HOUSTON (ELCA) -- The Rev. Carlos E. Paiva, Iglesia Luterana Angelica (Angelica Lutheran Church), Los Angeles, Calif., was elected president of La Asociacion Luterana de Ministerios Hispanos (Lutheran Association of Hispanic Ministries) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America = (ELCA).=20 Paiva was elected by the 60 members of the association's 1998 general assembly.
The vision set by members of the association is clear, said Paiva.=20 "It is to bring together the various Latino communities and ministries of the church under a unified mission. Members will work to develop channels of communication that will connect the ministries of the church, especially=
where there is a high concentration of Latinos in the United States."
Paiva said members of the association "are seeking to strengthen and expand the missionary field of Latinos in the United States. The association should be constituted as a mission agency with an end to stimulate, coordinate and plant the gospel in communities densely = populated by Latinos in the Unites States."
"My passion and vision is to help strengthen the voice and presence of the association in the church," said the Rev. Lydia Villanueva, Iglesia Luterana La Esperanza de Santa Maria (St. Mary's Hope Lutheran Church), Chicago. Villanueva was elected vice president of the association. =20
"I have children in my church who participate in the life of the congregation. I do not want to leave my spiritual children a weak association -- one that will regard them as invisible people without voice and strength in the church," said Villanueva.
The theme for the assembly was "United in Christ: A Strong, Faithful and Prophetic Community Responding to God's Call and to the Needs of the World." The assembly featured plenary discussions that addressed the theme. =20
"To be a strong, faithful and prophetic community will depend on an intimate relationship with God," said Paiva. "We need to let ourselves become obedient to God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must go back to our fundamental roots of dependence, transparency and faithfulness to God, who has called us in this time of change to bring peace, hope and good news to all people."
Dr. Justo Gonzalez, Asociacion para la Educacion Teologica Hispana (Association for Hispanic Theological Education), Decatur, Ga., said, "For a community to be loyal and prophetic it must have a vision and be ready = to be weak."=20
"To understand the power of God, one must be weak and suffer," Gonzalez said. "The way in which the world understands strength is different than the way the church and gospel understand strength. =20
"The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has an obligation to be with the marginalized. It is not an option. The Latino community also = has an obligation, like the church, to be with the marginalized."
"I define power as the ability to translate intentions into action," said the Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, director for Latin America and the Caribbean ministries in the ELCA's Division for Global Mission. =20
"If we, as individuals or as a community, want to assume that kind of power, we first need to create opportunities for the translation of those intentions, desires and dreams into concrete actions for ministry," he said. "The association becomes that opportunity for participation." =20
Malpica said, "The association provides space for the gathering of the community to share common concerns, ideas and exchange resources. The association is a place where we can check the progress our communities are making."
The assembly also featured workshops, worship and music from "Libro de Liturgia y Cantico" (Book of Liturgy and Song), the ELCA's Spanish-langu= age worship resource.
"Latino Lutherans have an image of God as a provider," said the Rev. Jose Miguel Diaz-Rodriguez, Iglesia Luterana La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Lutheran Church), Chicago. "This image is the basis of their spirituality, a highly-valued element in the Latino culture and personality."=20
Diaz-Rodriguez led a workshop on stewardship among Latino Lutherans.= =20 He is manager for "Discovering the Gifts of God Among the Latino People," a stewardship project of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. = =20
"Stewardship is a strong feature of Latino spirituality, and it is not measured by dollars and cents," he said. "Hispanics are very thankful to God because they truly believe that God is present in daily life. God is incarnate in their reality -- in their midst -- and helps them to = overcome=20 difficulties and troubles. Because of that, Hispanics know that God is a = provider."
Diaz-Rodriguez added that any stewardship education and training among Latino Lutherans will do well if it involves the whole family unit. = =20
The Rev. Maria Valenzuela, director for Hispanic ministries and leadership development in the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries, said, "The Latino community must unite, be committed to each other and walk together to make an impact in this church that is ours. We are a community in Christ that is powerful, faithful and prophetic."=20
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The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
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