Since its establishment in 2004, the Iona School for Ministry has prepared faithful leaders for God’s Church. What began as a “school without walls” for bi-vocational priests and deacons now forms a wider circle of leaders: lay people who are called to preach, teach, and guide communities into God’s mission. This fall, in collaboration with the Office of Formation in the Diocese of Texas, the West Coast Collaborative, and the Iona Collaborative, the Iona School for Ministry launched a historic initiative: the first Hispanic Lay Preaching Track.
What makes this new track unique is its vision. It is not simply a translation of the English Lay Preaching program, but a course that stands on its own and is fully rooted in the rich traditions of Hispanic and Latino preaching. With instructors such as the Rev. Ed Gómez and the Rev. Canon Simón Bautista, and mentors including the Rev. Pedro López and the Rev. Margarita Arroyo, the program is designed to empower Hispanic lay preachers to discover and strengthen their spiritual voice.
“Preaching is always contextual, whether in English or in Spanish,” said Bishop Héctor Monterroso. “What matters is the community: who they are, what they are experiencing, and how God is calling them in this moment. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see where God is moving. Preaching is about joining God in that movement.”
For lay leaders, finding their voice is about more than language. As the Rev. Margarita Arroyo said, “It is about responding to God’s call, and the call of the Church to proclaim God’s bigger vision. Hispanic lay preachers have a unique opportunity to empower their communities with the gospel.”
When lay preachers step into the pulpit, they bring encouragement in times of loss, wisdom in seasons of uncertainty, and hope rooted in God’s Word. As one student, Elisbelda Gomez, shared, “When I saw the course in Spanish, I felt it was written for me. I cried with joy because now I, too, can be a lay leader.”
Canon Dr. Josh R. Ritter, Canon for Formation, affirmed that vision:
“We didn’t just want to translate a course into Spanish. We wanted to create a Hispanic Lay Preaching Track that honors the Hispanic preaching tradition. This is about celebrating a vibrant theological, liturgical, and cultural tradition that has deep roots in our church.”
The program equips lay leaders to serve in powerful ways: to preach with theological depth, to offer Biblical insight, and to lead the Daily Office when clergy are unavailable. Students receive both practical training from incredibly experienced instructors and mentors, as well as high-quality study from top Hispanic and Latino/a scholars from around the world in Scripture, homiletics, biblical interpretation, and liturgics. As Ritter emphasized:
“We often say we are moving toward a church that is lay-led and clergy-supported. This program is a major step in making that vision a reality. We are creating pathways to equip more lay leaders to preach, and clergy will walk alongside them as partners and supporters. Enhancing the programs at the Iona School, planting these seeds, is about putting our words into action. It’s about trusting in our hope for the future harvest of the Church.”
“This first cohort of nine students is a great beginning.” The Rev. Francene Young, Dean of Administration of the Iona School for Ministry, reflected on the larger purpose: “The goal of Iona has always been to form leaders who can bring God’s Word to all people across the Diocese. This track ensures that Spanish-speaking lay preachers are equipped to serve, preach within their cultural context, and to inspire others in their communities to come forward as we continue to raise up lay leaders in the Church.”
The Rev. Dr. Andrew Benko, Dean of Formation of the Iona School, added:
“We are hopeful that the curriculum we have developed for this program will help to form Spanish-language lay preachers not only here in the Diocese of Texas, but in other places, too. In the spirit of the Iona Collaborative being, well, collaborative, we have already shared our syllabus of readings, videos, and handouts with other Iona partner schools, for them to adapt for their own contexts as appropriate. In turn, we hope their revisions and experiences will help us refine our own curriculum, in the future.”
Faculty and Mentors of the Hispanic Lay Preaching Track
- The Rev. Ed Gómez, Vicar of St. Paul’s/San Pablo’s Episcopal Church in Houston
- The Rev. Canon Simón Bautista Betances, Canon for Latino Ministries at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston
- The Rev. Pedro N. López, Vicar of St. Peter’s/San Pedro’s Episcopal Church in Pasadena
- The Rev. Margarita Arroyo, Rector of Christ Church in Eagle Lake
The Iona School for Ministry remains faithful to its founding vision while expanding into the future: forming leaders, equipping them to preach, to serve, and to guide the Church into new seasons of mission.
