The death at age 88 of Argentinean Methodist theologian José Míguez Bonino on June 30, has left Latin American theology with a feeling of deep loss, especially in Evangelical and ecumenical theology, and in the process of reflection on the preferential love of God for the poor.
In a public statement, the Evangelical Church of Río de la Plata remembers the Methodist pastor and theologian, author of numerous articles and books among which stands out “Faces of Latin American Protestantism,” Professor Emeritus of the Superior Evangelical Institute of Theological Studies (ISEDET), and who leaves a significant contribution to the tradition of the Evangelical churches of the continent.
Bonino had the gift for offering a broad reading of Latin-American reality, replacing discriminations of whatever nature with frank dialogue – at times harsh, as with Moltmann – yet always presenting propositions from the starting point of principles, and posing a multitude of questions. His legacy is the mark of the serious theologian who integrated seemingly contradictory conceptual elements, but overcoming them through the discipline of rigorous and restless study, in which he never avoided facing major issues.
He defended theology as a legitimate and audacious discourse, with questions and answers in due time for the churches and for all who postulated clear dialogues, on the basis of answers found and those still to be pursued. Learnt from Bonino is that “all theology that deserves that name has reality as its starting point and returns to it.” The ecumenical community is left orphaned of that thinker and dean of the Latin American Evangelical theologians.
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