In July 2009, the Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministry presented a vision and strategic plan to General Convention that challenged the Episcopal Church to consider an emerging opportunity:
In the midst of various challenges resulting in the Episcopal Church’s membership decline, our church also faces the unprecedented opportunity to embrace the changing times with excitement, zeal, and hope. The dramatic increase in the numbers of Latinos/Hispanics in communities throughout the country should be seen as an evangelistic opportunity and hope for the church.
In reviewing the then 40-year history of Latino/Hispanic initiatives in the Episcopal Church, the strategic plan committee noted among other things the following:
- There are no mechanisms in place for sharing best practices across congregations.
- There is no “how-to” guide for those parishes who recognize the need to serve this community.
- There is a lack of tools and resources for Latino/Hispanic ministry to be presented and implemented in a culturally sensitive, engaging manner.
The history of Latino/Hispanic ministry in our diocese, shares a similar story. Despite the ten-year existence of the Hispanic Ministry Commission little has been done in response to Bishop Croneberger’s charge to the diocese in 2003 to:
- Develop strategy to create space and opportunities for Latin American voices to be articulated and heard.
- Develop a strategy for evangelization and catechesis of Hispanics in our diocese.
- Develop bilingual strategies for multi-ethnic congregational growth and development.
There are only five congregations (St. Paul's, Paterson: St. John's, Boonton; Trinity, Kearny; Grace, Union City and St. John's, Dover) that are presently engaged in ministry to a Latino/Hispanic community that comprises nearly 15% of the population of Northern Jersey. Pointing to the unfulfilled diocesan commitment to Latino/Hispanic ministry, the Commission last year presented a proposal to the Bishop’s Office and Diocesan Council.
Among its goals were:
- Create 5 new Latino/Hispanic congregations in 5 years.
- Identify and develop at least 3 new local leaders in Latino/Hispanic congregations.
- Provide guidance and leadership to congregations in order to increase Latino/Hispanic membership by at least 50% in existing congregations.
- Create a diocesan position of Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministry to oversee, coordinate and encourage the development of Latino/Hispanic ministry in our diocese.
At our January 2014 Diocesan Convention, the Commission held workshops, hosted an exhibit table, and made a presentation to Convention as the first step in raising awareness of the ministry opportunities to reach out to Latinos and Hispanics in our churches’ neighborhoods.
On April 5, 2014 the Commission brings the Missioner of Latino/Hispanic Ministries for the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, to the diocese for a conversation about Hispanic/Latino Ministry in the Diocese of Newark, Convocación al Nuevo Horizonte (Convocation for a New Horizon).
Clergy, lay leaders, and members of congregations interested in learning about Hispanic/Latino ministry initiatives and strategies in the Episcopal Church are being invited to participate in conference that will identify opportunities present and future for this critical ministry in our diocese.
Attendees will engage an agenda that will provide:
- The demographic context of what is now the largest minority group in the country, giving emphasis to the distinguishing characteristics between the first generation and multi-generation Hispanics and Latinos.
- The Episcopal Church’s Strategic Vision for Reaching Latinos/Hispanics developed by the Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministry. This Strategic Vision presents the dynamics of ministering to today’s Latino/Hispanic communities, the majority of whom are American-born Latinos characterized as multi-generation, English-dominant, or bilingual and bicultural. The Strategic Vision highlights the evangelistic approaches that are necessary to reach to what are called the “New Generation Hispanic/Latinos.”
- Presentations from Episcopal clergy involved in new and creative Latino ministries that go beyond the traditional Hispanic ministry models normally found in the Episcopal context. Their presentations underline the realities of non-Latino clergy effectively ministering to Hispanic/Latino communities that are now multi-dimensional and composed of first generation and acculturated Hispanics and Latinos who are no longer bound to monolingual, Spanish-only congregations.
- Exposure to the pertinent, analytical tools necessary to gain a better understanding of the various “types” of Hispanic/Latinos, their different cultural identities, regional differences and their distinctions based on their national origin, including their worship and spiritual characteristics. This workshop component explores the question, “How do you find the multi-generation Hispanics?
- A group discussion to process the conference information in light of the participants’ “real world” context of their respective communities.
- The Conference explores the macro dynamics and the paradigm shift that has to take place in the traditional Hispanic ministries in order to address the urgency driven by the dramatic demographic, acculturation and Americanization of the multi-generation Hispanic/Latino.
- The Conference wraps up with the critical question: “Where do we go from here?” and discussion of next steps.
Convocación al Nuevo Horizonte will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church,169 Fairmount Road, Ridgewood. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration fee is $10/person or $25/congregation team.
Online registration is available here.
For further information contact the Rev. Canon Gregory A. Jacobs at 973-430-9915 or gjacobs@dioceseofnewark.org.
