Gabriel J. Catanus, PhD
Filipino American Theologian
Currently, I'm revising a manuscript about Filipino American Christianity that will be published with Cascade Books, as part of a series on Asian American Theology and Ministry edited by Daniel D. Lee of Fuller Theological Seminary and David Chao of Princeton Theological Seminary.
In addition to directing the Filipino American Ministry Initiative (FAMI), I've also recently published an article about Filipino American theology for the International Bulletin of Mission Research (IBMR), and I will soon be contributing a chapter to the volume, Global Readings of the New Testament (Baker Academic).
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In October 2023, I joined a group of Filipino North American scholars at the Evangelical Missiological Society in Dallas, TX. And in December 2023, I served as the plenary speaker for the Kapwa Leadership Institute (KALI) in Chicago, IL.
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In June of 2023, some friends and I got to present a paper panel at the Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) conference, on the University of California at Berkeley campus. Our panel was titled "Beyond Colonial Mentality: Reclaiming Pilipinx/a/o American Radicality." The session was well-attended and the conversation was lively! See the large group picture, with dozens of well-known Asian American scholars included.
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Also in June of 2023, Christianity Today interviewed me and a few other Filipino Christian leaders for an article titled, "Colonialism Brought Evangelicalism to the Philippines. Churches are Now Untangling the Two."
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Twice in 2023, I had the privilege of speaking for Princeton Theological Seminary's Center for Asian American Christianity. Here's a link to my presentation for their Asian American Mental Health Conference in January, and here's a link to my presentation for their annual Asian American Theology Conference in April.
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From 2020-2023, I was part of a wonderful team of theologians investigating the effects of COVID-19 on Filipino American communities. In June of 2023, we met with several more scholars and presented some of our findings at the Pacific School of Religion, including many of the challenges we faced doing this research during the pandemic. See the picture of our intimate gathering below!
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Beyond integrating Filipino American stories and ideas into my ministry and academic work, I've had the pleasure of presenting papers on Filipino American theology at the 2018, 2021, and 2022 American Academy of Religion (AAR) annual meetings.
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During 2022, I became the Director of the Filipino American Ministry Initiative (FAMI) and Affiliate Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary. As part of Fuller's Asian American Center, FAMI offers community, mentoring, and resources to Filipino Americans at and beyond Fuller Seminary. Through events like our annual Filipino American History Month celebration, formation groups, and other programming, FAMI integrates theology and psychology with cultural identity, spirituality, and leadership. I co-hosted a special, Filipino American-focused season of Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive! For more information, contact [email protected].
----------
In October 2021, I was invited to preach to the whole Fuller Seminary community during their Filipino American History Month (FAHM) chapel service. You can watch/listen to my short sermon HERE. Later that month, I celebrated FAHM with some friends at Wheaton College, presenting a small portion of my research on Filipino American Christianity.
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Since launching this site several years ago, I've been overwhelmed by the responses to my initial blog posts-- "The Gospel According to Manny Pacquiao" and "Finding Our Place," among others. Since then, some of my work in Filipino American Theology has been published in The Other Journal, Emerging US, and Inheritance Magazine. I've been honored to speak and write as a Filipino American pastor and theologian in many churches, and at various denominational and ministry leadership conferences.
My 2020 dissertation in theological ethics was an attempt to honor Filipino Christians and churches around the world about whom even many scholars know so little. I write for the countless saints and their families who labor with love and faithfulness, but without degrees or publications or means. For the next generation of leaders who struggle to see people like themselves in pulpits, classrooms, and theology books: we’re in this work together!
Different expressions of my work have been presented at the Kapwa Leadership Institute (UC Berkeley), Southeast Asian Leadership Summit (Twin Cities), the Midwest Filipino American Summit (Marquette Univ.), Filipino Americans Coming Together (UIUC), the AHANA Diaspora Theology & Ministry Consultation (Hiebert Center/TEDS), and the Filipino American Ministry Summit (FAMS). More important than any of these venues, however, is what I receive from those who've gone before me and share within committed community. The wisdom of elders and ancestors could never be reduced to a CV, resume, or profile.
