Archives
Plan Elements and Goals
Prior to the reaffirmation of the plan at the 2004 General Conference, the plan was known as the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry. The current name, the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, emphasizes the ministry with people of Brazilian descent who carry a Portuguese Latino identity.
Key elements of the plan for the 2005-2008 quadrennium continue to be conference/congregational mobilization and leadership development/formation.
Among the five ethnic and language plans in the United States, the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry was allocated the largest amount of funds in the 2004 General Conference ($3.8 million for 4 years).
Accomplishments
When the National Plan began in 1993, there were 38 annual conferences in the United States and Puerto Rico with some type of Hispanic ministry. By mid-1999, there were 61 annual conferences serving Hispanics (or 91% of the total). Within this quadrennium, five annual conferences have started Hispanic ministries for the first time, and two others may start before the end of the quadrennium.
Progress has been made not only in reaching the defined goals of the National plan but also in reaching new goals as well. By mid-1999, the annual conferences reported:
- 64 new chartered Hispanic churches in 30 annual conferences
- 208 Hispanic missions or fellowships in 46 annual conferences
- 32 "Hispanic ministries" in eight annual conferences
- 538 faith communities in 51 annual conferences
- 263 church school extension programs in 30 annual conference
- 63 revitalized congregations in 25 annual conferences
- 839 outreach ministries in 47 annual conferences
- 245 non-Hispanic local churches with Hispanic ministries
- 796 trained lay missioners and 100 pastor- mentors in 46 annual conferences
- 75 trained facilitators of workshops for lay missioners/pastor-mentors
- 19 commissioned missionaries serving in 11 annual conferences
By the end of 1999, the Plan had assisted 15 annual conferences to develop and implement comprehensive plans for Hispanic ministries through a process of acompañamiento, which involved consultants, and Mission Initiative Grants. A total of $710,000 has been approved for these conferences, which in turn have generated over $2.2 million in matching funds, thus enabling Hispanic ministries to begin or to be strengthened in those conferences. Another 26 annual conferences are currently in the process of doing the same.
Why the Plan Needs to Continue
There are two important and basic reasons why the National Plan needs to continue another quadrennium.
The Hispanic population in the United States and Puerto Rico is projected to increase 30.3 million within the next 20 years: from 22.4 million in 1990 to 52.7 million in 2020.
The second reason is that ministries which have been started and those which are still needed to respond to Hispanic population growth will continue to require the mobilization, nurturing, and resourcing that the National Plan provides.
Twenty-six annual conferences are currently in the process of developing comprehensive plans for Hispanic ministry. At least 162 non-Hispanic local churches, in addition to the 245 already engaged, have indicated an interest in starting Hispanic ministries in their communities.
Requests to assist Hispanic congregations in several annual conferences have been received, in addition to the six already involved in the congregational mobilization process. The demand for the enlistment and training of lay and clergy leaders for ministry with Hispanics has increased due to the growth in Hispanic ministries.
What was Recommended to the 2000 General Conference
The National Plan for Hispanic Ministry recommended the following to mobilize and equip our church for mission in the 2001-2004 quadrennium:
- To continue to provide resources through a process of acompañamiento to annual conferences as they seek to start and strengthen Hispanic ministries. The Plan recommends that $1.5 million be allocated for annual conference resource mission grants.
- To continue to revitalize and mobilize both Hispanic and nonHispanic congregations to respond to the mission opportunities with Hispanics in their communities. The Plan recommends that regional consultant-facilitators be trained to assist local churches and the appropriate resource materials and training events be provided to equip persons for ministry.
- To develop and strengthen enlistment and training programs for clergy leaders in Hispanic ministry. The Plan is recommending that $500,000 be allocated for incentive grants for United Methodist seminaries in collaboration with Hispanic/conference training centers and institutes.
- To continue to recruit, train, and assign at least 50 commissioned missionaries in strategic places for ministry with Hispanics.
- To approve a request of $3.2million for the quadrennium for the implementation of the National Plan. A total of $3.1 million was requested in 1992 and 1996, while a total of #2.8 million was approved for the current quadrennium. Almost 47% of the proposed budget is intended to assist annual conferences in implementing Hispanic ministries through resource mission grants.