wfn.org | Leadership renewal, development highlight Hispanic Disciples

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assembly 
Date: July 27, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

00b-42

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A call for leadership renewal and development 
highlighted the agenda of the 10th Assembly of the Hispanic and Bilingual 
Fellowship of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

	Approximately 200 Latino/Latina lay and clergy leaders from across North 
America met here, July 13-16. The theme for the biennial event was 
"Claiming the Promise."

	During assembly business the plenary body decided not to recognize the 
leadership of "practicing" gay and lesbian clergy, and called for removal 
of the U.S. Navy from Vieques, near Puerto Rico.

	The resolution concerning the "practice and participation of homosexual 
persons in the church" passed with little opposition. Considerable 
discussion, however, emerged over how best to acknowledge differing 
opinions. 

	Hispanic National Pastor Pablo Jimenez called it a "moral and ethical 
issue." 

	This is a "crucial and difficult subject for the church," said the Rev. 
Huberto Pimentel, Oviedo, Fla. He chaired a drafting committee appointed 
during the 1998 assembly in San Antonio, Texas. Other committee members 
were Moises Nieves, New York City; Madge Vasquez, Austin, Texas; the Rev. 
Angel Bonilla, New York City; David Cortes, Deltona, Fla.; Xose Escamilla, 
San Diego, Calif.; and the Revs. Jessica Vazquez and Carmelo Alvarez, both 
of Indianapolis.

	The initiative calling for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops in Vieques 
is aimed at bringing to a halt bombing exercises there. The Navy has used 
the eastern third of the island as a bombing range for the past 60 years. 

	Critics of the Navy's continued presence, say the bombings have damaged 
the island's environment, led to increasing incidents of cancer, asthma 
and other respiratory diseases, and have killed island residents. 

	Hispanic Disciples living in Illinois, New York and California can play 
key roles in advocating for removal of U.S. forces from Vieques, according 
to Miriam Cruz. The Washington, D.C., laywoman said the three states are 
important areas of support during the upcoming presidential elections. A 
former employee of the Jimmy Carter administration, Cruz pledged her 
assistance to working on behalf of the troop withdrawal effort.

	The church stands in solidarity with Puerto Rico, said General Minister 
and President Richard L. Hamm. He led a delegation during a March visit to 
the island nation, at the invitation of the Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ) in Puerto Rico. 

	Another highlight of the 10th national assembly included the naming of 
new leadership for the body. The Rev. Pablo Jimenez was ratified and 
installed as national pastor. He previously was instructor of homiletics 
at Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. 

	In a report before the assembly, Jimenez outlined five areas of work for 
Hispanic ministries in the coming years. Those activities involve 
long-range planning and stewardship emphases, providing continuing 
education opportunities for clergy, training lay leaders in Christian 
education and worship, revitalizing youth programs and resource 
development. The general aim of the five working areas, according to 
Jimenez, is leadership development for lay and ordained persons.

	The new national pastor also cited the need for additional administrative 
assistance. He recommended the calling of an associate national pastor to 
handle the day-to-day responsibilities in the pastoral office. That 
objective, however, will requires additional financial support for the 
Central Pastoral Office, Jimenez said.

	Disciples Moderator Paul Rivera echoed Jimenez' call for for additional 
executive staff. He urged regional ministers and the Hispanic Ministries 
Commission to work creatively to find the financial support to make 
possible the appointment.

	A leading Disciples layman from New York City, Rivera currently presides 
over the denomination's General Assembly, General Board and Administrative 
Committee. During the 10th Assembly, he was named moderator of the 
Hispanic and Bilingual Fellowship. Succeeding Rivera as HBF moderator will 
be the Rev. Huberto Pimentel, Oviedo, Fla.

	Representatives also were elected to serve on the Pastoral Commission for 
Hispanic Ministries. Those persons were: Ferdinand Garcia, Bronx, N.Y., 
and Evangelina Perez, Hackensack, N.J., Northeast; Huberto Pimentel, 
Oviedo, Fla., Southeast; Carmen Anguiano, Chicago, Midwest; Hector 
Velazquez, Houston, Texas, and Raquel Garcia, San Benito, Texas, 
Southwest; Xose Escamilla, San Diego, Calif., Pacific. Named to at-large 
positions were Suyapa Arceo, Phoenix, Arizona, and Franklyn Batres, 
Montreal, Que., Canada.

	Four persons received the assembly's Somos Uno awards, honoring the 
contributions to Hispanic ministry in North America. Those persons were 
the Rev. Feliberto Pereira, Los Fresnos, Texas, for ministerial 
leadership; Elias Vasquez, Robstown, Texas, and Irma Diaz, Brooklyn, NY, 
for lay leadership; and Madge Vasquez, Austin, Texas, for youth ministry 
leadership. One congregation, Iglesia Cristiana Orlando (Fla.) Norte also 
was recognized for its work during the biennium.

	Conferees also contributed $765 to the Domingo Rodriguez Scholarship Fund 
for Hispanic students and selected Kissimmee, Fla., and San Diego, Calif., 
for the 2002 and 2004 assemblies.

                                    	-- end --
 

(Editor's note: A photo of the Rev. Pablo Jimenez to be mailed.)