From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


United Methodist layman Clifford Aguilar dead at age 82


From NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>
Date 10 Feb 2000 13:29:21

Feb. 10, 2000  News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn. 10-32-71B{058}

By United Methodist News Service

Clifford B. Aguilar, a widely known United Methodist layman who helped found
the denomination's Hispanic caucus, died at home in Long Beach, Calif., Feb.
8. He was 82.

Aguilar retired in January 1998 as director of the Spanish American
Institute, a program related to the church's California-Pacific Annual
Conference that helped provide scholarship assistance and career training
for Hispanic students.  

During the 1960s, Aguilar helped organize LAMAG, a group of Hispanic
Methodists in the Los Angeles area, which led to the creation in 1971 of the
national caucus known as MARCHA. He served as president of the group shortly
after its creation.  

He served eight years on the governing board of the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries and was a delegate from the California-Pacific Annual
Conference to six general and jurisdictional conferences. In 1984, he was
given the Outstanding Layman of the Year Award by the annual conference. 

Bishop Joel Martinez of the Nebraska Annual Conference praised Aguilar for
his commitment to education and to strengthening Christian witness among
Hispanic Americans. The Rev. Fernando Santillana, associate director of the
California-Pacific Annual Conference, said Aguilar's influence was felt
throughout the denomination.  "He was a strong lay leader in the
(California-Pacific) conference, and his impact was felt not only in the
Hispanic community but among other ethnic groups and Caucasians as well."  

Private interment is planned for Feb. 17. A memorial service is scheduled
for 10 a.m. Feb. 19 at Los Altos United Methodist Church in Long Beach,
where he was a member.     He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and a
daughter, Dina Aguilar, who also resides in Long Beach. 
# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://www.umc.org/umns


Browse month . . . Browse month (sort by Source) . . . Advanced Search & Browse . . . WFN Home