Contents

• Hispanic Leaders Convene in Dallas for II National Hispanic Consultation
• Justice for Our Neighbors: a GBGM Immigration Response
• Mision Hispana Honra Director Jubilado Y Recibe Nuevo Director
• Lista Revisada: Delegados Hispanos a Conferencia General
• Newsbriefs/Novedades
• Upcoming Events

Hispanic Leaders Convene in Dallas For II National Hispanic Consultation

After twenty years, more than 500 United Methodist Hispanic leaders from all over the country and Puerto Rico gathered in Dallas to "celebrate the past, affirm the present, and plan for a new century."

The National Consultation included workshops, lively worship services, creative Bible studies, a celebrative banquet, small groups, and plenary sessions to process resolutions.

The four general program agencies sponsored more than 50 workshops and briefings both prior and during the consultation. These program agencies, the General Board of Discipleship, the General Board of Church and Society, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and the General Board of Global Ministries, were also cospon-sors of the consultation with the Puerto Rico and Rio Grande Conferences, the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry, and MARCHA, the national Hispanic caucus.

Rev. Lidia Lebrón, from the American Bible Society and member of the New York Conference, and Rev. Saul Trinidad, consultant of the National Plan and member of the Detroit Conference, led the group in a Bible study that integrated music and prayers of the people in a creative manner.

The preachers for the worship services included Bishop Joel N. Martinez from the Nebraska area, Bishop Juan Vera from the Puerto Rican church, and Rev. Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz from the General Commission of Religion and Race. Special speakers at the convocation included Rev. Minerva Carcaño, director of the Mexican-American Program at Perkins School of Theology, and Dr. Justo L. González, noted author.

Bishop Elias Galván, from the Seattle area, said the consultation fulfilled the objectives of bringing Hispanic leaders together to celebrate their past and share ideas for the future. The participants approved a resolution calling for another consultation in the near future.

The participants also endorsed Rev. Carcaño's candidacy for the episcopacy. They also called into question the draft of the Connectional Process Team for not being inclusive in its proposal.

A significant number of youth and young adults attended the consultation. They submitted a resolution calling for the creation of Hispanic United Methodist Youth/Young Adult movement where they could learn, fellowship, and be in mission.

Consultation participants also

• Advocated the continuation of the National Plan;

• Urged the repeal of the1996 Immigration Act;

• Called for the release of Puerto Rican "political prisoners in the U.S.

• Demanded the shut down of the U.S. Navy base in Vieques Island.

• All approved resolutions were referred to MARCHA for processing and referral.

Click HERE for Images of II National Hispanic Consultation

Justice for Our Neighbors: a GBGM Immigration Response

"Justice for Our Neighbors" is a new, nationwide program designed to enable United Methodist churches to provide assistance in immigration matters to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. It seeks to facilitate the establishment of church-based immigration legal clinics. The program is a collaborative effort between the General Board of Global Ministries UM Committee on Relief Refugee Ministries, directed by Executive Secretary Lilia Fernández, and a local UM-affiliate ministry called Just Neighbors Ministry, which offers immigration legal services to low-income communities and is staffed by a team of immigration attorneys.

Justice for Our Neighbors is NOT a funding program. It is basically an information and training program for those interested in serving the sojourners in their communities who are in need of immigration counseling and referrals. The program provides extensive on-site immigration training, follow-up and on-going assistance with mission education, updates on immigration law and procedures, and legal consultation for any immigration services provided by volunteer attorneys or trained lay volunteers.

The following is a list of the first twelve approved immigration clinics:

Rev. John K. Wortinger
Hispanic Community Services
St. Matthews UMC
1951 Wilshire Dr.
Frankfort, IN 46041

Gil Dawes
Des Moines Hispanic UMCong.
8th and College
Des Moines, IA 50304

Ms. Judy Kading
Siouxland UM Hispanic Min.
Whitfield UMC
1319 W. 5th Street
Sioux City, IA 51103

Rev. Gustavo A. Betancourt
El Buen Samaritano UMC
915 Magnolia Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188

Ms. Janette Maugh
John Wesley UMC
260 Quiney Street
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Pui Wong, Chinese UMC
69 Madison Street
New York, NY 10002

Rev. Dr. Leta Gorham
Southeast Dallas Coop Parish
P.O.Box 270496
Dallas, Tx 75227

Ms. Deborah Hernández
Polytechnic UMC
1310 Collard Street
Ft. Worth, Tx 76105

Rev. Gene Lankford, Pastor
Memorial Drive UMC
109 Memorial Drive, NW
Decatur, AL 35601

Rev. Sally Del Castillo
Trinity Mission Center
Hispanic Ministries
5515 Old Canton Road
Jackson, Mississippi 39211

Rev. Denise R. Huffman
Estamos Unidos -Hispanic
Congregation, Trinity UMC
305 Mountain Ave.
Roanoke, VA 24016

Rev. Martha Meyer Real
Floris Neighbors Ministry
2730 Centreville Road
Herndon, VA 20171