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12 Steps Toward Hispanic Ministries

by Rev. Dr. Pablo A. Jiménez
National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries, 2000-2005

 

I. Introduction

The Hispanic community in the US is growing at a fast pace. According to the US Census Bureau, there are 35 million Hispanics living in the nation. This means that about 12% of the US Population is Hispanic. And these numbers do not include the 3.88 million Hispanics who live in Puerto Rico!

Many Disciples congregations, both Hispanic and non-Hispanic, feel called by God to minister to the growing Hispanic community in their areas. Acknowledging this yearning, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada created the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries (CPOHM) with the triple mission of:

  • Offering pastoral care to Hispanic ministers and congregations;
  • Advising the different Units, Regions and Areas of the Church on Hispanic Ministries;
  • Advocating for the rights of Hispanic congregations and individuals.

The National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries is the officer in charge of the CPOHM. The Pastoral Commission for Hispanic Ministries oversees the ministry of both the CPOHM and the National Pastor.

This manual offers general recommendations and guidelines for the development of congregational ministries with and for Hispanics in the US. The CPOHM hopes that this resource may be a blessing for both you and your congregation.

1. Pray

The first step toward Hispanic ministry is prayer. A congregation should not plunge into a full-blown program for Hispanics without praying first.
Through prayer, Christians from all cultural backgrounds can be in solidarity with those who suffer, and with those who have not yet come to faith. Prayer brings us closer to God and closer to others, enthusing us to fulfill the Christian mission.

2. Learn

The second step is learning. In order to better minister to Hispanic people, your congregation should learn more about:

  • Hispanic culture, which is very diverse.
  • Hispanic Disciples, given that our Church has been involved in Hispanic ministries for over 100 years.
  • Hispanic theology, an effort to read the Bible and theology in context.
  • The Spanish Language, to facilitate communication with first generation Hispanics.

3. Meet

The third step is to meet the Hispanic leadership of our Church:

  • Lay leaders, particularly those who work with women, men, and youth fellowships.
  • Hispanic Pastors, particularly those who live closest to you.
  • Any of the six Hispanic Conventions (Arizona, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Pacific, and Southwest).
  • The National Hispanic and Bilingual Fellowship, which groups Hispanic Disciples.

4. Network

You may further your relationship with Hispanic Disciples by:

  • Communicating with your local Hispanic leadership.
  • Communicating with the CPOHM.
  • Attending the assemblies of the Hispanic Conventions that serve your Region.
  • Attending the next biennial National Hispanic and Bilingual Assembly.
  • Visiting the CPOHM booth at the General Assembly.

5. Support

Through Disciples Mission Fund and the Easter Offering (DMF), your congregation already supports the ministry of the CPOHM. However, our office also accepts offerings and donations from individuals and congregations willing to support its ministry.

You may designate your offering to the CPOHM, in order to support a specific part of our ministry. For example, you may send designated offerings for new congregations, scholarships, or the Good Samaritan Ministry, among other projects.

6. Visit

By this time, you will be ready to visit one or more of our Hispanic and Bilingual congregations. You will find that Hispanic congregations are lively and energetic. They pray with fervor and worship with joy. They are enthused by the Holy Spirit, willing to fulfill the Great Commission. You may participate in:

  • Congregational worship
  • Women, men, or youth fellowship retreats
  • Workshops on several subjects.
  • Visiting the Good Samaritan Ministry, in Los Fresnos, TX.

7. Work

The closeness and fellowship achieved through the first six steps will motivate your congregation to develop joint projects with Hispanic congregations, such as:

  • Local congregational programs, getting together for worship, outreach, or fellowship.
  • NBA Miracle Days, helping repair church buildings.
  • Mission Builders, a Church Extension program through which you can help build new homes and new church buildings.

8. Partner

If your congregation develops a special relationship with a Hispanic congregation, you may become partners in ministry.

  • You may develop joint programs for women, men, children, or youth.
  • Your congregation may sponsor a Hispanic congregation, providing human or financial resources.
  • Your congregations may become "sisters" (because in Spanish the word "church" is a feminine noun).

9. Reach

At this point, you may want to reach out to the Hispanic population in your immediate area, your town, your county, your state, or even your region.

  • Remember that Hispanics may be concentrated in urban areas, in a particular part of town, or close to a particular worksite.
  • Hispanics may be concentrated around their workplace (ranches, farms, factories, or meat packing plants, among others).
  • You may also seek demographic information on the subject.

10. Volunteer

An effective way of reaching out to Hispanics is through the many non-profit corporations or non-governmental associations that serve the working poor in general or the Hispanic community in particular. In many towns and cities, there are organizations that advocate for immigrant rights, in general, or for Hispanic rights, in particular.

You may volunteer time, donate goods or contribute financially to these organizations. You will gain valuable expertise through this experience.

11. Worship

You may enrich your worship experience, including elements in Spanish, preparing thus your congregation to minister to Hispanics.

  • You may sing in Spanish, given that most hymnals include some bilingual hymns.
  • There are Spanish versions to many contemporary worship songs.
  • Read portions of the Bible in Spanish.
  • Schedule bilingual services for special occasions (such as Thanksgiving or Christmas).
  • Schedule joint worship services with nearby Hispanic congregations.

12. New Church

By this time, you may have a number of Hispanics attending your congregation. At this point, you may:

  • Invite them to become members of your congregation, particularly if they are second or third generation Hispanics (and, therefore, native English speakers).
  • Consider becoming a bilingual congregation, revitalizing thus your ministry.
  • Invite these brothers and sisters to become the core group of a new Hispanic congregation.

II. Issues for Nesting Congregations

Congregations considering nesting a new Hispanic congregation should pay attention to the following issues:

1. Both groups should be willing to accept differences in culture, worship style, and theological understanding due to linguistic differences and ethnic sensibilities.

2. Is there a schedule for the use of the building? When will each group use the facilities? Who has copies of the schedule? Where is it posted?

3. Can both groups meet separately on Sunday morning? Is there a booking process for special events?

4. Will the developing congregation use the host church's equipment (office, copier, communionware, classrooms, nursery, kitchen, etc.)? Are there user fees to be paid?

5. Is there storage room that the developing congregation may use to secure its equipment? Who else has access to this storage space?

6. What are the financial arrangements? Does the developing congregation donate a percentage of its offering to the host church? Is there a fixed rental fee to be paid? Is the developing congregation considered a part of the host church's outreach program? Does the developing church receive funds from the host church as a part of their outreach?

7. Does the developing congregation report to the host church's board?

8. Are the members of the developing congregation also members of the host church?

9. What are the janitorial arrangements?

10. Have these agreements been written? Who has copies of these documents? Are these agreements binding in case of a change in pastoral leadership? Is the area, regional, and general leadership aware of these agreements?

Clarify these issues in advance, before the new congregation moves in!

III. Conclusion

In order to better serve the growing ethnic constituencies in the US and Canada, our Church must explore new ways of "being church". We must go beyond the multi-staffed "First Christian Church on Main Street" model to either multiethnic congregations, bilingual congregations, multi-congregational church buildings, small congregations served by licensed preachers, or any other combination.

We hope these recommendations will help your congregation to better serve the growing Hispanic community in the United States and Canada. For more information, email us at:

Oficina Pastoral Central para Ministerios Hispanos
P.O. Box 1986 - Indianapolis, IN 46206
Tel: 317-713-2584 or 317-713-2583
Fax: 317-635-3700
E-mail: somosuno@cpohm.disciples.org

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