wfn.org | Regional grants help propel United Methodist Hispanic Plan

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Dec. 4, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-32-71B{539}

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodist annual (regional) conferences are become more effective in
building and serving Hispanic faith communities, thanks to the availability
of grants and consultant support from the denomination.

During the 1996-2000 quadrennium, 23 conferences were allotted a total of
nearly $1.09 million through the denomination's National Plan for Hispanic
Ministry, according to the Rev. Jose Palos, the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries executive who serves as the plan's coordinator. Most of
the grants, dispensed over a three-year period, were for $50,000 each. 

In a process known as "acompanamiento" (accompanying), trained consultants
are dispatched to work with each conference. They help gather and review
data, formulate a comprehensive mission plan and participate in ongoing
assessment of the implementation. The result has been higher-quality
programs and the ability to track the use of the funding. "It's not just a
form of accountability, it's a form of trying to help them," Palos
explained.

First approved by General Conference, the denomination's top legislative
body, in 1992, the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry is an aggressive
evangelization effort aimed at the growing Hispanic population in the United
States.

By mid-1999, United Methodists had chartered 64 new Hispanic churches in 30
annual conferences; established 208 Hispanic missions or fellowship groups
in 46 conferences and opened 32 ministries to Hispanics in eight
conferences.

United Methodists also had created 538 Hispanice faith communities in 51
conferences; started 263 church school extension programs in 30 conferences;
revitalized 63 existing Hispanic congregations in 25 conferences;
established 839 outreach ministries in 47 conferences; and placed 17
commissioned missionaries in 11 conferences.

The 2000 General Conference not only renewed the plan but also approved the
$3.2 million requested in funding for the next four years.

Although the plan's efforts began with a focus on Hispanics already within
the denomination, increasing attention is being paid to the involvement of
non-Hispanics in the process. A national convocation with leaders of
non-Hispanic congregations already involved in ministries with Hispanics led
to the production of a well-received resource, Partners in the Mighty Works
of God. "It compiled a lot of material we had been working with," Palos
said.

He hopes to organize a second national gathering aimed at non-Hispanic
churches that have an interest in the ministry but no experience. "We have
knowledge that at least 250 non-Hispanic churches are involved in Hispanic
ministries and that at least another 125 are interested, but there are
probably many more in both categories," Palos noted in an October report to
the denomination's Committee on Hispanic Ministries.

Missionaries, both lay and clergy, have been among those pushing the
expansion of mission outreach programs and fledgling congregations. "The
missionaries have played a very important role for us," Palos said, noting
that at least 44 have been placed so far. The missionaries primarily come
through two placement programs sponsored by the Board of Global Ministries.

Often, the missionary will serve where no one else is available. The Pacific
Northwest Conference, for example, had started a Hispanic ministry program
in the Yakima Valley but needed to establish work closer to Seattle. A
missionary couple relocated from Chicago to provide assistance, according to
Palos.

Training clergy is a high priority for the near future. "Because of the
demand now, we need to get seminaries involved in the training of both
Hispanic and non-Hispanic clergy," he explained. The new budget provides
$400,000 in program incentive grants to seminaries and training centers.

Since the recruitment of clergy also may include people from other
denominations or countries, training modules are needed to orient those
recruits to the United Methodist Church, he added.

Part of the success of the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry has been the
ability of four church agencies involved - the boards of Global Ministries,
Church and Society, Discipleship, and Higher Education and Ministry - to
work well together.

"We've had some staff changes, but that collaborative spirit has continued,"
Palos said. "We've developed a work style that's of benefit to the whole
denomination."

A denomination-wide Committee on Hispanic Ministries continues to meet
annually to help oversee the plan's implementation. Bishop Charlene Kammerer
of Charlotte, N.C., will lead the committee this quadrennium. The 2001
meeting will be in Boston in September.  

More information about the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry is available
by contacting Palos at 475 Riverside Drive, Room 350, New York, NY 10115,
(212) 870-3693 or jpalos@gbgm-umc.org.
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United Methodist News Service
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