Nuevo Amanecer represents 'A New Dawn' for Hispanic and Latino ministries
Episcopal News Service. July 2, 2008 [070208-01]
Nan Ross, Director of Communication for the Diocese of Atlanta
An Episcopal Church conference on Hispanic and Latino ministry underway this week near Atlanta has gathered more than 200 people from diverse Spanish-speaking communities in eight countries to share in the challenges and blessings of their ministries and chart a course for continued growth.
"A New Dawn -- Nuevo Amanecer -- Together We Grow and Are Strengthened," represents the first time in six years that Episcopalians engaged in Hispanic and Latino ministries have come together. The entire program is offered in Spanish, with English translation available throughout.
At the opening Eucharist June 30, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori encouraged participants to examine "Why are we here? What is our mission? What is our vocation as Christian brothers and sisters?" And she reminded them, "Jesus' ministry belongs to all people who are baptized, not just bishops and clergy."
In her sermon, preached in Spanish, Jefferts Schori used Old and New Testament lessons for the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. Both readings use shepherds and sheep as metaphors to convey the vision of God, she said. And the vision of God "involves caring for all of the sheep, which means offering justice for all.
"It is our role, our work, to raise a strong voice in the wilderness," she said. "Only with a strong voice will we be able to challenge injustice."
Worship music by Texas vocalist Sandra Montes and her quintet provided a festive background for the service and familiar tunes and words for most. Jefferts Schori didn't miss a word, singing from memory the popular and energetic hymns.
A wide variety of workshops, along with an important two-hour block of free time, make up daytime offerings for the conference, which ends at noon July 3. Key areas are education, developing new leaders, evangelism and pastoral care, says planning team member the Rev. Josefina Beecher, Hispanic missioner at Resurrección Church, Mt. Vernon, Washington.
"Many of our churches are really growing, so we are sharing what's attracting new people, whether it's the great music or a food program," Beecher said. "The free time is intentional to give people time to connect with each other and talk about what's going on in our churches."
Pastoral care is one of the more urgent topics being discussed. With tougher immigration laws being implemented in various parts of the country, a great deal of Hispanic and Latino ministry involves people who are feeling the pain of families torn apart by a legal system that's not as tolerant as it once was.
A workshop led by the Rev. Anna Lange Soto, pastor at Buen Pastor, Redwood City, California, had to be moved to larger quarters to accommodate the level of interest. "It's not just immigration that's become more difficult. It also involves visas to visit, work and study," she said, "and it's become especially more difficult for people from Latin America.
"Families are being divided because in the same family some are residents and some are not," said Soto. "There is work to be done here in this country and an insufficient number of workers. In agriculture, for example, there are not enough people to do the harvesting."
Soto said the need for immigration reform is great, and she realizes it will take a long time. She said many people are afraid. People who have lived in the U.S. illegally are afraid, but so are the people making laws. "My opinion is that they are afraid their country will become Latin."
"What is the church called to do?" Soto said. "The great Anglican theologian Richard Hooker told us to look to scripture, tradition and reason. The Hebrew scripture says the alien shall be as a citizen; the alien shall be given food and treated as if born here. We are too far from that concept. We are Episcopalians, and we have made the promise that we will treat every human being with dignity."
During a break in the workshops, the Rev. Ramón Betances, vicar of San Judas Hispanic congregation in Marietta, Georgia, said the conference "provided a good opportunity to get to know other people from different cultures and cities." Betances said he was able to bring six lay leaders from his parish to the conference because it was held in the Atlanta area. "We have received very good material to help the people in our congregation."
The second evening's banquet speaker will be the Rt. Rev. Sergio Carranza, assistant bishop of Los Angeles, who is substituting for previously scheduled House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson, who was unable to attend.
In a conversation with a reporter before the banquet, Carranza, just a week away from leaving for the Lambeth Conference, said he will explain what the once-a-decade gathering is and what it is not.
"The schism that has been threatened will not happen," he believes, "because this is not just a question of homosexuality or biblical interpretation but also a struggle for power." He sees the Church of England as "almost dead or dying," while the church in Africa and Asia is "alive and active." Latin America, though not growing at the same pace, is still "a big hope," he says.
Carranza said he wants to make it clear that the Episcopal churches of Province IX -- as well as Brazil, Mexico and the countries of Central America -- are not involved in the controversy as are members of the much weaker so-called "Southern Cone" Anglican churches.
"Some may not agree and want us to take it a little slower, but they are not against the Episcopal Church at all and don't want to see the Anglican Communion divided," he said. "They know there is unity in diversity, and diversity is a gift -- not a threat."
Coordinator for the conference is the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén, program officer for Latino/Hispanic Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center. A special website for the program is available here.