Partaking of the Presence: The Unifying Theme in a Latino Pentecostal Church

• In Event: 165 - Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Latino/a Religion

Abstract

In conducting an ethnography of a Pentecostal Latino congregation in Southern California, the theme of the "presence of God" emerges as a unifying factor for a diverse group of Latinos experiencing much transition at both the institutional and individual level. The concept of the "presence of God" figures prominently within the formal organizational practices of the congregation and likewise is appropriated by individuals as part of their cultural repertoire. This study focuses on how the belief system within a particular Latino congregation, especially beliefs that affirm supernatural occurrences, influences the social interactions of church members and assists in sustaining the organizational structure of the church. While this ethnography is limited to a specific congregation, the emerging themes may be reflective of broader patterns within the growing experience of Latino evangelicals and Pentecostals in the U.S.

Author

• Jonathan Calvillo, University of California-Irvine