Hispanic/Latino Presbyterian Men Organize National Association – More than 400 Attend Inaugural Assembly

October 18, 2002
by Jerry L. Van Marter

LAS VEGAS - After two regional gatherings in 2001 that attracted a total of 300 people, 430 Hispanic/Latino Presbyterian men attended the national constituent assembly here Sept. 27-29 that gave birth to the National Association of Hispanos/Latinos Presbyterian Men.

Those in attendance represented all Presbyterian Church (USA) synods and 20 Latin American countries. Also present were Bob Wilson, moderator of Presbyterian Men, and a representative of the Latin American Council of Churches, the regional branch of the World Council of Churches with offices in Quito, Ecuador.

A broad cross-section of national Hispanic Presbyterian leadership was present, including keynote speaker Lloyda Puig-Aja, a Cuban American who is associate stated clerk and director of the Office of the Stated Clerk in Louisville.
The theme of the Assembly was "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full," taken from John 10:10. Worship and workshops focused on revitalization - of Hispanic ministry, of ministry with Hispanic men, of Hispanic congregations and of the entire PC(USA).

Ten of the 14 workshops were offered in Spanish and four in English. All worship services and plenary presentations were simultaneously translated in both languages.
Though the Assembly was entirely self-supporting, participants suggested that the investment of mission budget dollars in the National Association might go a long way toward achieving the denomination's goal of greatly increasing racial ethnic membership in the PC(USA).

The Assembly approved bylaws for the National Association of Hispanos/Latinos Presbyterian Men and elected officers for a three-year term, 2002-2005. They are the Rev. Jose Luis Casal (Cuban, Synod of Lincoln Trails), moderator; Jose R. Torres (Puerto Rican, Synod of South Atlantic), vice-moderator; Pablo Mercado (Puerto Rican, Synod of Puerto Rico), secretary; the Rev. Luis R. Quinones (Puerto Rican, Synod of the Trinity), treasurer; the Rev. Ernesto Hernandez (El Salvadorian, Synod of Southern California and Hawaii), historian and communicator; Leocadio Perez (Mexican, Synod of the Sun), director of evangelism and spiritual growth; Alejandro Paez (Ecuadorian, Synod of the Pacific), director of education and congregational development; the Rev. Milton Nunez-Coba (Colombian, Synod of the Northeast), director of social and community work; and the Rev. Wesley Porto (Brazil), Portuguese-speaking representative.

For more information about the National Association of Hispanos/Latinos Presbyterian Men, contact the Rev. Jose Luis Casal at 708-484-7485 or Carl Horton in the Church Leader Support office of the Congregational Ministries Division at 888-728-7228, ext. 5453.

PCUSA News Service