The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla serves as Executive Director for the Service and Justice Home Area (formerly the Global Mission Unit) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, (ELCA).
In this capacity, he oversees the ELCA’s worldwide program, including relationships with Lutheran churches in approximately 90 countries; the relief and development work supported by World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response; relationships with Lutheran Services in America, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, Lutheran World Relief, ELCA Social Ministry Organizations, Independent Lutheran Organizations, and the Deaconess Community; the work of the Ethnic Specific Desk and relationship with the Ethnic Associations; the AMMPARO program; the advocacy work of the church through the ELCA Washington Office, State Public Policy Offices, the Lutheran Office for World Community; and matters related to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Prior to becoming ELCA Global Mission’s Executive Director in 2003, Pastor Malpica Padilla served the Global Mission Unit in several positions and previously served as bishop of the ELCA’s Caribbean Synod.
Pastor Malpica Padilla holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Puerto Rico (1977 Cum Laude) and a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He has been awarded honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees by Newberry College in South Carolina, the Academy of Ecumenical Indian Theology and Church Administration in India, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, The Serampore College (University) in India, and the Comunidad Teológica de Mexico.
