Hispanic Ministries executives of several denominations gather in Chicago.

On Sept. 22-23 the first Hispanic Ministries Executive meeting was celebrated. It brought together several Hispanic leaders of different denominations who are responsible for the national strategies for Hispanic ministries in their respective churches. The executives held the meeting to reach out and develop their Hispanic ministries. They expressed that "it was a historic moment as they sat together to develop a collaborative work."

The Hispanic leaders represented about seven different denominations and churches at the two-day meeting, where they determined their purpose together to network, inform, train, collaborate, educate, and volunteer. They did not discuss differences in their theologies, but also agreed to have an annual meeting.

The meeting for the Hispanic executives was held in the facilities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Chicago, Ill. During their time together, the executives shared about how they are working with Hispanic groups in the US, the numbers of churches and the structures with which they work, Hispanic educational materials that are available, and their experiences on different issues affecting their ministries such as immigration, church planting, and Latin youth in the US. Those three topics will be discussed more at future meetings.

An invitation to other denominational Hispanic leaders who were not present or who were unable to attend will be send for a future gathering.

Those present included Hector Carrasquillo of the ELCA, Canon Anthony Guillen from the Episcopal Church, Hector Rodriguez and Marissa Galvan-Valle from the Presbyterian Church USA, Francisco Canas from the United Methodist Church, Roberto Hodgson from Church of the Nazarene, Steve Strand and Edgar A Chacon from the Wesleyan Church, Jorge Cuevas from the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and Ruben D. Deoleo from the Church of the Brethren.

The group plans to meet next at the Episcopal Cathedral in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 3-5, 2010.

-- Ruben Deoleo is director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren.

Source: 11/4/2009 Newsline