The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla serves as Executive Director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Service and Justice Home Area, which fosters and facilitates the ELCA’s engagement in service, promotes efforts to call and act for justice and supports the freedom of Christians to love and serve their neighbor globally and locally.
Pastor Malpica Padilla has served the ELCA as bishop of the Caribbean Synod (1987–1993) and as member of the Churchwide Organization staff since 1993. He holds a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and several honorary doctorates from theological education institutions in the United States, India and Mexico.
