Building an Open Table: HTI Member School Fosters La Mesa Academy
When relationships within HTI's consortium deepen, they spark innovative programs—theological education designed for leaders too often left out of the conversation.
3 min read
When relationships within HTI's member schools deepen, they spark innovative offerings like La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies at Candler School of Theology. Led by Rev. Dr. Joanne Solis‑Walker, Associate Dean and Professor in the Practice of Leadership, La Mesa embodies a new model of theological and religious education aligned with the Lilly Endowment's focus on church vitality.
La Mesa is a new kind of theological education—one built for leaders who may not have formal theological education but bring rich leadership experience from church and/or nonprofit settings. Rooted in five years of listening to individuals in underrepresented communities, the two‑year program blends academic depth with real‑world application, preparing second‑ and third‑career students to lead with clarity, compassion, and cultural awareness.
A Place at the Table
The name La Mesa (The Table) evokes the image of a generous table where all are welcomed, where diverse voices are not just heard but centered. For too long, theological & religious education has demanded full‑time residential study and traditional academic backgrounds. La Mesa offers a different invitation.
"After reading La Mesa's mission statement, 'to invite to the table leaders from diverse ethnic and cultural communities…' I was committed. The rich tradition steeped within the Civil Rights Movement by the school's location in Atlanta, Georgia, the home of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the prestigious Ebenezer Baptist Church, I knew I was definitely called and chosen, invited to the table."
— Drew Thomas‑Benthal, Second Cohort, La Mesa Academy
La Mesa didn't begin with a curriculum—it began with listening. For five years, Candler leaders asked communities: What kind of theological education do you need? What barriers have kept you out? The answers shaped everything.
The HTI Consortium Effect
While La Mesa developed independently, it draws inspiration from HTI's long-standing collaborative ecosystem. Building on these insights, Candler School of Theology prepares second- and third-career individuals for critical engagement that remains responsive to local contexts and realities.
Contextual and Community-Based Learning
La Mesa meets students where they are—combining online learning, intensive weekend residencies, and community‑based practicum. The design recognizes that second‑ and third‑career students bring rich experience and deep community commitments that should not be disrupted. Their congregations become laboratories for reflection. Their neighborhoods become mission sites. Their lived experiences become primary texts alongside Scripture and tradition.
"It is incredibly empowering to be involved with an organization that seeks to push boundaries, open doors, and prepare a table that welcomes everyone."
— Angela Pratt, First Cohort, La Mesa Academy
Leaders Churches Actually Need
La Mesa students are not abstractions. They are the bilingual pastor already serving a small immigrant congregation. The community organizer called to chaplaincy. The retired educator who brings teaching gifts to faith formation. La Mesa equips them with theological depth and ministerial skills without requiring them to abandon the communities they already serve.
A Model for Other Institutions
La Mesa offers a replicable model for transformative learning: start by listening deeply, build from existing partnerships, and design programs that merge theological depth with lived experience. What makes it work is not the hybrid format—it is the posture. Meet learners where they are. Honor the knowledge they bring. Strengthen rather than disrupt their communities. In this way, La Mesa reflects a similar commitment that guides HTI—working en conjunto to cultivate models of education that bring about good and life-giving change for all, fostering transformation in both leaders and the communities they serve.
Support Programs That Prepare a Table for Everyone
Programs like La Mesa Academy emerge when HTI partnerships deepen. Your support makes these partnerships possible—equipping leaders who have been left out, strengthening congregations, and transforming theological & religious education.
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