Hispanic Ministries: November/December 1999 Newsletter

Hispanic National Committee Approves Report to the 2000 General Conference

Another hurricane attempted to disrupt the last meeting of the quadrennium of the Committee on Hispanic Ministries, as a previous one had tried last quadrennium when it met in Puerto Rico. The Committee, meeting in the Washington D.C. area, was not affected by Hurricane Floyd, which traveled up the east coast last September 16-17.

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Members and guests of the Committee on Hispanic Ministries meeting in Arlington, Virginia, last September 16-18, 1999.

The Committee received, reviewed, amended, and finally approved the report to General Conference that its legislation subcommittee had been working on. The Report calls for the extension of the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry for another quadrennium. This request is based on the Plan's accomplishments and the continuing need to develop and strengthen Hispanic ministries in our denomination in the light of rapidly growing Hispanic population. The report is requesting a total of $3.2 million for next quadrennium, almost half of it earmarked to assist annual conferences start or strengthen their ministries with Hispanics. See inside pages for more details of that report.

The Committee, chaired by Bishop Joel N. Martínez of the Nebraska area, recognized and honored the national coordinator of the Plan, Rev. José L. Palos, and his assistant, Mrs. Rosa Lopez for their work in a celebration banquet. The members of the Committee also received a special pin in appreciation for their service in the committee. The celebration ended with a communion service held in Misión La Esperanza in Alexandria, Virginia.

On Saturday, September 18th, the Committee received first hand, informative reports from invited representatives of Hispanic ministries in the Virginia, Baltimore-Washington, and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences.

The Committee also received reports from the four general program agencies and the Coordinator of the Plan. A consultation with youth and young adults and key agency representatives was approved. The Committee also approved three grant requests from the Troy, Little Rock, and Rio Grande Conference totaling $110,000.

Movilización Congregacional Principia En Iglesias Locales

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Church members from the New York Conference attending a retreat for congregational leaders, a training event of the pilot process on congregational mobilization of the National Plan.

La Oficina del Plan ha estado colaborando con la Junta General de Ministerios Globales y la Junta General de Discipulado para diseñar un proceso de movilización para congregaciones Hispanas en nuestra denominación. El proceso que ha sido diseñado incluye una capacitación progresiva de lideres

La movilización de congregaciones es un componente esencial e importante para la implementación del Plan Nacional en las iglesias locales. Ocho iglesias de las Conferencias California-Pacific y Nueva York se han lanzando en el proceso piloto de movilización congregacional del Plan Nacional. Ambas conferencias tuvieron sus retiros con lideres congregacionales de sus iglesias locales en los meses de agosto y septiembre pasado. Hubo buena participación de las iglesias locales. Los pastores y pastoras de estas congregaciones ya habian asistido a un retiro para lideres clérigos.

El octubre pasado las dos conferencias de Nueva Jersey celebraron su retiro para lideres clérigos. A la misma vez, se capacitaron algunos asesores-facilitadores de las Conferencias de Nueva York, Nueva Jersey Norte, Nueva Jersey Sur, la Florida, y Rio Grande. Se espera que iglesias de estas conferencias también tomen parte en probar el proceso de movilización congregacional que se ha disefiado.

Las iglesias que participan en el proceso tendrán un/a asesor/a-facilitador/a que les acompañe y guie en el proceso. Hasta fines del cuadrienio presente, solo iglesias de las seis conferencias se utilizarán para probar y perfeccionar el proceso y los materiales.

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Participants in the New Jersey Conference pastors retreat and consultants training of the congregational mobilization process.

National Plan for Hispanic Ministry and the 2000 General Conference

The following is a brief summary of the report and recommendations that the Committee on Hispanic Ministries has submitted to the 2000 General Conference through the General Board of Global Ministries:

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

When the National Plan began in 1993, there were 38 annual conferences in the United States and Puerto Rico with some type of Hispanic ministries. By mid-1999, there are 61 annual conferences serving Hispanics (or 91% of the total). Within this quadrennium, five annual conferences have started Hispanic ministries for the first time, and two others may start before the end of the quadrennium.

Progress has been made not only in reaching the defined goals of the National Plan but also in reaching new goals as well. By mid-1999, annual conferences have reported:

64 new chartered Hispanic churches in 30 annual conferences,
208 Hispanic missions or fellowships in 46 annual conferences,
32 "Hispanic ministries" in eight annual conferences,
538 faith communities in 51 annual conferences,
263 church school extension programs in 30 annual conferences,
63 revitalized congregations in 25 annual conferences,
839 outreach ministries in 47 annual conferences,
245 non-Hispanic local churches with Hispanic ministries,
796 trained lay missioners and 100 pastor-mentors in 46 annual conferences,
75 trained facilitators of workshops for lay missioners/pastor-mentors,
19 commissioned missionaries serving in 11 annual conferences.

By the end of 1999, the Plan has assisted 15 annual conferences to develop and implement comprehensive plans for Hispanic ministries through a process of acompañamiento, that involved consultants, and mission initiative grants. A total of $710,000 has been approved for these conferences, which in turn has generated over $2.2 million in matching funds, thus enabling Hispanic ministries to begin or to be strengthen in those conferences. Another 26 annual conferences are currently in the process to do the same.

WHY THE PLAN NEEDS TO CONTINUE

There are two important and basic reasons why the National Plan needs to continue another quadrennium.

The Hispanic population in the United States and Puerto Rico is projected to increase 30.3 million within the next 20 years: from 22.4 million in 1990 to 52.7 million in 2020. All jurisdictions will experience dramatic Hispanic population growth within the next twenty years.

The second reason is that ministries which have been started and those which are still needed to respond to Hispanic population growth will continue to require the mobilization, nurturing, and resourcing that the National Plan provides.

Twenty-six annual conferences are currently in the process of developing comprehensive plans for Hispanic ministry. At least 162 non-Hispanic local churches, in addition to the 245 already engaged, have indicated an interest in starting Hispanic ministries in their communities.

Requests to assist Hispanic congregations in several annual conferences have been received, in addition to the six already involved in the congregational mobilization process. The demand for the enlistment and training of lay and clergy leaders for ministry with Hispanics has increased due to the growth in Hispanic ministries.

This is the right time for our church to respond to the opportunity for mission with Hispanics!

WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO THE 2000 GENERAL CONFERENCE

The National Plan for Hispanic Ministry is recommending the following to mobilize and equip our church for mission in the 2001-2004 quadrennium:

To continue to provide resources through a process of acompañamiento to annual conferences as they seek to start and strengthen Hispanic ministries. The Plan recommends that $1.5 million be allocated for annual conference resource-mission grants.
To continue to revitalize and mobilize both Hispanic and non-Hispanic congregations to respond to the mission opportunities with Hispanics in their communities. The Plan recommends that regional consultant-facilitators be trained to assist local churches and that appropriate resource materials and training events be provided to equip persons for ministry.
To develop and strengthen enlistment and training programs for clergy leaders in Hispanic ministry. The Plan is recommending that $500,000 be allocated for incentive grants for United Methodist seminaries in collaboration with Hispanic/conference training centers and institutes.
To continue to recruit, train, and assign at least 50 commissioned missionaries in strategic places for ministry with Hispanics.
To approve a request of $3.2 million for the quadrennium for the implementation of the National Plan. A total of $3.1 million was requested in 1992 and 1996, while a total of $2.8 million was approved for the current quadrennium. Almost 47% of the proposed budget is intended to assist annual conference implement Hispanic ministries through resource-mission grants.

PAZ Y GOZO

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PEACE AND JOY
IN 2000