Description: It is only as recently as the late 1960s that Roman Catholic and Protestant scholars such as Elizondo, Gonzales, Isasi-Diaz, Deck, Aquino, Goizueta, Costas, Espin and Villafane began opening theologians' eyes to the Latino/Latina perspective. There has been such an explosion of material, however, since 1968 that a guide or introductio to this emerging theology is needed. In La Cosecha: Harvesting Contemporary United States Hispanic Theology (1968-1998) Eduardo Fernandez offers that introduction.

By dialoguing with other disciplines such as history, anthropology, sociology, and economics, Father Fernandez reveals an emerging theology in touch with the modern world. In chapter one, he begins with a description of the cultural context within which Hispanic theologians are writing. He uses pertinent history, sociology, and economics to provide a suitable background for understanding key theological developments within U.S. Hispanic theology. In chapter two, Father Fernandez provides an overview of U.S. Latina/Latino theology, rendering highlights of what has been written over the last twenty-five years by a group of fourteen authors. He discusses the main themes that emerge from their work along with a brief mention of each one's background and, finally, some general trends in their work.

To provide an overall perspective, Father Fernandez shifts in chapter three to a description of the general trend toward contextualization in the Church today. Drawing from the thought of current missiologists along with that of systematic theologians, he provides an analytical apparatus, presenting current models of theological reflection that might prove suitable for an analysis of Hispanic theology,specifically that of Stephen Bevans' "models of contextual theology".

If the wider Church is to remain authentic to the call of the Gospel, it must take into account the Hispanic perspective. At a time when the words "inculturation", "local theology", and "contexualization" are becoming commonplace in theological discourse, Father Fernandez exhibits the Hispanic Church's vast contribution to the wider, global community of believers.

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