LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 33

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SYNOD REPORTS 33

a staff position for Hispanic ministry in the late 1970s. Rev. Carlos
Puig, followed by Rev. Roberto Gonzalez, served full time between
1978 and 1994. Rev. Angel Perez served part-time from 1994 to
1998, and Rev. Gonzalez returned full time between 1998 and
2003. The position was not filled after Rev. Gonzalez accepted a
call to a parish in 2003. In the early 1970s, the National Hispanic
Conference formed as a triennial gathering of workers in Hispanic
Ministry and representatives of Hispanic congregations.

Outreach to Spanish-speaking people is conducted by the Inter-
national Lutheran Laymen’s League through its Lutheran Hour
Ministries. A major ministry was the Spanish version of The
Lutheran Hour, begun in 1941 and voiced for 31 years by Dr. An-
drés Meléndez. The radio program was aired in Latin America,
Spain, and the United States.

Concordia Publishing House has provided Spanish language
materials for more than 50 years. Three scholar-pastor-editors (the
now-sainted Dr. Andrés Meléndez, Rev. Carlos Puig, and Rev.
Hector Hoppe) have established Editorial Concordia as a primary
source for theological works in Spanish. Under the editorship of
Dr. Meléndez, CPH published the complete Book of Concord in
Spanish, as well as Culto Cristiano, a complete worship resource
and hymnal used extensively in both the United States and Latin
America. During the last 13 years, Concordia has flourished as a
source of practical, as well as original, theological works. Espe-
cially important is a new series of original theological studies de-
signed from a Hispanic context.

Vision

There are more than 44.7 million Hispanics in the United States.
They are a diverse group in terms of their country of origin, length
of time in our country, culture, and legal status. Many are Roman
Catholics by tradition, yet they know little about the Bible or the
Gospel message of salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ. They
come to this country for economic opportunity, with the cares and
struggles of this life pushing aside their spiritual thirst to know
God. Yet that thirst is there.

Although there are millions of Hispanics in the United States,
we do not see them in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Our
estimate is that there are about 10,000 Hispanics as members in the
LCMS. By God’s grace, that will change.

Since the Hispanic ministries of the Synod are one with the
Synod, they reflect the vision of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod. The LCMS vision of “One Mission, One Message, One
People” is articulated among Latinos as “Una Misién, Un Mensaje,
Un Pueblo.”

Una Mision (One Mission)

In the future, we see that hundreds of thousands of unchurched
Hispanics are hearing the Gospel and being connected by grace to
the church through the ministries of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod including:
¢ Congregations that are bilingual and bicultural,
¢ Congregations that are Hispanic-specific,
¢ Lutheran schools and preschools,
¢ Campus ministries, and
¢ Social service agencies and many others.

We hear that these new disciples are being energized and un-
leashed as missionaries to all people to their Jerusalem, their Judea,
and throughout the world.

In the future, we see thousands of leaders being developed and
resourced to conduct effective ministries. They are found in our
Synod’s existing institutions such as the Center for Hispanic Stud-
ies, the seminaries, and the Concordia University System, as well
as new and existing district extension sites. There is an emphasis on

developing mission planting workers who have resources that in-
clude:

¢ Prayer support,

¢ Ministry skills,

¢ Sustainable models,

¢ Mentoring,

¢ Grants, and

¢ Legal knowledge, etc.

Un Mensaje (One Message)

The Hispanic ministries of the LCMS hold in solidarity with the
whole Synod the message of salvation by grace through faith. They
rejoice in the solid truths of the Scriptures, which they esteem as
the inspired and inerrant Word of God. They are eager to take this
life-giving message to their people, many of whom are not con-
nected by grace to Christ, even though they may have a Christian
heritage. As congregations form and grow, they provide catechism
instruction and Bible study for long-term doctrinal formation.

Un Pueblo (One People)

In the future, we see that these new believers and leaders are
welcomed into the church-at-large. Hispanic ministry is sought
after and prized. We see that Hispanics are welcomed for the di-
versity, cultural perspectives, and gifts that they bring to the
church. They are accepted as leaders and peers. The church sees
itself as doing ministry with Hispanics. They are a part of the fabric
of our church. The church is patiently and evangelically con-
fronting racism. We see that the doors of our churches, district of-
fices, and Synod’s entities say, “Se habla espafiol aqui!”

Issues

By listening to conversations among Hispanic workers and
Anglo workers in Hispanic ministry in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, the task force has heard expressions reflecting
these issues:

Inclusion

Hispanics in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are likely
to react negatively to the phrase “ministry to Hispanics” when they
strongly desire the objective to be “ministry with Hispanics.” This
is more than a matter of a preposition; it is the difference between
being subjects or partners in mission and ministry. ‘

Among Hispanic workers, congregations, and their members,
this desire for partnership includes interest and willingness to assist
in identifying mission starts, placing workers, funding, and plan-
ning for ministry with Hispanics.

Isolation

Hispanic people feel a sense of isolation from the church. Lan-
guage is certainly one issue; economics is another; culture is an-
other. Although its mission and human care efforts are well
intended, the traditional middle-class LCMS does not venture into
the barrios, either in urban communities or rural towns with His-
panic concentrations. Furthermore, many Anglo congregations and
their members have perceptions of Hispanics that may not be en-
tirely accurate.

This isolation is acute among pastors in Hispanic ministries.
Within their circuit or district they may feel disconnected because
of language and common experiences. Information does not filter
to them readily. They often serve alone, distant from resources and
mentoring relationships for their ministry.

Organizationally, Hispanics in the Synod express frustration—
and, in some cases, anger—at what they see as the loss of progress
in Hispanic ministry. Due to budget, the staff position for Hispanic
ministry was eliminated from the LCMS World Mission staff sev-

2007 Convention Workbook