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Holy Week resources and reflections

Hispanic Presbyterians pursue love, learning and mission

 

by Melissa Wiginton

Isolation. Loneliness. Financial stress. Generational disconnect. These words pepper all pastors’ conversations. Pastors in rural and small church ministry add more to the litany of challenges: distance, eroding economic bases, shrinking populations, scarce resources. Add cultural and ethnic differences and historic and ongoing discrimination and the challenges multiply exponentially. PC(USA) Hispanic pastors in Texas typically serve small, often rural, congregations with Hispanic members in a heavily Anglo, Baptist and non-denominational culture — like Presbyterian outposts in a land where the Hispanic population grows around them.

They face complex leadership issues.

Language is an issue. In general, congregations established by the Texas-Mexican Presbytery nearly 100 years ago include a generation of people who were rewarded for speaking English. Those members often believe English should be the dominant language in worship, although many can and do also speak Spanish. At the same time, a small but strong minority resisted using English; they remained Spanish-only speakers. Second or third generation families, however, may not speak Spanish at all. Newer congregations, including redevelopments, must use Spanish to include immigrants who speak no English.

Legal status is an issue. In some congregations, the majority of members are U.S. citizens, born here or having obtained citizenship. As in Anglo cultures, opinions vary about whether to accept undocumented immigrants and the differences can cause deep conflict and hurt. Still many immigrants are drawn to Presbyterian churches with Hispanic pastors and people because of the physical support, emotional nurture and spiritual care they find there.

Native culture is an issue. Mexican people founded, built and sustained most of the established Hispanic churches. They gather annually in regional convenciones that have the feel of extended family reunions where they reconnect and celebrate their shared history.

The Hispanic Ministries Mission Network (HMMN) formed in 2014 to respond to the situation of Hispanic ministers and congregations, including the issues named above. The Network exists to support, educate and mobilize Hispanic Presbyterians in the Synod of the Sun. Austin Seminary, a founding partner, helps to provide education for leaders, both lay and ordained, as part of the network’s mission. In April, more than 60 pastors, lay people, and students from Presbyterian Pan American School attended the third annual HMMN meeting. They gathered for two days to worship, to learn about evangelism and mission and to renew friendships and make new acquaintances. The Spirit was present. People left rejoicing for the time together, encouraged with new ideas and alight with hope.

The stories of new life shared in community brought the good news: 40 people baptized at a congregation in Houston on Easter Day. A biracial couple in a small town rejected at all the other churches finding a home in a Presbyterian church — and bringing their friends. A group of Central Americans chartered as a PC(USA) congregation in January. A small church in a small East Texas town that welcomed a Hispanic church-planter to share their building; now there is so much going on, Anglo people are coming out of curiosity.

Hispanic Presbyterian pastors and churches in Texas find more obstacles to living out the church’s mission in this time and place than may be generally assumed. Yet they continue to rise to the call. Among the many kinds of support from which they would benefit, they have identified a central commitment to power of being connected in love, learning and mission through the Hispanic Ministries Mission Network.

Melissa WigintonMelissa Wiginton serves as vice president for Education Beyond the Walls and research professor in Methodist studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas.

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