As they posed for the photo, the eight young women enrolled in the inaugural class of the Costa Rican Bible

Institute in 1922 had no idea it would be displayed, almost 100 years later, on the walls of the Latin American Biblical University. Susan and Harry Strachan, founders of the Institute, were head of their time when they included women in their Bible Institute and brought students to Costa Rica from all of Latin America to prepare for ministry. The importance they placed on women’s education was evidenced in 1926 when the first graduating class from the Bible Institute consisted of only women.

Fifteen years later the Bible Institute became the Latin American Biblical Seminary, SBL. It was to this seminary that Irene Foulkes came with her husband Richard in 1956. Irene’s extended tenure at the Seminary was marked by important contributions to Biblical studies, and in particular, by her interest in Biblical interpretation from the perspective of women. Her commitment to equality and justice for women led first to a study program focusing on ministry to women, and later to the introduction of gender equality as a critical issue incorporated into all of the programs offered by the Seminary (later University). Hundreds of students have benefitted from Irene’s passion for the Bible, her rigorous academic work and her active participation in issues of gender justice.

The One Million Women Campaign inaugurated in 1995 raised awareness of the importance of women’s participation in the history of churches, communities and nations. In 1997 the seminary became a state recognized private university. Gender equality and justice were highlighted as priorities in the curriculum of both Biblical and theological studies. Today UBL is unique as one of the only accredited, ecumenical universities in the region with a focus on social

justice, gender and transformation. Currently the university is developing an online master’s degree in religion, gender and diversity. In contexts where violence against women and LGBT rights have increasingly become critical issue in the region, UBL continues to prioritize gender in its degree and non-degree theological and biblical programs.

Irene Foulkes passed away at 84 years of age on Friday, April 15, 2016, at her home in Heredia, Costa Rica surrounded by family and dear friends. UBL, and the many men and women touched by her ministry, celebrates her life, work, and legacy.

UBLnewsletter2016 - No. 2

Edited byLuisa M. Salguero A.

San Pedro, Cedros de Montes de Oca,del Perimercados 350 metros al Este.

2283-88482283-4498 dap@ubl.ac.cr UBL Development Department

Women in Theological Education

In Memoriam: Irene Foulkes

Irene Foulkes 1932-2016

First group of students at the Costa Rican Bible Institute and the first teacher, Susana Strachan. Monday, October 2nd, 1922.

... Hundreds of students have

benefitted from Irene’s passion

for the Bible, her rigorous academic

work and her active participation in issues

of gender justice.

www.ubl.ac.cr

Sonia Isabel González Medrano

Sonia comes to study at the UBL from her life in northeastern Guatemala as a retired primary teacher in a

public school and now as a director of a private school there. She is a widow, mother of 3 children and grandmother to 5 grandchildren.

Since 1976 Sonia has been very actively involved in the areas of Christian education and women’s groups in the Presbyterian Church of Guatemala. In 2004 she became the first female elder in her congregation. She struggled alongside other women for many years, and for five years as National Moderator for Women in her church; finally the national Presbyterian Church voted affirmatively to having women as pastors and elders.

Sonia began studying the Bible seriously at the Center for Pastoral Studies for Central America in the capital city of Guatemala because she wanted to be a better teacher for adult Bible classes in her local congregation. Those studies have led her to the UBL as she now seeks to fulfill her calling to become a pastor. She will finish her course work in 2015 for a Bachelors Degree in Theology at the UBL, and will write her thesis upon her return to Guatemala. She is an “aspiring pastor” of a small congregation serving 2 days a week in her home country; her dream is to become an ordained Presbyterian pastor someday soon.

Moving ahead, moving online

• Suyapa is a leader in the Lutheran church in Honduras where she works with women throughout the country.

• Marianela is a Catholic nun from Curacao serving in the Dominican Republic.

• Ana María is a chaplain serving at a Methodist school in Chile. • Adrián is a pastor in the Evangelical Church of Perú. • Dayanara teaches at a theological institution in Bolivia. • Carlos is the pastor of a small Methodist Church in Honduras. • Ernesto is the pastor of a Pentecostal church in Perú. • Obed is a Presbyterian minister and university professor in Venezuela.

THESE WOMEN AND MEN are just some of the many students of the Latin American Biblical University in Costa Rica involved in ministries in local churches and community service in their countries. Their commitment to ministry, as well as job and family responsibilities often make it impossible for them to leave home for theological studies in Costa Rica.

UBL has been preparing church and community leaders for service in Latin America and the Caribbean for over 90 years. Now, UBL is taking a new step in its ongoing commitment to make theological education accessible by offering our programs online.

UBL teachers being trained for online education tools.

To do this, UBL urgently needs to upgrade computer equipment and software. Our goal is to raise $15,000 by October 1, 2016 to replace outdated computers and purchase software licenses. You can help us meet this goal and enable UBL to launch its online programs in January 2017.

• Your gift of $700 will purchase one new computer. • Your gift of $200 will purchase one software license.

Will you, your church, your adult Sunday school class, your women’s fellowship walk with UBL in this new adventure?

For donations see the Contribution options on the next page.

Web page: www.ubl.ac.cr

Or: Through your local Presbyterian ChurchE344202 Scholarships

Click Here to Donatewww.presbyterianmission.org/

donate/E344202/

United Methodist ChurchAdvance 10247B “Scholarships”

& Advance 09139A “General Programs”

Click Here to Donatewww.bit.ly/cC6VW8

Layout: Damaris ÁlvarezUBL Development Department

Soon a new BI-LENGUAL UBL website will be launched.

Teams

RECENTLY UBL has been blessed by the participation of two volunteer mission teams who have come to our campus:    1. The Chapel Hill N.C. Presbyterian Church, a group of university students from Univ. of North Carolina, who served as a work-study team. 2.  The Lewisville U. Methodist Church, a group of 7 adults who served as a mission work team here. Some from the Lewisville UMC have come to the UBL before, in 2012 and 2014.  It warms our hearts to renew these friendships, believing the truth of the song “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.”  In only 4 days of diligent physical labors, this small group were able to paint 17 dorm rooms on the second floor of our residence, some of which are now MUCH appreciated by our resident students. They also cleaned our campus of many dried bamboo leaves and washed all of our cement garden tables and benches. 

They loved their visits to some of Costa Rica’s natural and cultural beauty, their worship with a Methodist Church in downtown San Jose,and their times spent personally with 4 of our students and one professor. While here the NC University students studied  their chosen theme of women’s health  under the tutelage of Prof. Karla Koll.  Their 3 days spent learning and visiting in southern CR among the indigenous communities of the Bri bri, thanks to our relationship with Olga Parrado, Director of the Women’s Network, were especially meaningful and furthered their learning.  Our visit to a small Presbyterian church for worship, participation, lunch together with the congregation, and a walking tour of that community was a highlight.  Their physical labor contributions to the UBL included cleaning

and painting new sets of outdoor steps into our main building.  It was a real pleasure to have these young adults staying with us here in our UBL dorm!!

While here the NC University students

studied  their chosen theme of women’s health  under the

tutelage of Prof. Karla Koll.  Their 3 days spent learning and

visiting in southern CR among the indigenous

communities of the Bri bri ...

Images:The Chapel Hill N.C. Presbyterian Church Lewisville U. Methodist Church

www.ubl.ac.cr

Checks: Asociación Seminario

Bíblico Latinoamericano

Address: SJO 2174, P.O. Box 025331,

Miami, FL 33102