René Velarde

Credentials: BS, Indiana Wesleyan University / MA, Fuller Theological Seminary / PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary (Present)

Denomination: Non-Denominational

Specific Field: Missiology

Biography: 

René is from the agricultural town of Salinas, in central California, and comes from a Mexican family that knows well the world of laboring in agricultural fields in pursuit of a better life. His parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico and raised René to know a loving God who calls his people into love. Before entering the world of academia, René spent 15 years in local evangelical churches as a worship pastor. This formation gave René up-close encounters with American church realities and convinced him of the need for ongoing critical investigation, reflection, and dialogue regarding issues of Christianity, and race and ethnicity. His research interests focus on paths towards cultivating an intersectional mestizaje within local church communities.