"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

The important role of family in strengthening church and community was emphasized at the 15th biennial National Hispanic and Bilingual Assembly. More than 300 Disciples registered, most with a Hispanic background, gathered in Orlando, Fla. from July 7-11 for the nearly four-day Assembly. Worship leaders and other speakers explored the theme of family through sermons, workshops and children's and youth activities, all with a focus on the Joshua 24:15 passage of serving the Lord.

Business items on the agenda included an emergency resolution declaring Arizona Law SB-1070, and other similar laws like it, unjust. The resolution is in response to the Arizona law, which, for the first time, makes illegal immigration a state crime. The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit to stop the implementation of the law, declaring it unconstitutional. Barring a judicial stay, the law goes into effect July 29.

"We want to call the whole church to take a stand on the immigration issue," emphasized National Hispanic Pastor Huberto Pimentel. "There is fear among some in the Hispanic community, but we are asking the church to make a prophetic witness on this matter."

The Hispanic Assembly's resolution affirms the need for just and comprehensive immigration reform that seeks to unite families and provide a clear path to legal residency. It also calls on the church's 33 regional ministers to write their respective U.S. Senators and Representatives to protest anti-immigration laws in their areas. Presently, about 15 states are considering similar legislation. Read the resolution.

(On July 14, Haitian Disciples meeting at Camp Camby, Ind., approved a similar version of the resolution to show their solidarity with Hispanic Disciples, saying they too oppose the immigration law.)

Other highlights of the Assembly included sermons that examined various aspects of the family. Carlos G. Alvarado Salgado, pastor of Sinai Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Brooklyn, N.Y. opened the Assembly by talking about the challenges facing the family, such as domestic violence, unplanned pregnancies, and drug abuse. "We lock ourselves in our churches and are often ignorant to needs outside those four walls," said Salgado, who holds a doctorate in family counseling, "but when we see Jesus we see a saving person, who was sitting outside the walls, among the people."

National Pastor Pimentel preached at the Saturday night, July 10 worship, reminding attendees that all churches are part of the family of God. "We may be geographically apart from each other," he said, "but we are challenged in the Bible to be one."

Pride in the contributions of Hispanic Disciples and a positive outlook for the future was another strong theme at the Assembly. Banquet speaker David Vargas, President of the Division of Overseas Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, challenged attendees to remember that Obra Hispana, or the Hispanic constituency of churches, is not an appendage of the church or a special ministry, but a vital part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He also stressed that Hispanic Disciples should celebrate with gratitude the contributions Hispanic Disciples have made to the development of the denomination over the past 111 years. Hispanic Disciples must work to stay united and remember that Somos Uno - We Are One - is not simply a slogan, Vargas said. Finally, Hispanic Disciples should use their time and energy to minister positively within the church, Vargas concluded.

In his State of the Ministry report, Pimentel outlined several challenges facing Hispanic Disciples including:

• Of the 220 churches listed as Disciples, almost half are not involved in Hispanic "Convenciones" which provide area support and connection.
• Preaching the gospel in ways that relate effectively to a very diverse base of Hispanics. Presently, Disciple Hispanics are represented from the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico. Nuances in language sometimes leads to misunderstanding.
• Changing dynamics and needs for second and third generation Hispanics, versus those who more recently came to this country.
• The establishment of new churches where there are no "Convenciones."
• Lack of coordination between the work of the church's Regions and its "Convenciones"
• Financial challenges

The Assembly also made several changes to its by-laws that now allow for:

• A name change from Caucus to Hispanic Board of Directors
• Incorporating a Board of Trustees to administer the permanent funds
• Aligning the process of approval for the selection of a National Pastor with the Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The appointment of a newly National Pastor by the Pastoral Commission will be submitted to the National Hispanic and Bilingual Assembly requiring a voting of 2/3 of the members present before starting to work at the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries.
• Formal recognition and incorporation of Hispanic Conventions in the by-laws

"Overall, we are thankful for the positive spirit of our recent Assembly," said Pimentel. "We believe people left better informed about what it means to be a Disciple and part of the Obra Hispana."

By: Wanda Bryant Wills, wbwills@cm.disciples.org

Read Dr. Pimentel’s closing sermon to the Assembly in Spanish

Read Dr. Vargas’ sermon in Spanish

Read Dr. Vargas’ sermon in English