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Strategy for Ministry with the Hispanic-Latino Constituencies in The STRATEGY FOR MINISTRY WITH THE HISPANIC-LATINO CONSTITUENCIES IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U. S. A.) This document is the result of the support and research of the congregations, the regional caucuses, conclusions provided by regional and national events, and individual leaders. This document is produced by the authority and copyright of The Advisory Committee of Hispanic Ministries and The Office of Hispanic Congregational Enhancement of the Racial Ethnic Ministries Area of the National Ministries Division The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.) Louisville, Kentucky March 2002 INDEX 1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 – Historical background 1 1.2 – Character of the final document 2 1.3 – Content of the final document 3 1.4 – This Strategy in the context of the general program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 3 1.5 – How to use this document 4 2.0 THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT 5 2.1 – Christ is the church’s foundation 5 2.2 - The mission of the church 5 2.3 - The Reformed identity 6 2.4 - The cultural identity 6 2.5 - Our cultural identity in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 8 3.0 - THE SIX GREAT ENDS OF THE CHURCH 10 3.1 – The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind 10 3.1.1 – The priority for evangelism among the Hispanic-Latino communities 10 3.1.2 – Models for evangelism 11 3.1.2.1 – Personal invitation 11 3.1.2.2 – Personal visit 11 3.1.2.3 – Community outreach 11 3.1.2.4 – Distribution of literature 11 3.1.2.5 – Campaigns 11 3.1.2.6 – Small group (cells) 12 3.1.2.7 – Side Door 12 3.1.2.8 – Home Grown Worship Celebrations 12 3.1.3 – Organizing new churches 12 3.1.4 – Preparation for a New Church Development 12 3.1.4.1 – Feasibility study 12 3.1.4.2 - Selection of a leader 13 3.1.4.3 – Selection of the model 14 3.1.5 – Church models 14 3.1.5.1 – Fellowships 14 3.1.5.2 – New Church Development (NCD) 14 3.1.5.3 – Multicultural-bilingual church 15 3.1.5.4 – Hispanic-Latino department 15 3.1.5.5 – Hispanic-Latino missions 15 3.1.6 – Church Redevelopment 15 3.1.6.1 – The process 16 3.1.7 – Church revitalization 16 3.2 – The shelter, nurture, and the spiritual fellowship of the children of God 16 3.2.1 - Christian Education 16 3.2.1.1 – Methods 17 3.2.1.2 – Curriculum 17 3.2.2 – Secular education 18 3.2.3 – Spirituality 19 3.2.3.1 – Loss of spirituality 19 3.2.3.2 – Loss of community 19 3.2.3.3 – Loss of joy and thanksgiving 20 3.2.3.4 – Loss of vocation (call) to the ministry 20 3.2.3.5 – Loss of credibility 20 3.2.3.6 – Regaining spirituality 20 3.2.4 – Stewardship 21 3.2.4.1 – Implications of wholistic stewardship 21 3.2.4.2 – Personal stewardship 21 3.2.4.3 – Public stewardship 22 3.2.4.4 – Corporate stewardship 22 3.2.4.5 – Practicing wholistic stewardship 22 3.2.4.6 – Identifying needs 23 3.2.4.7 – Determining resources 23 3.2.4.8 – Planning a program for wholistic stewardship 23 3.2.4.9 – The target audience 23 3.3 – The maintenance of divine worship 23 3.3.1 – The community at worship 24 3.3.1.1 – Language 24 3.3.1.2 – Symbols 24 3.3.1.3 – Gestures 25 3.3.1.4 – Arts 25 3.3.1.5 – Silence 25 3.3.2 – Planning for worship 25 3.3.2.1 – Culture 26 3.3.2 2 – Inclusiveness 26 3.3.2.3 – Contemporary needs 26 3.3.3 – The strategy for worship in the Hispanic-Latino context 26 3.4 – The preservation of the truth 27 3.4.1 – Our dialog with God 27 3.4.1.1 – Vocation for a secular career 28 3.4.1.2 – Vocation for a church career 28 3.4.2 – Our dialog with other Christian churches 29 3.4.3 – Our dialog with other religions 29 3.5 – The promotion of social righteousness 30 3.5.1 – Ministry with the community 30 3.5.2 – Ministry with women 31 3.5.3 – Ministry with men 32 3.5.4 – Ministry with youth and young adults 32 3.5.5 – Ministry with children 33 3.5.6 – Ministry with older adults 33 3.5.7 – Ministry with persons of different capacities 34 3.5.8 – Ministry with married couples, singles, widowed and divorced 35 3.5.9 – Ministry with the environment 36 3.5.10- Ministry in the urban context 36 3.5.11- Ministry in the rural context 37 3.5.12- Ministry at the border and with immigrants 37 3.6 – The exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven in the world 37 3.6.1 – Implementing the mission 38 3.6.1.1 – Local mission 38 3.6.1.2 – Mission beyond the local area 38 3.6.1.3 – Commissioning and supporting missionaries 38 3.6.1.4 – Mission