The Sunday Interview: “We Are Not a Monolith”: Latino Evangelicals, Immigration Politics, and the Battle Over Representation

About this episode

The episode discusses the tensions within Latino evangelical communities regarding immigration and representation, featuring insights from sociologist Jonathan Calvillo.

In this episode of the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Leah Payne speaks with Jonathan Calvillo, sociologist of religion at Candler School of Theology at Emory University and author of The Saints of Santa Ana, about growing tensions within Latino evangelical and Pentecostal communities over immigration, political representation, and the public platforming of prominent evangelical leader Samuel Rodriguez. The conversation centers on the recent “We Are Not a Monolith” statement issued by Latino pastors, scholars, and ministry leaders calling for greater nuance and accountability in how Latino Christians are represented in national media. Calvillo explains why many faith leaders believe Rodriguez has come to function less as an advocate for vulnerable immigrant communities and more as a defender of Trump-era immigration policies and conservative political networks. Together, Payne and Calvillo explore how ICE raids and immigration enforcement are reshaping Latino churches across the United States, including the emergence of new theological language around persecution, sanctuary, solidarity, and resistance. They discuss the complex political diversity within…

People in this episode

Host: Leah Payne

Guest: Jonathan Calvillo

Topics covered

• Latino Evangelicals
• Immigration Politics
• Political Representation
• Evangelical Leadership
• Church Dynamics
• Theological Language

Keywords

• Latino Evangelicals
• Immigration
• Political Representation
• Samuel Rodriguez
• ICE Raids
• Evangelical Leadership
• Theological Language

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Candler School of Theology, Emory University, ICE, Trump

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