Chair of the Biblical Studies department, Dr. Carlos Mora, has accepted a call to Montemorelos University, Mexico, where he will serve as Old Testament professor in the Seminary beginning August 1, 2021. He will also be closely working with the publication of the Journal of the Seminary.
Dr. Mora has been a professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages at AIIAS since October 2009. In his role at AIIAS, he has enjoyed being in touch with the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist church, and writing many academic articles and books. He has served as an archaeologist and a member of the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) team, a role in which he was able to organize trips for seminary students to archaeological excavation sites. Dr. Mora has treasured the opportunities at AIIAS to work with other archaeologists on various archaeological excavations: Betsaida, 2010; Khirbet el-Maqatir (biblical Ai); Magdala, 2014; Lachish, 2015 and Shiloh, 2017. He has also traveled with students on a number of biblical tours: Egypt and Israel, 2010; Turkey (Istanbul and Asia Minor), 2013; Israel, 2017; and Egypt, Israel, and Jordan, 2019.
Mora’s service started in Guatemala (1990-1998), then took him to Costa Rica (1999-2000), and Argentina (2000-2002). His passion for the ministry took him to serve in Chile for more than 7 years prior to moving to AIIAS. Dr. Mora will conclude his work at AIIAS effective July 15, 2021, when he and his wife, Raquel, will settle at Montemorelos University.
Mora gives thanks for his experiences during his time at AIIAS. He also expresses gratitude to AIIAS Academy, where his children grew up in an environment that prepared them well to serve. “I have been blessed with the chance to write, to do research, to know new cultures; but the major treasure is the friendship with my students, the pastors. To share with them has been a great inspiration. We are here for our students. They are the reason for AIIAS,” he says.
Faculty typically come to AIIAS with their spouses as a team, each serving in their own roles. Raquel Mora began by working at the Leslie Hardinge Library. Since 2014 she has served as kindergarten teacher at the AIIAS Academy. Lubica Mueller, an AIIAS Academy parent, shares, “Teacher Raquel is the best teacher I can imagine to welcome little children into the exciting world of learning and schooling. Her big smile, loving heart, and great perception of children’s gifts is remarkable. We know that she will be a blessing to children in other parts of the world as she was for us here at AIIAS. Muchas gracias, teacher!”
“On behalf of the AIIAS Theological Seminary, I would like to express a sincere appreciation for Dr. Carlos Mora’s contribution to our academic community,” writes Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, dean of the AIIAS Seminary. “Together with his wife Raquel and children, his absence will be felt on our campus. His commitment to high academic standards, friendship, constant willingness to support initiatives to improve our institutional work, collegiality, and continued interest in our student’s success will be something that will remain with us. Through his leadership and the accompanying team, the Biblical studies department has experienced significant development in the number of students. His interest in Biblical Archaeology and friendship with several renowned specialists inside and outside our denomination have opened the doors for our students to participate in significant archaeological excavations in Israel. His sympathy and smile have made him a permanent guest to represent the AIIAS Seminary in different venues. It has certainly been a privilege to have Dr. Mora as a colleague. I wish him success in his new role, and God’s most abundant blessings. Hasta la vista, Dr. Mora!”
Dr. Eike Mueller, associate dean of the seminary, also shares his appreciation: “Carlos Mora joined the seminary almost twelve years ago and is one of longest-serving members of the seminary. He became a full professor in 2014 and shortly afterwards Department Chair for Biblical Studies. In this capacity he has contributed to the growth of the seminary as a leading institution. He is known and loved by his students for his engaging classes in which he employs equal measures of humor and kindness. Amongst the faculty he is respected for his collegiality, selflessness, and friendliness. As he moves to a new appointment, he will leave a big hole at AIIAS, but we know that he will make a lasting impression on others in his new responsibilities. We thank Carlos Mora for his years of dedicated service and the constant smile with which he has engaged in his work.” Dr. Mueller concludes, “Paraphrasing Carlos’s favorite joke: We are sad to see the favorite Inter-American Old Testament scholar on campus and the best teacher at the seminary by the name of Carlos leave.”
Vaya con Dios, Dr. and Mrs. Mora.
— Sharnie Love Zamora, AIIAS Assistant for Institutional Writing
Dr. Carlos and Mrs. Raquel Mora with their children: Samuel (19), Paola (23), and Juan (25)
