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20/20 Task Force Gathers in San Diego

Episcopal News Service. August 1, 2001 [2001-205]

William F. Dopp, Canon Missioner for Communications and Development for the Diocese of San Diego

(ENS) Nine members of the 20/20 Task Force came together for their fourth meeting in San Diego on July 6-8.

The task force, led by San Diego bishop Gethin B. Hughes, was commissioned by General Convention in Denver last year to study the state of the church and propose a plan for meeting the challenges of the future with the objective of substantial growth. Hughes was one of the sponsors of the initiative and Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold asked him to head the task force.

The first three meetings were devoted to reviewing the scope of the group's task, Hughes said. "We have discussed church development, new church plants and special ministries such as ministry to black people and others with special needs," he explained. "While here in San Diego we are looking at Hispanic ministries. We are also looking at funding needs and we are reviewing data regarding church growth."

Other concerns of the group, charged with looking at the feasibility of doubling church participation by the year 2020, include ministry for and by youth and young adults, communications, theological education, and a variety of special concerns of people within in the church.

Deborah Robayo of Winchester, Virginia, the young adult representative to the task force, commented, "We are on the right track. I think we are hearing the important issues in the church."

At the San Diego meeting, Bishop Leo Alard of the Diocese of Texas made a presentation on Hispanic ministry. Alard is a member of the group looking at the Census 2000, which has revealed a huge growth in the Latino community. He listed language, culture, immigration, and poverty as issues facing Hispanics and suggested that the church must consider congregational development, leadership development, and pastoral care and outreach among Hispanics. "There are 35 million Hispanics in the United States today; there will be 80 million by 2050," Alard told the group. "We must meet this challenge."

The 20/20 program will be designed and offered to the national church later this year. Hughes pointed out that the one person on the committee who will be around as a leader in the church in 2020 is Deborah Robayo. "We're doing our work for her generation," he commented.

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