wfn.org | Hispanic caucus looks ahead to 2004 General Conference

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Dec. 19, 2002  News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn. 
10-32-71B{586}

LOS ANGELES (UMNS) - Members of the United Methodist Church's Hispanic caucus
approved resolutions for the 2004 General Conference and endorsed several
candidates for bishop during their annual meeting.
 
The resolutions approved by MARCHA (Methodists Associated to Represent the
Cause of Hispanic Americans) reflect the group's commitment to Hispanic
churches and ministries in the United States and abroad. The caucus will ask
the denomination's top assembly to continue support for the National Plan for
Hispanic Ministry, the Methodist Church in Puerto Rico, the children of Latin
America and CIEMAL, the coalition of Methodist churches in Central and South
America and the Caribbean. 

The group also expressed support for the Native American community by
adopting a statement against racially demeaning team names and mascots.

More than 150 people participated in MARCHA's annual reunion, with the theme
"A Renewed People; United and Committed." The Nov. 21-24 event began with
opening worship services led by Bishop Juan A. Vera Mindez of Puerto Rico and
the Rev. Edgar Avitia. At a Nov. 23 banquet, caucus members recognized
several MARCHA founders, including Bishop Elmas Galvan of Seattle, for their
leadership.

Endorsed candidates for bishop included the Rev. Aida I. Fernandez,
superintendent, New England Annual (regional) Conference; the Rev. Phillip
Ponce, superintendent, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference; the Rev. Ramon
Evangelista, superintendent, Greater New Jersey Conference; the Rev. Liana
Perez-Felix, Memphis Conference; and the Rev. Minerva G. Carcaqo,
superintendent, Oregon-Idaho Conference. Bishops will be elected during the
United Methodist Church's 2004 jurisdictional conferences.

The caucus also elected a new executive committee, which includes the Rev.
German Acevedo Delgado, receiving a second term as president; Ana-Haydee
Urda, vice president; and the Rev. Rosita Mayorga, secretary. Ten others were
elected to various committee positions. The new members will begin their
two-year terms in January.
# # #

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