Ever since his consecration in October 2000, Bishop James E. Waggoner has been urging the Diocese of Spokane to "be bold in Christ." The diocese responded at its 2001 convention by affirming a plan to squeeze out every last dollar and fully fund its Hispanic ministry one more year. "Now that's bold," the bishop told convention delegates in Spokane Oct. 19.

In 1999, an anonymous donation provided start-up funds that allowed the diocese to call the Rev. Silvestre Romero as full-time Hispanic missioner. The number of established worshiping Hispanic communities has grown from one to four in Ellensburg, Pasco, Prosser and Yakima.

The ministry operates on a shoestring budget -- about $80,000 next year for salary and expenses. Funding after 2002 looms as a large question mark.

"We can never, ever allow the money available to define the mission. The mission must define the money called for," said Bishop Waggoner. He quoted Frank Storey, who was honored by convention upon his retirement after 30 years as diocesan treasurer. Mr. Storey always refused to talk about money "unless we talk about mission first," the bishop recalled.

Emphasis in the Hispanic ministry to date has been on developing lay leadership. Fr. Romero has also raised awareness throughout the diocese of the presence and needs of the Spanish-language population. He provides simultaneous translation for Spanish-speaking delegates to convention and has also served as a translator at General Convention.

Another outgrowth of Fr. Romero's ministry has been a developing relationship between the dioceses of Spokane and Belize, where Fr. Romero's father, the Rt. Rev. Sylvestre Romero, is bishop.

The convention adopted a resolution establishing a companion relationship with Belize. In January some 40 individuals from around the diocese will make a mission trip to the tiny Central American country which was devastated in October by Hurricane Iris.

It will be the second such trip, and it was planned before the hurricane. The storm changed the nature and urgency of the mission, said the Rev. Peter Kalunian, rector of St. Paul's, Kennewick, Wash. Among the team will be seven physicians (including three surgeons), six nurses and a nurse practitioner.

In addition to medical services, the mission team anticipates helping with reconstruction efforts during its 10-day visit.