Alumna Crystal Silva-McCormick to teach evangelism and missions

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is pleased to announce that The Reverend Crystal Silva-McCormick will become visiting instructor of evangelism and missions on July 1. During this two-year appointment—created when Professor João Chaves resigned to take a position at Baylor University—she will be promoted to visiting assistant professor following the successful completion of her doctoral work. A native of El Paso, Texas, and a graduate of Austin Seminary (Class of 2010), Silva-McCormick began her education at Lubbock Christian University. After earning her MDiv at Austin Seminary, she completed a Master of Theology degree (2016) and matriculated into the PhD program at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. With an emphasis on Christian-Muslim relations and world Christianity, her research interests include Christian Zionism, post-colonial studies of global Christianities and world mission, Latine theologies, and the intersection between colonialism, imperialism, and Western missions.

She is a Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) Doctoral Fellow (2021-present) and has been an adjunct instructor at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (2022-present). She also has teaching experience from St. Edward’s University, Texas Lutheran University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Elmhurst College.

An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Since 2014, Silva-McCormick has served as a pastor, chaplain, director of youth ministries, and immigration advocate for congregations and hospitals Texas and Iowa. She serves the UCC denomination as treasurer for the Colectivo de UCC Latinx Ministries (2021-present) and is the moderator for a new church plant in the Rio Grande Valley. Professional affiliations include the Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana (AETH), the American Academy of Religion (AAR), and La Comunidad AAR/SBL.

Esther Menn, academic dean at the Lutheran School of Theology, says, “I am thrilled that Rev. Crystal Silva-McCormick will be joining the faculty at Austin Seminary as a visiting professor of evangelism and missions. She is already an accomplished teacher, and her pastoral experience and commitments to immigrant advocacy work and to ecumenical and inter-religious relations will contribute so much to student learning and to the community.”