Saturday, April 5 was a busy day in the Diocese of Newark, with educational events on Stewardship and Latino/Hispanic ministry drawing attendees from throughout the diocese.
At Convocación al Nuevo Horizonte (Convocation for a New Horizon), 52 attendees from 15 congregations joined the Missioner of Latino/Hispanic Ministries for the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén and the Rev. Al Rodriguez in discussing how to minister in the Latino communities in the diocese.
While many people assume that a “Latino/Hispanic ministry” must be conducted in Spanish, that is not necessarily the case. U.S.-born Latinos in the 18-34 demographic generally prefer to speak English, yet revere and respect Latino culture, music, food, and their parents’ and grandparents’ belief in God.
“The need is not so much for Spanish-speaking priests as it is for culturally competent clergy who are open to listening and learning about the Latino community,” said the Rev. Canon Gregory A. Jacobs, Canon to the Ordinary, who helped organize the convocation at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Ridgewood.
Meanwhile, at Episcopal House in Newark and Grace Church in Madison, 53 participants from 32 Diocese of Newark congregations joined Episcopalians from throughout Province II taking part in a stewardship web conference titled “Discipleship – not Membership.”
Episcopal House was one of two Diocese of Newark locations for the Province II Stewardship Web Conference,
which brought together speakers from the southwest and northeast U.S. and participants from 16 locations
throughout the Province. NINA NICHOLSON PHOTO
Province II encompasses New Jersey, New York, the Virgin Islands, Haiti and the Episcopal churches in Europe, and the web conference was held simultaneously in 16 locations throughout the Province. The Diocese of the Virgin Islands devoted part of their convention to the web conference, with all 91 of their clergy and lay deputies participating.
Joining in from the southwest and northeast U.S., the three speakers were Mary McGregor, Director of Development in the Diocese of Texas; the Rev. Timothy Dombek, Canon for Stewardship and Development in the Diocese of Arizona; and the Rev. Jerry Keucher, Consultant for the Episcopal Church Foundation and author, who logged in from Long Island.
“The emphasis on Discipleship was a whole new way of thinking for many of the participants,” said diocesan CFO Paul Shackford. “The web conference was a cost-effective way to give our congregations a chance to learn from the foremost experts on stewardship in The Episcopal Church.” Church leaders interested in viewing the presentations should contact Paul Shackford.