Salamat gid! to all who love and serve others in diaspora. We stand on your shoulders and are carried by your prayers.
----------
In addition to directing the Filipino American Ministry Initiative (FAMI), I've also recently published an article about Filipino American theology for the International Bulletin of Mission Research (IBMR), and I will soon be contributing a chapter to the volume, Global Readings of the New Testament (Baker Academic).
-----------
In October 2023, I joined a group of Filipino North American scholars at the Evangelical Missiological Society in Dallas, TX. And in December 2023, I served as the plenary speaker for the Kapwa Leadership Institute (KALI) in Chicago, IL.
----------
In June of 2023, some friends and I got to present a paper panel at the Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) conference, on the University of California at Berkeley campus. Our panel was titled "Beyond Colonial Mentality: Reclaiming Pilipinx/a/o American Radicality." The session was well-attended and the conversation was lively! See the large group picture, with dozens of well-known Asian American scholars included.
----------
Also in June of 2023, Christianity Today interviewed me and a few other Filipino Christian leaders for an article titled, "Colonialism Brought Evangelicalism to the Philippines. Churches are Now Untangling the Two."
----------
Twice in 2023, I had the privilege of speaking for Princeton Theological Seminary's Center for Asian American Christianity. Here's a link to my presentation for their Asian American Mental Health Conference in January, and here's a link to my presentation for their annual Asian American Theology Conference in April.
----------
From 2020-2023, I was part of a wonderful team of theologians investigating the effects of COVID-19 on Filipino American communities. In June of 2023, we met with several more scholars and presented some of our findings at the Pacific School of Religion, including many of the challenges we faced doing this research during the pandemic. See the picture of our intimate gathering below!
----------
Beyond integrating Filipino American stories and ideas into my ministry and academic work, I've had the pleasure of presenting papers on Filipino American theology at the 2018, 2021, and 2022 American Academy of Religion (AAR) annual meetings.
----------
During 2022, I became the Director of the Filipino American Ministry Initiative (FAMI) and Affiliate Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary. As part of Fuller's Asian American Center, FAMI offers community, mentoring, and resources to Filipino Americans at and beyond Fuller Seminary. Through events like our annual Filipino American History Month celebration, formation groups, and other programming, FAMI integrates theology and psychology with cultural identity, spirituality, and leadership. I co-hosted a special, Filipino American-focused season of Centering: The Asian American Christian Podcast, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive! For more information, contact [email protected].
----------
In October 2021, I was invited to preach to the whole Fuller Seminary community during their Filipino American History Month (FAHM) chapel service. You can watch/listen to my short sermon HERE. Later that month, I celebrated FAHM with some friends at Wheaton College, presenting a small portion of my research on Filipino American Christianity.
----------
Since launching this site several years ago, I've been overwhelmed by the responses to my initial blog posts-- "The Gospel According to Manny Pacquiao" and "Finding Our Place," among others. Since then, some of my work in Filipino American Theology has been published in The Other Journal, Emerging US, and Inheritance Magazine. I've been honored to speak and write as a Filipino American pastor and theologian in many churches, and at various denominational and ministry leadership conferences.
My 2020 dissertation in theological ethics was an attempt to honor Filipino Christians and churches around the world about whom even many scholars know so little. I write for the countless saints and their families who labor with love and faithfulness, but without degrees or publications or means. For the next generation of leaders who struggle to see people like themselves in pulpits, classrooms, and theology books: we’re in this work together!
Different expressions of my work have been presented at the Kapwa Leadership Institute (UC Berkeley), Southeast Asian Leadership Summit (Twin Cities), the Midwest Filipino American Summit (Marquette Univ.), Filipino Americans Coming Together (UIUC), the AHANA Diaspora Theology & Ministry Consultation (Hiebert Center/TEDS), and the Filipino American Ministry Summit (FAMS). More important than any of these venues, however, is what I receive from those who've gone before me and share within committed community. The wisdom of elders and ancestors could never be reduced to a CV, resume, or profile.
Salamat gid! to all who love and serve others in diaspora. We stand on your shoulders and are carried by your prayers.
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