trips 39 3.6.1.5 – Creating Partnerships with other churches 39 3.6.1.6 – Funding and financing mission 39 3.6.2 – Effective communication 39 3.6.2.1 – Written communication 40 3.6.2.2 – Radio 40 3.6.2.3 – Television and videos 40 3.6.2.4 – The computer, the internet/Website and PowerPoint 40 3.6.3 – Developing discipleship 40 3.6.4 – Interaction with the Holy Spirit 41 4.0 – CONCLUSION 41 4.1 – “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16a) 41 4.2 – “And I appointed you to go and bear fruit…” (John 15:16b) 41 4.3 – “…fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” John 15:16c) 42 1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 – Historical Background The background of the Strategy for Ministry with the Hispanic Constituencies/with Spanish Speaking Groups in the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.) is found in the first document approved by the 1984 General Assembly entitled “Hispanic Ministries in the Southwest: Directions for the Future.” In 1983, reunion took place between the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. and the United Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.. The reunion process between the two largest branches of North American Presbyterianism required the attention of the church. The work of Hispanic ministries was relegated to a lesser priority. Other projects, such as the Book of Common Worship, were also postponed and delayed. No follow up report on Hispanic ministries was made because the implementation did not take place. In 1995, the Presbytery of the Pacific, reclaiming the previous action, moved at the 207th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.) that a broad strategy be developed and implemented for ministry with Spanish-speaking groups in the U. S. A. and Puerto Rico. This motion was known as Proposal 95-70. Since then, the Office of Hispanic Congregational Enhancement, the National Presbyterian Hispanic Caucus, and the Advisory Committee of Hispanic Ministries have been working on this project. In 1996, the Advisory Committee of Hispanic Ministries and the National Presbyterian Hispanic Caucus, presented a plan to the Office of National Ministries Division, to develop a general strategy for ministry with Spanish-speaking groups in the entire country. The plan included regional consultations and a national symposium for 1999, but the symposium was not possible until 2000. The Strategy Committee was created with representatives from the previously mentioned entities. In 1997 and 1998, the Office of Hispanic Congregational Development and the Office of Racial Ethnic Ministries along with other General Assembly entities, were not able to obtain the necessary funds for the development of the project. Without this support, the basic process of having regional consultations and the symposium was not possible. A new plan was then adopted. The Strategy Committee selected several writers. The writers were to prepare drafts for the topics which were envisioned to be included in the final document. These drafts were received and reviewed by the Strategy Committee, and then sent to the regional caucuses for input and suggestions. The drafts were also presented for input and suggestions at the First National Symposium on Hispanic Ministries. In addition, input was also received from meetings held separately by some synods. All the material which was accumulated in this process was considered and served as the basis for this document. The material included reflections, analyses, and suggestions which are presented for your study. The Advisory Committee for Hispanic Ministries along with the Office of Hispanic Congregational Enhancement took upon themselves the most difficult and risk-filled task.. This task was to receive and study all the materials, create order from among all the input and suggestions, fill the void on some topics, edit the entire materials and create a coherent presentation to fit within the general strategy of the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.). 1 In order to be more inclusive with Portuguese speaking groups, and other groups with Latin roots, the word Latino was added to the title. The task was not easy. The quantity of the accumulated material made it necessary to select the best from among all the input. The task was accepted with “fear and trembling,” but with confidence relying on the Lord’s direction. In order to achieve uniformity and coherence in the document, the work encountered several obstacles.
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