Connecting around the table in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

What would it look like to connect a group of Christian educators to learn about faith formation in an event that encompasses two regions that live, work and worship in different languages?

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That was just one of the questions the gathering planning team of the SOAP network of Christian educators in the South Atlantic and Puerto Rico (Boriquén) Synods — part of the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) — had to answer when planning its next gathering. The network hosts a regional event every two years. Planning began at the 2025 APCE Annual Event, when the region intentionally engaged in conversation and then sought to bring Christian educators from the island and the continental United States together for a weekend of learning, relationship-building, and creating an event experience that honored two languages and two geographical regions.

Planning for the event was led under SOAP Vice-President the late Rev. Jimmy Griffin and others, including the Rev. Kara Wheeler of South Carolina, who, as vice president, served as team leader, along with Cheryl Carson, Jimmy Steele, Stephanie Fritz and me.

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La Tercera Iglesia Presbiteriana in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and its pastor, the Rev. Osvaldo Montalvo Nazario, embodied hospitality as the host church that welcomed church leaders from the island and the continental United States — some of whom were visiting Puerto Rico for the first time. Since this was the first time the gathering was held on the island, the planning team invited Dr. Emilio Pantojas García, senior researcher at the Institute of Caribbean Studies, to offer important historical and contextual insights into Puerto Rico and its place in the global context. 

Through bilingual worship, plenary sessions, the spirituality center, conversations at meal tables, and breakout sessions, the event revolved around the theme “Connecting Around the Table.” I was honored to preach at the opening worship, focusing on Mary and Elizabeth’s story in the Gospel of Luke — how Elizabeth welcomed Mary to her table and what I imagine were life-giving conversations that would ultimately shape both the prophet and the Messiah.

Led by the Rev. Neema Cyrus‑Franklin of the Around the Table Initiative, plenary sessions invited participants to consider the guiding question: “What faith [legacy] are we passing on to children and youth in younger generations?” Deuteronomy 6:4–9 served as the foundational Scripture for these conversations. Participants were invited to reflect on and wrestle with faith formation questions, focusing on internal transformation, relationships, and love — and on how we, beginning with our own families and young people, can integrate these practices into our daily lives. Together, we explored what passing on this faith legacy might look like today and were introduced to the Faith Formation Framework emphasized by the initiative.

Around the Table coaches the Rev. Madeline Álvarez and Elder Sonia Milán of the Synod of Boriquén also shared insights during the gathering, and a video highlighted testimonies from Puerto Rican church leaders who are part of the initiative’s cohorts. Breakout sessions included “Special Offerings,” led by Stewardship & Funds Development; “Decolonizing Volunteerism,” with Michelle Muñiz of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance; and “A Conversation with the Co‑Moderator,” featuring the Rev. CeCe Armstrong. All of this contributed to a rich and balanced experience of meaningful conversations and learning while enjoying the beauty of Aguadilla.

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The event would not have been complete without the powerful sending message offered by Armstrong, the Co‑Moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024), during the closing worship, reminding us all that we are “Never Alone.” All of this was framed by the musical gifts of La Tercera’s worship ministry. We concluded our time together by honoring the 12 “Four for Four” Special Offering churches in Puerto Rico during a luncheon sponsored by the Office of Stewardship & Funds Development. The Rev. José Manuel Capella‑Pratts and I, Global Ecumenical Liaisons, were invited to share about our work nurturing relationships and connecting siblings, globally and locally.

Truly a work of the Holy Spirit, all these entities and offices came together to partner with SOAP — to sponsor portions of the event, lead workshops and host tables. One of the key elements that brought the theme “Connecting Around the Table” to life was the ability of participants to engage in their own vernacular. This was made possible by conference interpreters Carmen Kortright and Cynthia Del Morral, sponsored by the Administrative Services Group's Global Language Resources, who served with grace and skill on Friday and Saturday.

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We lived into the blessing of “connecting around the table” — faith siblings from different backgrounds and cultures gathering to worship, learn about faith formation, share in koinonia, deepen cultural understanding and relationships, and proclaim God’s love and hope for the present and future of the church.

During a plenary session, Cyrus‑Franklin posed the question: “If a young person followed you for a week, where would they see your faith being lived?” Reflecting on this gathering — and engaging in personal examination — I am reminded that faith is lived, not only taught. If a person, young or not so young, were to follow the SOAP planning team, the siblings at La Tercera cooking and preparing to receive us; our colleagues at SFD planning our final luncheon to celebrate the churches in Puerto Rico; the conversations with the Young Adult Volunteer Program, the Office of Financial Aid for Service, Global Language Resources, national APCE, Christian Formation and Around the Table, Global Ecumenical Partnerships, and the leadership of the Sínodo Presbiteriano Boriquén — all collaborating together — they would indeed see faith being lived at this SOAP gathering in Aguadilla.

¡A Dios sea la gloria!