“Cold Love and Complicated Grief in Extraordinary Times”

Listen to the podcast on the Religica SoundCloud.

Regarding racism, Dr. Loida Martell shares, “Part of the methodology of the national psyche is that we are always good guys.” 

The Rev. Dr. Loida I. Martell is the 18th vice president of academic affairs/dean of Lexington Theological Seminary, where she also serves as professor of constructive theology. Dr. Martell joined the faculty of Lexington Theology Seminary in August of 2017. Prior to that, she was professor of constructive theology at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University in Pennsylvania. She is a bi-coastal Puerto Rican who has taught in various institutions of higher learning. She pastored in New York City for 15 years and served as president of the Board of American Baptist Churches/ New York City from 1994 to 1996. 

Dr. Martell pioneered the study of evangélica theology. She has published articles on various topics related to evangélica theology, including “My GPS Doesn’t Work in Puerto Rico” (2010). She co-edited “Teologíaen Conjunto: A Collaborative Hispanic Protestant Theology” (1997) and co-authored “Latina Evangélicas: A Theological Survey from the Margins” (2013). She has contributed blogs and podcasts on the Hispanic Theological Initiative’s “Open Plaza”, including “I Am Not Your Virus: COVID-19 and Climate Change” (2021). 

She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, the American Academy of Religion and the Society for Biblical Literature. Dr. Martell served as president of La Comunidad of Hispanic Scholars of Religion from 2016–2019. She represents the ABC/USA on the National Council of Churches Convening Table for Theological Studies and Matters of Faith and Reason and on the NCC Racial Advisory Committee. The American Baptist Home Missions Societies awarded her the 2015 Richard Hoiland Christian Education Award, its highest recognition for “faithful and effective leadership in Christian education,” for her long-standing work in nurturing culturally and racially diverse classrooms and for exceptional leadership. 

Learn more about the Faith and Order Podcast Series done in collaboration with the National Council of Churches USA. 

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