Hispanic Commission Plans for Mission
Episcopal News Service. March 14, 1977 [77086]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Rev. Samuel Pinzon of the Mision Episcopal Hispana, Washington, D.C., has been elected chairman of the National Commission on Hispanic Affairs of the Episcopal Church in the recently reorganized Church in Society section at the Episcopal Church Center. The reorganization was approved by the General Convention last fall after a study of the Church's theological objectives and priorities.
The commission is one segment in the Coalition for Human Needs, the major program unit for the Church in Society ministry, which is the main grant-making body for minority community action groups and the Church's ethnic ministry programs, as well as other groups representing various aspects of the Church's ministry in society.
Fr. Pinzon was elected chairman of the commission at its first meeting in early March. The Rev. Enrique Brown, St. Luke's Chapel, Stamford, Conn., was elected secretary. The appointment of the commission members, representing the major areas where Hispanic work is done, was made by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin in February, upon recommendation from diocesan bishops and Church Center staff.
The commission made preliminary plans for a national consultation on Hispanic work in the Episcopal Church, to be held later this year, probably in Florida. Mr. Manuel G. Mesa, Miami, Fla., will coordinate the planning for the conference, which will bring together bishops, clergy, and lay persons who share in Hispanic community ministries.
The commission took steps to establish a working relationship with the Church's Province IX -- which embraces the Latin American area -- especially in the publication of a uniform liturgy and hymnal suitable to Hispanics in the U.S. and in the Province.
Guests of the commission -- each of whom spoke briefly -- were Bishop Allin; Bishop Milton L. Wood, Executive for Administration; Bishop Richard B. Martin, Executive for Ministries; and the Rev. Earl Neil, staff officer for the Coalition for Human Needs.
The Rev. Herbert Arrunategui, who became National Officer for Hispanic Affairs on Feb. 1, said, "Historically speaking, this meeting closed a chapter in the Commission's history and marked the starting point in the development of a new structure as it was approved by the General Convention. The Commission looks forward to helping the dioceses in the development of a leadership, lay and clergy, among the Hispanic communities that will lead them to achieve a wholeness in the mainstream of the present historical scenario."
He said that the commission will encourage the Church's dioceses with Hispanic work to establish committees that will serve as liaisons with the National Commission. He said that one goal is for the dioceses to become aware of "the importance of promoting and developing a native clergy of Hispanic-Americans" and "to stop the drain on Province IX."
Fr. Arrunategui said that the commission "realizes the diversities that exist -- national and cultural -- among the Hispanics throughout the country," and "it is the desire of the commission to serve all its Episcopal constituency, regardless of national and cultural background in order to accomplish the mission for which it was appointed."
The commission set up the following committees: Committee on Extension Seminary, Fr. Brown, chairman; Liturgical Committee, the Rev. Luis A. Quiroga, Christ Church and Holy Family, Brooklyn, N.Y., chairman; and an Ad Hoc Christian Education Committee, Fr. Pinzon, chairman.
The following are members of the commission; The Rev. Samuel Pinzon, Washington, D.C., chairman; the Rev. Enrique Brown, Stamford, Conn., secretary; the Rev. Luis A. Quiroga, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Mr. Manuel G. Mesa, Miami, Fla.; the Rt. Rev. Adrian D. Caceres, Quito, Ecuador; Mrs. Ralph Cloud, El Paso, Tex.; Mr. Leopoldo Frade, Sewanee, Tenn.; Mr. Jose Paradela, Elizabeth, N.J.; Mrs. Virginia Ram, Los Angeles, Calif.; and the Rev. Clifford Waller, San Antonio, Tex.