pastoral care, community outreach, and theological imagination. However, their presence in formal pastoral leadership roles remains limited. This dissertation examines the structural, cultural, and theological factors that influence Latina pastoral development. The solution for developing Latina women into pastoral leadership positions in the ABCNJ is the introduction of a contextual, culturally rooted model called Sancocho Leadership. Drawing on practical theology, Latina feminist theology, and leadership studies, the project uses the metaphor of sancocho—a Puerto Rican (Caribbean) stew in which each ingredient retains its identity while enriching the whole. The Sancocho Leadership Model affirms identity, fosters collaboration, cultivates mentoring relationships, strengthens community, and inspires a vocational calling.

Section 1 describes the context and problem, and addresses the research question: How to nurture and develop the leadership and vocation of Latinas in ABCNJ?

Section 2 reviews existing Latina-focused leadership initiatives within community organizations, theological networks, and national ministries. While these programs offer valuable insights, their structures do not fully align with ABCNJ’s ecclesial culture, governance, or leadership pathways.

Section 3 examines the theological and conceptual foundations of the study, demonstrating through practical theology and Latina feminist scholarship that Latina pastoral formation must be liberative, relational, and embodied. It also introduces the Sancocho Leadership model. Section 4 presents the artifact, Sancocho Leadership, a sixlesson manual that combines biblical stories, culinary metaphors, and culturally rooted spiritual practices. Sections 5 and 6 outline the artifact’s specifications and implications for ABCNJ. The dissertation concludes that models such as Sancocho Leadership, grounded in local contexts, are essential for developing Latina pastors who lead with confidence, resilience, and a Spirit-empowered vocation

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