The 1992 General Conference approved Calendar Item 581 on page 289 of the Daily Christian Advocate. It mandated a National Committee on Hispanic Ministries.
The General Council on Ministries (GCOM) was asked to organize the Committee on Hispanic Ministries according to the nominating procedures of the Council to assure inclusiveness; to initiate and plan the first meeting of the Committee on Hispanic Ministries; to assign a GCOM member and staff to relate to the committee; and to evaluate the implementation of the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry, consistent with its disciplinary responsibilities.
Process and Implementation
Following the 1992 General Conference, the GCOM facilitated the processes with each jurisdictional conference to select the jurisdictional representatives. The Council also communicated with the Council of Bishops, Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America (CIEMAL), MARCHA, general agencies, Rio Grande Annual Conference, and the Autonomous Affiliated Methodist Church of Puerto Rico to outline the process for selecting their representatives to the committee. The GCOM also named Jeannie Treviño Teddlie as its representative and Mearle L. Griffith as staff liaison to the committee.
The first meeting was held on February 25-26, 1993 in San Antonio, Texas with Della Escareño, First Vice-President of GCOM, convening the committee until Bishop Joel Martinez was elected to chair the committee.
The Council has received regular reports on the implementation of the National Plan for Hispanic Ministries from its representative to the committee. The council also coordinated the implementation of the plan through member and staff involvement throughout the quadrennium and conducted its evaluation consistent with the Discipline.<D>
In evaluating the implementation, the council received reports indicating that in two and one-half years of the quadrennium the national committee, with the cooperation of annual conferences and general agencies, had demonstrated significant movement toward realizing the projected goals of the plan. Those reports indicate:
51 new Hispanic congregations started in 17 annual conferences
220 faith communities established in 35 annual conferences
35 existing congregations revitalized in 14 annual conferences
337 new community or outreach ministries started in 36 annual conferences
389 lay missioners recruited and trained from 32 annual conferences
62 new church school extension programs started in 17 annual conferences
Six national missionaries commissioned and placed and 23 more are in process.
Also developed were:
Three modules and other resources for the training of lay missioners/pastor-mentor teams.
Consultations with annual conference and regional groups and seminaries to develop and strengthen Hispanic ministries.
Trained consultants who have worked with conference, district, and local groups in the development of Hispanic ministries.
Consultations on community ministries, on revitalization of churches, on women and families, on town and country ministries.
44 different training events on various aspects of the Plan involving 40 annual conferences.
Nine conference training centers and three regional training centers to prepare lay missioners/pastor-mentor teams.
A video and other communication materials.
The national plan was financially supported by quadrennial allocations from the World Service Fund ($1,900,000) and the Mission Initiatives Fund ($816,000). Additional funding and program resources were contributed by the general program agencies from their regular budgets. During the first two years of the quadrennium, more than $200,000 in additional program support was generated. Similarly, annual conferences have provided support for the development of Hispanic Ministries. Thirty-eight annual conferences contributed over two million dollars during the first two years of the quadrennium.
The implementation of National Plan for Hispanic Ministries has had an effective start in its initial quadrennium, but the Committee on Hispanic Ministries believes that there is still much to be done. The Committee, through the General Board of Global Ministries, is requesting the continuation of the Plan.
The General Council on Ministries rejoices on the successful implementation of the Hispanic Plan during this quadrennium and endorses the continuation of the Hispanic Plan as submitted to the 1996 General Conference by the Committee on Hispanic Ministries.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21688-GJ-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference