posted on October 28, 2022 by
Leave a Comment

IESDG Supports Endorsement of Rev. Dr. David Wilson as Episcopal Candidate

DWilson HSThe United Methodist Church The Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group (IESDG) represents the racial-ethnic caucuses of the United Methodist Church. The IESDG supports the Native American International Caucus (NAIC) endorsement of the Rev. Dr. David Wilson, of the South Central Jurisdiction, for election as a United Methodist bishop.

Our prayer and hope is that our denomination will elect its first Native American bishop.

An effective and respected minister, friend and advocate within the UMC connection and an ecumenical partner across the world, Rev. David Wilson demonstrates consistent excellence and faithful integrity by leading the church while overcoming a missional context marked by the legacy of colonization and systemic racism, paternalistic mission structures, endemic poverty and economic insecurity, and a history of broken promises to Native people. As a devout United Methodist and Native American, Rev. Wilson’s cultural identity, life experience, exceptional character and divine calling have all uniquely prepared him to bring adaptive creativity and practical wisdom to the office of bishop.

His collaborative posture, mature spirituality, genuine humility, deep empathy, and public solidarity with God’s people, will equip him for the episcopal office at a time when these gifts are most in need. As members of the IESDG representing the diverse racial and ethnic communities of the United Methodist Church, we add our voice to the Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conferences in lifting up and affirming Rev. David Wilson for election to the office of United Methodist bishop.

Rev. Antoine Love, BMCR

Deborah Bass, BMCR

Rev. Lyssette Perez, MARCHA

Rev. Raquel Feagins, MARCHA

Ragghi Rain Calentine, NAIC

Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin, NAIC

Rev. Edgar De Jesus, NFAAUM

Dr. Christina Lee, NFAAUM

Rev. Michael Seui, PINCUM

Filed Under: Noticias
posted on October 27, 2022 by

MARCHA Responds to the Judicial Council Memorandum Number 1450

MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latinx American) is outraged, and frankly speechless, at the injustices in the complaint process related to Bishop Minerva Carcaño, revealed in the dissenting opinions related to Memorandum Number 1450 published on 10/26/2022, by the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church.

The dissenting opinions confirm and validate what MARCHA has been denouncing since the very beginning of the process.

“Fair process is a bedrock principle of the Church that must be present at every stage of a complaint proceeding. In this case, fair process has been violated. The bishop’s rights have been violated. Therefore, we disagree with the majority opinion and believe that the bishop is entitled to immediate reinstatement to her episcopal assignment.”

Dissent Opinion posted by Kabamba Kiboko, Dennis Blackwell, Beth Capen & Lidia N. Gulele

As the dissenting opinions in the Judicial Council’s decision clearly outline, the Western Jurisdiction has not provided the mechanism for a fair process to review the complaints against Bishop Carcaño and did not establish an administrative review committee according to paragraph 539 in the Book of Discipline.

Therefore, MARCHA demands the immediate reinstatement of Bishop Carcano to all her episcopal responsibilities. Furthermore, because the Western Jurisdiction has failed to provide Bishop Carcaño with a fair process, we call on the Council of Bishops to remove the complaint from the Western Jurisdiction’s College to the Council of Bishops, as per paragraph 413.d.iv in the Book of Discipline, to ensure that a fair and equitable process is followed.

MARCHA affirms the right of all parties involved in a complaint process to an equitable process.

MARCHA will continue to closely monitor the process and invites the denomination to continue praying for all parties involved and for a path towards healing and reconciliation to emerge.

MARCHA stands ready to be a part of the healing and reconciliation process.

Paz con Justicia.

Contact Person Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez / MARCHA, President | lyssetteperez@yahoo.com

 

 

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA En respuesta al Memorándum del Consejo Judicial Número 1450

MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latinx American) está indignada, y francamente boquiabierta, ante las injusticias en el proceso de denuncia relacionado con la obispa Minerva Carcaño, reveladas en las opiniones disidentes relacionadas con el Memorándum Número 1450 publicado el 26/10/2022, por el Consejo Judicial de la Iglesia Metodista Unida.

Las opiniones disidentes confirman y validan lo que MARCHA viene denunciando desde el inicio mismo del proceso.

 “El proceso justo es un principio fundamental de la Iglesia que debe estar presente en cada etapa del procedimiento de una denuncia. En este caso, se ha violado el proceso justo. Los derechos del obispo han sido violados. Por lo tanto, no estamos de acuerdo con la opinión de la mayoría y creemos que la obispo tiene derecho a la reincorporación inmediata a su asignación episcopal”.

Opinión disidente publicada por Kabamba Kiboko, Dennis Blackwell, Beth Capen y Lidia N. Gulele

Como se indica claramente en las opiniones disidentes de la decisión del Consejo Judicial, la Jurisdicción Occidental no ha proporcionado el mecanismo para un proceso justo para revisar las denuncias contra la obispo Carcaño y no ha establecido un comité de revisión administrativa de acuerdo con el párrafo 539 del Libro de Disciplina.

Por ello, MARCHA exige la inmediata reincorporación de la obispo Carcaño a todas sus responsabilidades episcopales. Además, debido a que la Jurisdicción Occidental no ha brindado a la Obispo Carcaño un proceso justo, hacemos un llamado al Consejo de Obispos para que retire la queja del Colegio de la Jurisdicción Occidental al Consejo de Obispos, según el párrafo 413.d.iv en el Libro de Disciplina, para garantizar que se siga un proceso justo y equitativo.

MARCHA afirma el derecho de todas las partes involucradas en un proceso de denuncia a un proceso equitativo.

MARCHA continuará monitoreando de cerca el proceso e invita a la denominación a continuar orando por todas las partes involucradas y para que surja un camino hacia la sanación y la reconciliación.

MARCHA está lista para ser parte del proceso de sanación y reconciliación.

Paz con Justicia.

Persona de Contacto Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez / MARCHA, Presidenta | lyssetteperez@yahoo.com

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With: , ,
posted on October 21, 2022 by
Leave a Comment

MARCHA and JFON Respond to the Busing of Asylum Seekers

Vea abajo para versión en español

National Justice For Our Neighbors, a network of 19 immigration legal service providers, and Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans (MARCHA), the official Hispanic/ Latinx Caucus in the United Methodist Church, condemn, in the strongest terms, Governors Abbot’s (TX),  DeSantis (FL), and Ducey’s (AZ) inhumane migrant relocation programs.

Governor Abbot, DeSantis, and Ducey have bused—or flown—thousands of asylum seekers to Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Martha’s Vineyard, and even Vice President Kamala Harris’s official residence. They have done so in bad faith and without coordination with non-profits and local government.

Their intent is transparent: to divide, sow mistrust, and create chaos until we turn away migrants at the border seeking refuge.

Rather than meeting international obligations to welcome and protect asylum seekers, these three governors are using asylum seekers as political pawns to fabricate a crisis leading up to the midterm elections. They have intentionally misled asylum seekers with false promises, sabotaging their cases by leaving them stranded far from their scheduled court hearings, and then purposefully overwhelming community shelters and local resources.

As a network of legal service providers and people of faith, we know that this political stunt is cruel and immoral.

We jointly call for:

  1. an immediate end to this dehumanizing political charade of busing migrants around the nation
  2. all elected leaders and political candidates to refrain from using migrants and asylum seekers as political props
  3. national and local news networks to provide accurate and unbiased information as they cover this humanitarian crisis
  4. faith communities and other community groups where migrants are being bused to organize and offer radical hospitality to ensure the safety and well-being of those displaced through this vindictive practice
  5. the Biden Administration “to restore and strengthen our asylum system,” as has been promised multiple times since his campaign.

Asylum is not about politics. It is a human and legal right. The asylum process must begin with allowing asylum seekers to seek refuge at our borders, and it must be followed by compassion at every step of the process. It is our moral duty.

Our partners and JFON sites respond:

The current treatment of immigrants arriving at the border seeking asylum by the governors of Texas, Florida, and Arizona is inhumane and unacceptable. We must not allow hateful tactics, like the busing of migrants by these governors, to take over our nation. We applaud all the welcoming cities, like our own city of Chicago, that have stepped up to show that we can do better.

—Claudia Marchan, Executive Director, Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors

Coordinating transportation for recently arriving asylum seekers to their families and sponsors is an essential part of the humanitarian response of offering welcome to those seeking safety. But in our state, Governor Abbott is using human lives for political theater, attempting to create chaos. Asylum seekers deserve to be welcomed with dignity, not treated as political pawns.

—Kristen Bowdre, Executive Director, El Paso Justice for Our Neighbors

The haphazard and callous busing of migrants from Texas to New York is without rhyme or reason. One of our immigrant friends bused to New York—and currently staying at our church—was scheduled to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Francisco. Three of our immigrant friends were also bused to New York, even though they had family and job prospects in other states. These are human beings, who are deserving of so much better.

—Lea Mathews, St Paul & St. Andre United Methodist Church

 We must stop the harmful use of asylum seekers and their quest for safety as political propaganda. Our migrant communities and asylum seekers have legal rights to seek safety at our borders with genuine representation and a clear understanding of their legal options. We must continue our relentless advocacy to end this harmful movement.

—Roxana Aguilar, Executive Director, Arizona Justice for Our Neighbors

We call on houses of worship, people of faith, and local communities to do what they can to provide holistic assistance, resources, and community for our migrant sisters and brothers. Over the coming weeks and months, we encourage members of the faith to contact their representatives in Congress and the Biden Administration to urge them to restore and strengthen our asylum system as was promised. We need permanent solutions, and one way to do that is through legislation.

—Rev. Kendal McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights, General Board of Church and Society

 

ESPAÑOL

Justicia para Nuestros Vecinos (JFON por sus siglas en inglés), una red de 19 proveedores de servicios legales de inmigración, y los Metodistas Asociadas/os en Representación de la Causa de los Hispanoamericanos (MARCHA), el Caucus oficial Hispano/Latinx en la Iglesia Metodista Unida, condenan, en los términos más enérgicos, a los gobernadores Abbot ( TX), DeSantis (FL) y los inhumanos programas de reubicación de migrantes de Ducey (AZ).

El gobernador Abbot, DeSantis y Ducey han transportado en autobús o en avión a miles de solicitantes de asilo a Washington, D.C., Nueva York, Chicago, Martha’s Vineyard e incluso a la residencia oficial de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris. Lo han hecho de mala fe y sin coordinación con organizaciones sin fines de lucro y el gobierno local.

Su intención es transparente: dividir, sembrar desconfianza y crear caos hasta que rechacemos a los migrantes en la frontera que buscan refugio.

En lugar de cumplir con las obligaciones internacionales de dar la bienvenida y proteger a los solicitantes de asilo, estos tres gobernadores están utilizando a los solicitantes de asilo como peones políticos para fabricar una crisis que conduzca a las elecciones de mitad de mandato. Han engañado intencionalmente a los solicitantes de asilo con falsas promesas, saboteando sus casos dejándolos varados lejos de sus audiencias judiciales programadas y luego saturando deliberadamente los refugios comunitarios y los recursos locales.

Como red de proveedores de servicios legales y personas de fe, sabemos que este truco político es cruel e inmoral.

Hacemos un llamado conjunto para:

  1. el fin inmediato de esta farsa política deshumanizante de transportar inmigrantes en autobús por todo el país
  2. todos los líderes electos y candidatos políticos se abstengan de utilizar a los migrantes y solicitantes de asilo como apoyo político
  3. redes de noticias nacionales y locales para proporcionar información precisa e imparcial mientras cubren esta crisis humanitaria
  4. comunidades de fe y otros grupos comunitarios donde los migrantes están siendo transportados en autobús para organizarse y ofrecer hospitalidad radical para garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de los desplazados a través de esta práctica vengativa
  5. la Administración Biden “para restaurar y fortalecer nuestro sistema de asilo”, como se ha prometido varias veces desde su campaña.

El asilo no se trata de política. Es un derecho humano y jurídico. El proceso de asilo debe comenzar con permitir que los solicitantes de asilo busquen refugio en nuestras fronteras, y debe seguir la compasión en cada paso del proceso. Es nuestro deber moral.

Nuestros aliados y otras satélites de JFON responden:

El tratamiento actual de los inmigrantes que llegan a la frontera en busca de asilo por parte de los gobernadores de Texas, Florida y Arizona es inhumano e inaceptable. No debemos permitir que tácticas de odio, como el transporte en autobús de migrantes por parte de estos gobernadores, se apoderen de nuestra nación. Aplaudimos a todas las ciudades acogedoras, como nuestra propia ciudad de Chicago, que han dado un paso al frente para demostrar que podemos hacerlo mejor.

—Claudia Marchan, Directora Ejecutiva, Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors

Coordinar el transporte de los solicitantes de asilo recién llegados a sus familias y patrocinadores es una parte esencial de la respuesta humanitaria de ofrecer la bienvenida a quienes buscan seguridad. Pero en nuestro estado, el gobernador Abbott está utilizando vidas humanas para el teatro político, intentando crear caos. Los solicitantes de asilo merecen ser recibidos con dignidad, no tratados como peones políticos.

—Kristen Bowdre, Directora Ejecutiva, El Paso Justicia para Nuestros Vecinos

El transporte desordenado e insensible de los inmigrantes de Texas a Nueva York no tiene ton ni son. Uno de nuestros amigos inmigrantes que viajó en autobús a Nueva York, y actualmente se hospeda en nuestra iglesia, estaba programado para presentarse ante el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas en San Francisco. Tres de nuestros amigos inmigrantes también viajaron en autobús a Nueva York, a pesar de que tenían familia y perspectivas laborales en otros estados. Estos son seres humanos, que merecen mucho mejor.

—Lea Mathews, Iglesia Metodista Unida St Paul & St. Andre

Debemos detener el uso nocivo de los solicitantes de asilo y su búsqueda de seguridad como propaganda política. Nuestras comunidades de migrantes y solicitantes de asilo tienen derechos legales para buscar seguridad en nuestras fronteras con una representación genuina y una comprensión clara de sus opciones legales. Debemos continuar con nuestra defensa incesante para poner fin a este movimiento dañino.

—Roxana Aguilar, Directora Ejecutiva, Justicia de Arizona para Nuestros Vecinos

Hacemos un llamado a los lugares de culto, las personas de fe y las comunidades locales para que hagan lo que puedan para brindar asistencia integral, recursos y comunidad para nuestros hermanos y hermanas migrantes. Durante las próximas semanas y meses, alentamos a los miembros de la fe a que se comuniquen con sus representantes en el Congreso y la Administración Biden para instarlos a restaurar y fortalecer nuestro sistema de asilo como se prometió. Necesitamos soluciones permanentes, y una forma de hacerlo es a través de la legislación.

-Rvdo. Kendal McBroom, Director de Derechos Civiles y Humanos, Junta General de Iglesia y Socieda

Justicia para Nuestros Vecinos (JFON por sus siglas en inglés), una red de 19 proveedores de servicios legales de inmigración, y los Metodistas Asociadas/os en Representación de la Causa de los Hispanoamericanos (MARCHA), el Caucus oficial Hispano/Latinx en la Iglesia Metodista Unida, condenan, en los términos más enérgicos, a los gobernadores Abbot ( TX), DeSantis (FL) y los inhumanos programas de reubicación de migrantes de Ducey (AZ).

El gobernador Abbot, DeSantis y Ducey han transportado en autobús o en avión a miles de solicitantes de asilo a Washington, D.C., Nueva York, Chicago, Martha’s Vineyard e incluso a la residencia oficial de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris. Lo han hecho de mala fe y sin coordinación con organizaciones sin fines de lucro y el gobierno local.

Su intención es transparente: dividir, sembrar desconfianza y crear caos hasta que rechacemos a los migrantes en la frontera que buscan refugio.

En lugar de cumplir con las obligaciones internacionales de dar la bienvenida y proteger a los solicitantes de asilo, estos tres gobernadores están utilizando a los solicitantes de asilo como peones políticos para fabricar una crisis que conduzca a las elecciones de mitad de mandato. Han engañado intencionalmente a los solicitantes de asilo con falsas promesas, saboteando sus casos dejándolos varados lejos de sus audiencias judiciales programadas y luego saturando deliberadamente los refugios comunitarios y los recursos locales.

Como red de proveedores de servicios legales y personas de fe, sabemos que este truco político es cruel e inmoral.

Hacemos un llamado conjunto para:

  1. el fin inmediato de esta farsa política deshumanizante de transportar inmigrantes en autobús por todo el país
  2. todos los líderes electos y candidatos políticos se abstengan de utilizar a los migrantes y solicitantes de asilo como apoyo político
  3. redes de noticias nacionales y locales para proporcionar información precisa e imparcial mientras cubren esta crisis humanitaria
  4. comunidades de fe y otros grupos comunitarios donde los migrantes están siendo transportados en autobús para organizarse y ofrecer hospitalidad radical para garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de los desplazados a través de esta práctica vengativa
  5. la Administración Biden “para restaurar y fortalecer nuestro sistema de asilo”, como se ha prometido varias veces desde su campaña.

El asilo no se trata de política. Es un derecho humano y jurídico. El proceso de asilo debe comenzar con permitir que los solicitantes de asilo busquen refugio en nuestras fronteras, y debe seguir la compasión en cada paso del proceso. Es nuestro deber moral.

Nuestros aliados y otras satélites de JFON responden:

El tratamiento actual de los inmigrantes que llegan a la frontera en busca de asilo por parte de los gobernadores de Texas, Florida y Arizona es inhumano e inaceptable. No debemos permitir que tácticas de odio, como el transporte en autobús de migrantes por parte de estos gobernadores, se apoderen de nuestra nación. Aplaudimos a todas las ciudades acogedoras, como nuestra propia ciudad de Chicago, que han dado un paso al frente para demostrar que podemos hacerlo mejor.

—Claudia Marchan, Directora Ejecutiva, Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors

Coordinar el transporte de los solicitantes de asilo recién llegados a sus familias y patrocinadores es una parte esencial de la respuesta humanitaria de ofrecer la bienvenida a quienes buscan seguridad. Pero en nuestro estado, el gobernador Abbott está utilizando vidas humanas para el teatro político, intentando crear caos. Los solicitantes de asilo merecen ser recibidos con dignidad, no tratados como peones políticos.

—Kristen Bowdre, Directora Ejecutiva, El Paso Justicia para Nuestros Vecinos

El transporte desordenado e insensible de los inmigrantes de Texas a Nueva York no tiene ton ni son. Uno de nuestros amigos inmigrantes que viajó en autobús a Nueva York, y actualmente se hospeda en nuestra iglesia, estaba programado para presentarse ante el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas en San Francisco. Tres de nuestros amigos inmigrantes también viajaron en autobús a Nueva York, a pesar de que tenían familia y perspectivas laborales en otros estados. Estos son seres humanos, que merecen mucho mejor.

—Lea Mathews, Iglesia Metodista Unida St Paul & St. Andre

Debemos detener el uso nocivo de los solicitantes de asilo y su búsqueda de seguridad como propaganda política. Nuestras comunidades de migrantes y solicitantes de asilo tienen derechos legales para buscar seguridad en nuestras fronteras con una representación genuina y una comprensión clara de sus opciones legales. Debemos continuar con nuestra defensa incesante para poner fin a este movimiento dañino.

—Roxana Aguilar, Directora Ejecutiva, Justicia de Arizona para Nuestros Vecinos

Hacemos un llamado a los lugares de culto, las personas de fe y las comunidades locales para que hagan lo que puedan para brindar asistencia integral, recursos y comunidad para nuestros hermanos y hermanas migrantes. Durante las próximas semanas y meses, alentamos a los miembros de la fe a que se comuniquen con sus representantes en el Congreso y la Administración Biden para instarlos a restaurar y fortalecer nuestro sistema de asilo como se prometió. Necesitamos soluciones permanentes, y una forma de hacerlo es a través de la legislación.

-Rvdo. Kendal McBroom, Director de Derechos Civiles y Humanos, Junta General de Iglesia y Sociedad

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With: , , , ,
posted on September 4, 2022 by
9 Comments

Open Letter to the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church

Dear Bishops, we greet you in the name of Christ and on behalf of MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latinx Americans). We write to you with a troubled heart and concern about the long and over-extended suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño and its effects on the Hispanic/Latinx ministry and the witness of our entire Church.

MARCHA continues to be deeply grieved that one of the most influential voices in our community and the entire United Methodist connection is and continues to be silenced. Bishop Carcaño’s courageous advocacy on behalf of immigrants and her deep commitment to fighting injustices in our society has won the admiration and respect of many people in our Church, leaders in other denominations, and civic groups. MARCHA is especially concerned that in the last meeting of the Council of Bishops, the Immigration Task Force, which was effectively led by Bishop Carcaño in the past, did not offer a report. At this moment, when the refugee and immigration crisis continues to increase due to war and other conflicts, her leadership is sorely missed.

We question the fact that the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and Committee on Episcopacy placed Bishop Carcaño in suspension, even before the process of investigation began to ascertain the veracity of the allegations. We know that many bishops are subject to complaints. Yet, no other Jurisdictional College in the history of the United Methodist Church has placed a bishop in suspension before the proper committee had investigated the complaint.  This suspension has now been extended, without regard to the adverse effects. The rumors that are circulating in our Church regarding this matter create feelings of resentment and distrust in the judicial processes of our Church among the Hispanic/Latinx United Methodists and others. At this moment in our Church, trust is crucial.

MARCHA believes it is necessary to question the United Methodist Church, a predominantly white institution, when it has different standards for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) leaders, as opposed to white leaders, particularly in complaint processes. The uncertainty of the Council of Bishops’ stated commitment to dismantling racism is disheartening when it is not experienced in our Hispanic/Latinx community. The Western Jurisdiction College’s decision to depart from precedent with regard to the practice of due process raises a critical question in our minds: Why is a Hispanic/Latina woman Bishop being treated differently?

Therefore, given the length of the suspension imposed, the possible lack of impartiality, the unprecedented beginning of the complaint process, and the proliferation of rumors circulation in the Western Jurisdiction, MARCHA respectfully requests that the Council of Bishops will remove the complaints against Bishop Carcaño from the College and assume responsibility for processing them.

“The Council of Bishops may, at any time in the process, after a complaint is filed, including after a just resolution, remove the complaint from the College of Bishops to the Council of Bishops with a two-thirds vote by the Council.” (Par. 413.d.iv, 2016 Book of Discipline).

The Council of Bishops has the power to intervene and take a restorative role in addressing the harm done to the entire connection. We pray the Council of Bishops will witness its commitment to providing an equitable and fair process.

MARCHA calls our Church to continue surrounding in prayer all parties involved. MARCHA intends to continue closely monitoring the progress of this process as we walk alongside justice.

Rev. Lyssette Perez, President

Rev. Nora Colmenares, Vice President

Rev. Héctor A. Burgos, Communications
Rev. Raquel Feagins, Secretary
Rev. Joel Hortiales, Strategy
Pastor Imelda Román de Gómez, Administration
Dr. Ilia Vázquez-Gascot, Education

Raúl Alegría – Treasurer

Andrés de Arco – Young Adult

 

Sign the Letter and Petition to the Council of Bishops

Also signed by,

Estefany Sanabria, Northern Illinois Conference

Doug Ruffle, Greater New Jersey Annual Conference

Jeannette Zajac Greater NJ

Rev Dr Enna Antunez Iowa Annual Conference

Gricelda G Careaga. Río Texas Conference

Sandra Sypherd Great Plains Conference

Rev. Lyssette Perez, MARCHA, GNJ Annual Conference

Raul Alegría – Tennessee- Western Kentucky

Michael G Rivas, Florida conference

Rev. Paula Cripps-Vallejo, Northern Illinois Conference

Rev. José Esteban Rivera-Bocanegra Greater NewJersey Annual Conference

Pastor Luis Daniel Román-Hernández / Iglesia Metodista de Puerto Rico

Nilka Marrero Garcia Puerto Rico Conference

Diana Jani Darak-Druck New York Annual Conference

MARY SILVA- RIO TEXAS CONFERENCE

Maritza Gonzalez, Greater New Jersey

Mcwilliam Colon Greater New Jersey Annual conference

Imelda Roman Wisconsin Conference

Lori Valentine de Segovia, Virginia Annual Conference

Lilian Cotto EPAC

Jazelis Adorno, GNJUMC

Rev. Liliana Padilla Rio Texas Conference

Paloma Rodriguez-Rivera, Puerto Rico Conference

Michael Bergman, Mountain Sky Conference

Rev. David K. Farley, California Pacific Conference

David Jaimes, CALPAC

Rev. Miguel Nieves/ Northern Illinois Conference

Luis Daniel Roman-Hernandez / Iglesia Metodista de Puerto Rico

Rev. Dr. Sammy Arroyo

Dr. Daniel F. Flores, Rio Texas

Rev. Aida Luz Beltrán-Gaetán

Rev. Alejandro Alfaro-Santiz Iowa Annual Conference

George Lockwood Pacific Northwood

James Duane Perdue, Iowa Onference

Iris Chavez Rio Texas Annual Conference

Philip Wingeier-Rayo, Baltimore-Washington

Ediberto López-Rodríguez NYAC

Ramon Bello.Great Plains.

Fernando J Vazquez

Rev. Diac. Ivelisse Feliciano Arocho – Puerto Rico

Edith Zewadski-Bricker – Florida Conference

Sonya Luna, Michigan Conference

Juan Quintanilla NGC

Alma L Matos, GNJ

Tennessee Wester Kentucky

Rev. Dr Ivelisse Quiñones SG

Eileen Rivera Greater New Jersey Conference

Valerie L Mendoza

Abigael C Perales (Rio Texas Conference)

Alma Pérez- TWK

Adriana Leija – RIO TEXAS

Jose Luis Palos Rio Texas Conference

Sabrina Martinez

Myrna E. Pérez López IM Puerto Rico

Rev. Dr. Jose A Carrión Aquino. FLUMC

Manuel chavez jr Rio Grande

Rev. Carmen M. Gaud Desert Southwest

Rev. Dr. Diana L. Hynson, Baltimore–Washington Annual Conference

Eliezer Valentín-Castañón, Baltimore Washington Conference

Normary Rodriguez, GNJUMC

Yesenia Palomino /Greater New Jersey

Juan Carlos Ruiz / Greater New Jersey

Rev. Dr. Guillermo Chavez RioTexas Conference

Rev. Cricket Denton GNJ

Rev dr Miguel Balderas. Baltimore Washington conference

Dr. C. Anthony Hunt, Baltimore-Washington Conference

Carole Davenport, Northern Illinois Conference

Eunice Garcia Rio Texas Conference

Rafael Moreno Rivas, Iglesia Metodista de Puerto Rico

Julia Puac-Romero, North Texas

Ramon Ramirez-Rio Texas Conference

Julia Puac-Romero, North Texas

Rev. Matthew Mariani, Northern Illinois Annual Conference

Rev. Sara Giron-Ortiz, New York Annual

Rev. Dr. Juan. G. Feliciano-Valera, Puerto Rico

Nilda Ferrari/ VA AC

Juan Trillo-North Texas Conference

Rev. Charles Kyle

Eusebio Juni Camacho NIC

Rev. Isidro Piña Rio Texas Conference

Héctor Soto Vélez Puerto Rico

Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer Northern Illinois Conference

Miriam Peralta, Michigan

Rev. Myriam Cortes- Tennessee Western Kentucky

Rev. Dr. Leo Yates Baltimore-Washington Conference

Miros Villarreal. Rio Texas Conference

Rev. Teresa Pena Rio Texas Conference

Rvdo. Julio Vargas, PR Annual Conference and UMC endorsed to the Army Chaplaincy

Efrain Cotto, Jr., Eastern Penn. Conference

Rev. Dr. Richard Romero, Greater New Jersey

Rvda.Diaconisa Maria Teresa Santiago IMPR

Migdiel E. Perez, Tennessee/ Western Kentucky

Ian Straker New York Annual Conference

Josefina Pérez / CalPac Conference

Kim Cape Cal-Nevada

Bilha Ramírez Alegría/TN/Western KY

Joan Clark, Oregon-Idaho annual conference

J. Ann Craig, New York

Kelly C. Martini, Eastern Pa.

Dr. Neva Fuentes, Rio Texas Conference

Rev. Thelma Herrera Flores-Rio Texas

Rev. Yeika A. Huertas Román IM de Puerto Rico sirviendo en Greater New Jersey Conference

Rev Sonia E Brum, SC

Daisy Tavarez NYAC

Marisa Villarreal,New York Conference

Rev. Isabel Gomez ret. Rio Texas conference

Susan L ODell, PhD Oregon-Idaho Conference

Ann Needham Bower, Oklahoma

Cesar García Rodríguez, Michigan

Rev. Karina Feliz, NYAC

Leta Evelyn Gullatt. Rio Texas

Eric A. Hernandez Lopez, Puerto Rico

Luis F Reyes,  Northern Illinois

Ellen Kirby, Western North Carolina Conference

Karen Eaker  North Texas Conference

Eddie Gouge, Baltimore-Washington Conference

Shirley Durr, Minnesota Annual Conference

Rev. Dr. Felicisimo Cao California-Nevada Conference

Rev. Sherrie Lowly, Northern Illinois

Kylie Nelson, Oregon-Idaho Conference

Hannah Phillips Mollenkamp, North Texas Conference

Joyce Sohl Arkansas

Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, Louisiana

Rev. Pam Cahoon, Fl Conference

Rev. Brian Lee Daugherty- West Virginia Annual Conference

Obed J. Pérez- Greater New Jersey

Stephen Bryant. Rio Texas Conference

Bishop Emeritus Rev. Dr. Ramon Hernandez

Rev Dr. Ramón Hernandez-Lopez, Bishop Emeritus. Iglesia Metodista de PR

Rev. Scott Marsh,  Michigan Annual Conference

Esmeralda Mendoza south rio texas

Sam Mendoza, south rio texas

Pastor Daniel Levine NYAC

Eradio Valverde, Rio Texas

Rev. Dr. David T. Grout, Kentucky Annual Conf

Rev. Francisco Arroyo Northern Illinois Annual Conference

Rev. Ivelisse Garay Bishop-GNJUMC

Rev Jorge Rodriguez Vasquez President MARCHA WEST

Mark R. Sills, WNCC

Felix Tshibang

Betty J. Letzig, Western North Carolina

Kim A DonnellySummers Desert Southwest

Rev. Martha E. Swords-Horrell. Upper New York Conference

Peter K Lau, California-Nevada Conference

Diana Carcaño- Rio Texas Conference

Arabella Chavez, Rio Texas

Western North Carolina

Andrea Paret, Great Plains Conference

Rev. John D. Current, California- Nevada Annual Conference

  1. Betsy Careaga, Río Texas conference

Bryan Wilson, Northern Illinois Annual Conference

Eunice Vega-Perez GNJ

Rev. Dr. Drew A. Dyson, Greater NJ

Scott Gallagher WPA

Rev. Tom Lank, Greater New Jersey

Rev. Virginia Samuel Cetuk

Rev. Rosario L. Quinones, GNJ

Pastora Elizabeth  González GNJ

María Milagros Rivera-  BW Conference

Rev. Rolando Santiago- Fuentes – GNJAC

Juarez Gonçalves New England Conference

Dori Fotsch, Cal Pac

Rev Manuel Sardinas, GNJ

Lourdes L. Matos,  Greater NJ Annual Conference

Rosa Yáñez-Islas

Allie Lakey, Desert Southwest

Gredda Marrero, Florida Conference

  1. Theresa McConnell, Louisiana

Rev. Joseph McCarthy, GNJAC

Rachel McConnell-Switzer, Louisiana Annual Conference

Rev. Linda Butler, Iowa Annual Conference

Deen Thompson  TNWKY Conference

Deaconess Allison Francesco, Susquehanna Annual Conference

Rev. Dr. Bradford Motta. Greater New Jersey.

Sehee Han, California Pacific Conference

Laurie Kaufman de la Garza.  Michigan Conference

Rev. Shawn Lelion Greater NJ

Edward G Martin, Greater New Jersey

Cyndi Stouffer – Greater NJ

Charles T. McNeil, Greater NJ

Rev. George Morris, Greater New Jersey, Retired

Rev. Heather Valosin, GNJ

Paul Smith, New York Annual Conference

Rev. Victoria Wood Parrish – New England Annual Conference

Rev Ed Carll.  GNJ

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey D. Sterling, Western PA Conference

Rev. Perrin Crouch, Missouri Annual Conference

Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton, Baltimore-Washington Conference

Patricia Bellingrath Holston Conference

Doug Cunningham, New York Annual Conference

Theresa McConnell

Nancy Reding CA/NV Conference

Diane Dyson greater NJ Conference

Rev. M Jade Kaiser (Barclay) – Northern Illinois Conference

Javier F Careaga-Rio Texas Conference

Joseph Tognetti Rio Texas

Rev. Dawn Maffetone, Greater New jersey Annual Conference

Rev. Nydia Irizarry- Jara / Rio Texas Conference

Rev Pat Watkins Virginia AC

Rev. Christina C. Zito     Greater New Jersey AC

Rev. Gary Frieze, Greater NJ

Debra A. De Vos, Greater New Jersey

Rev. Marissa van der Valk Greater New Jersey Annual Conference

Sharon Gallagher Wpa

Rev Diane Pacione GNJ

Rev. Jennifer Lovallo, GNJ

Rev Amanda Hemenetz, Greater New Jersey

Rev. Jessica Brendler Naulty, GNJ

Jim Bielefeldt  Greater NJ Conference

Isaac Simmons: Illinois Great Rivers Conference

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With: , ,
posted on June 12, 2022 by
Leave a Comment

When Apologies Fail Us – A Call to Repentance (Reflections on recent events at the Arkansas Annual Conference Session)

Reflections on recent events at the Arkansas Annual Conference Session

“Tension” is not an adjective fit enough to describe the days we are living.  We are walking on eggshells within the United Methodist Church and in our communities and neighborhoods. Coupled with the word “tension,” we can add such words as frustration, anxiety, and division, which only worsens matters.  We feel hopeless as we watch the events that unfolded in Buffalo, Uvalde, Philadelphia, Tulsa, and so many others of our communities devastated and victimized again and again through the violence of guns. We only hear “thoughts and prayers” from our elected officials without any action.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With: , , ,
posted on May 19, 2022 by
1 Comment

BMCR supports MARCHA’s Advocacy for Bishop Minerva Carcaño and NAIC expresses its solidarity with MARCHA

 05/18/2022 – On March 9, 2022, the Western Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy and the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops announced that Bishop Minerva Carcaño had been placed on leave from her episcopal responsibilities, while a special committee investigates the complaints related to the suspension. 

This action raised concern as a prolonged process can only produce a negative impact, independently of the result of the investigation. Also, MARCHA is not aware of any bishop being suspended without first reviewing the allegations, which also creates concern that a different standard is being utilized in this case. Since the news of the suspension came out, MARCHA has been monitoring and advocating for a fair and transparent process.

On May 12, 2022, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Inc. (BMCR), send a letter to MARCHA expressing their solidarity with Bishop Minerva Carcaño, MARCHA, and the Latino community. “As partners with you in seeking racial equity and social justice, we commend your desire to ensure that Bishop Carcaño as a woman of color is being treated equitably and compassionately in this process. And that is our sincerest desire as well”, said the letter signed by Rev. Tony Love and Ms. Deborah Bass, chair, and vice-chair of BMCR, accordingly.

[Read more…]
Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With:
posted on April 24, 2022 by
Leave a Comment

MARCHA RESQUESTS GCORR AND GCSRW TO MONITOR THE PROCESS OF THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST BISHOP MINERVA CARCAÑO

April 24, 2022 – MARCHA (Methodist Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino Americans) officially requested the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) and the General Commission on Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) to review and monitor the process of the complaints against Bishop Minerva Carcaño dated on March 9, 2022 by the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Committee on Episcopacy.

Since the announcement of Bishop Carcaño’s suspension, MARCHA has raised questions regarding the process by sending two open letters to the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and Committee on Episcopacy. MARCHA is concerned that the complaint process being followed in Bishop’s Carcaño case has disparities in comparison with others. To our knowledge, this is the first time in our denomination’s history that a bishop has been placed in suspension before the review of complaints.

On April 6, 2022, MARCHA requested the Western Jurisdiction to lift Bishop Carcaño’s suspension. The variables of institutional racism, sexism, retaliation, and others may be hindering the fair and just process for Bishop Carcaño, therefore MARCHA requested GCORR and GCSRW to intervene, review and monitor the ongoing process to ensure it is fair and just.

MARCHA intends to continue closely monitoring the whole progress as we walk alongside justice.

Contact person:

Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez

President of MARCHA

lyssetteperez@yahoo.com

(973) 405-8851 (Cell/Text)

Marcha (Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa de los estadounidenses hispanos / latinos) solicitó oficialmente a la Comisión General sobre Religión y Raza (GCORR) y la Comisión General de Estatus y Rol de Mujeres (GCSRW) de la Iglesia Metodista Unida (UMC) revisar y monitorear el proceso de las quejas contra la obispo Minerva Carcaño fechado el 9 de marzo de 2022 por el Colegio de Jurisdicción Occidental de Obispos y la Comisión de Episcopado.

Desde el anuncio de la suspensión de la obispo Carcaño, Marcha ha planteado preguntas sobre el proceso enviando dos cartas abiertas al Colegio de Jurisdicción Occidental de Obispos y Comisión de Episcopacía. A Marcha le preocupa que el proceso de queja que se sigue en el caso de la Obispo Carcaño tiene disparidades en comparación con los demás. Para nuestro conocimiento, esta es la primera vez en la historia de nuestra denominación que un obispo se ha puesto en suspensión antes de la revisión de las quejas.

El 6 de abril de 2022, Marcha solicitó a la jurisdicción occidental que levante la suspensión de la obispo Carcaño. Las variables del racismo institucional, el sexismo, las represalias y otros pueden estar obstaculizando el proceso para la obispo Carcaño, por lo tanto, Marcha solicitó que GCORR y GCSRW intervengan, revisen y monitoreen el proceso para garantizar que sea justo.

MARCHA tiene la intención de continuar monitoreando de cerca este proceso mientras caminamos junto a la justicia.

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With:
posted on April 6, 2022 by
Leave a Comment

MARCHA REQUEST THE WESTERN JURISDICTION COLLEGE OF BISHOPS OF THE UMC TO LIFT THE SUSPENSION OF BISHOP MINERVA CARCAÑO

On March 9, 2022, the Western Jurisdiction announced the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño. MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino Americans) raised questions regarding the process and decision of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Committee on Episcopacy to suspend Bishop Carcaño while a response team was formed to review the complaints.

On March 25, 2022, MARCHA received a communication from the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and Committee on Episcopacy, which raised more questions than answers. Their response, quoting par. 413 of the Book of Discipline, gives the impression that it is a standard practice to suspend bishops from all episcopal responsibilities at the beginning of a complaint process.

MARCHA is puzzled by the discrepancy in how the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops decided on Bishop Carcaño’s suspension compared to how all other complaints have been processed in the Western Jurisdiction and in the UMC. Complains are confidential, but suspensions are not. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time in the United Methodist Church (UMC) that a bishop has been placed in suspension before the review of complaints, and it just happens to be a Hispanic/Latina clergy woman.

MARCHA is outraged about the unprecedented suspension of Bishop Carcaño while the complaints are reviewed, and its implications for the church, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized. This untimely decision has silenced a key voice in a critical time in the life of the UMC including, but not limited to, the Council of Bishops which is guiding the future of our denomination, the General Council of Finance and Administration which is making decisions that impact racial-ethnic ministries, and the Western Jurisdiction which is currently undergoing a critical discernment and visioning process. The silencing of the voice of Bishop Carcaño, who understands the struggle of marginalized communities, has silenced our cry not only in the church, but also in the public square.

MARCHA denounces and lament the harm already done by this process to Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the Hispanic/Latino community in the UMC, and our denomination, as it perpetuates stereotypes, prejudices, and biases toward ethnic persons in leadership in the church. This process thus far has caused undue pain, righteous anger, indignación, and exacerbated anxiety amongst many. This could’ve all been prevented.

MARCHA respectfully request the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops to lift the suspension of Bishop Carcaño immediately, while the complaint process continues to find a resolution.

As we approach Holy Week, we are reminded of the process that Jesus endured to be sentenced to death. Our hope and prayer are that no further harm is done, and a fair process is ensured for Bishop Minerva Carcaño.

MARCHA will continue to monitor the process and invites the denomination to continue praying for all parties involved. Paz con Justicia. 

Contact Person Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez / MARCHA, President | lyssetteperez@yahoo.com

El 9 de marzo de 2022, la Jurisdicción Occidental anunció la suspensión de la obispo Minerva Carcaño. MARCHA (Metodistas Unidos Representando la Causa de los Hispanos/Latinos Americanos) planteó preguntas sobre el proceso y la decisión del Colegio de Obispos de la Jurisdicción Occidental y el Comité Episcopal de suspender al obispo Carcaño mientras se formaba un equipo de respuesta para revisar las quejas.

El 25 de marzo de 2022, MARCHA recibió una comunicación del Colegio de Obispos y Comité de Episcopado de la Jurisdicción Occidental, que generó más preguntas que respuestas. Su respuesta, citando el par. 413 del Libro de Disciplina, da la impresión de que es una práctica habitual suspender a los obispos de todas las responsabilidades episcopales al comienzo de un proceso de denuncia.

MARCHA está desconcertada por la discrepancia en cómo el Colegio de Obispos de la Jurisdicción Occidental decidió la suspensión de la obispo Carcaño en comparación con cómo se han procesado todas las demás quejas en la Jurisdicción Occidental y en la UMC. Las quejas son confidenciales, pero las suspensiones no lo son. Hasta donde sabemos, esta es la primera vez en la Iglesia Metodista Unida (UMC, por sus siglas en inglés) que un obispo ha sido suspendido antes de la revisión de quejas, y resulta que se trata de una clériga hispana/latina.

MARCHA está indignada por la suspensión sin precedentes de la obispo Carcaño mientras se revisan las denuncias, y sus implicaciones para la iglesia, especialmente para los más vulnerables y marginados. Esta decisión inoportuna ha silenciado una voz clave en un momento crítico en la vida de la IMU, incluido, entre otros, el Consejo de Obispos que está guiando el futuro de nuestra denominación, el Consejo General de Finanzas y Administración que está tomando decisiones que impactar los ministerios raciales y étnicos, y la Jurisdicción Occidental, que actualmente está pasando por un proceso crítico de discernimiento y visión. El silenciamiento de la voz de la obispo Carcaño, que comprende la lucha de las comunidades marginadas, ha silenciado nuestro clamor no solo en la iglesia, sino también en la plaza pública.

MARCHA denuncia y lamenta el daño que ya ha causado este proceso a la obispa Minerva Carcaño, la comunidad hispana/latina de la UMC y nuestra denominación, ya que perpetúa estereotipos, prejuicios y sesgos hacia las personas étnicas en el liderazgo de la iglesia. Este proceso hasta ahora ha causado dolor indebido, ira justificada, indignidad y ansiedad exacerbada entre muchos. Todo esto podría haberse evitado.

MARCHA solicita respetuosamente al Colegio de Obispos de Jurisdicción Occidental que levante la suspensión del obispo Carcaño de inmediato, mientras continúa el proceso de denuncia para encontrar una solución.

Al acercarnos a la Semana Santa, recordamos el proceso que soportó Jesús para ser sentenciado a muerte. Nuestra esperanza y oración es que no se haga más daño y se asegure un proceso justo para la obispa Minerva Carcaño. MARCHA continuará monitoreando el proceso e invita a la denominación a continuar orando por todas las partes involucradas. Paz con Justicia.

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With:
posted on March 17, 2022 by
Leave a Comment

Open Letter to the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Episcopacy Committee Regarding Bishop Carcaños’ Suspension

MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino American) represents a critical voice for the Hispanic/Latino community within The United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. For over 50 years, MARCHA has advocated against the many oppressive systems that dehumanize Hispanic/Latino persons in our denomination and society. MARCHA reaffirms the commitment of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church to dismantle all expressions of systemic racism that are enacted through policies, systems and practices that perpetuate the sin of racism and white supremacy in the Church.

On March 9, 2022, the Western Jurisdiction announced the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño. MARCHA is puzzled by the decision of the Western Jurisdiction’s College of Bishop to suspend Bishop Carcaño while a special committee investigates the complaints related to the suspension. This action raises concern as a prolonged process can only produce a negative impact, independently of the result of the investigation. Also, MARCHA is not aware of any bishop being suspended without first reviewing the allegations, which also creates concern as it makes us wonder if there is a different standard being utilize in this case.

While MARCHA is aware of the confidentiality of this process, the fact that there is a suspension without given clarity of reasons, create more doubts about a just process being followed that is free of biases. As a justice-seeking caucus, MARCHA is always concerned with the underlying systemic oppressions that can justify actions taken, which prompts us to raise the following clarifying questions:

  1. What was the process followed by the College of Bishops to determine the suspension?  
  2. Why was it deemed necessary to have Bishop Minerva Carcaño suspended from her episcopal responsibilities without first investigating the complaints?
  3. Why is there a discrepancy between the College of Bishops’ announcement of “not to exceed 60 days” the suspension of Bishop Carcaño versus the announcement to the Conference (March 14, 2022) that indicates she has been suspended “for 60 days”?
  4. What criteria was used to select the special committee? 
  5. What are the demographics of the special committee (race, gender, age, geographic location, sexual orientation, roles in the jurisdiction, etc.)?
  6. What is the timeline for this process?
  7. How will the objectivity of the special committee be ensured?
  8. As stated in Par. 413.3c in the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, does the College intends to provide a trained, impartial facilitator to work towards a just resolution?

MARCHA reaffirms and emphasizes Bishop Minerva Carcaño’ s prophetic leadership through her unwavering commitment to social justice within the Church and in our global society. MARCHA recognizes that her prophetic voice in favor of marginalized communities, immigrants, and refugees has and continues to positively impact our Hispanic/Latino congregations. The absence of her voice at this critical juncture in the life of our broken denomination severely affects and harms the present and future of the Hispanic/Latino church.  

MARCHA calls our Church to continue surrounding in prayer all parties involved. MARCHA intends to continue closely monitoring the progress of this process as we walk alongside justice.

Contact Person: Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez / MARCHA, President | lyssetteperez@yahoo.com | 973.405.8851

MARCHA (Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa de los Hispano/Latino Americanos/as) representa una voz crítica para la comunidad hispana/latina dentro de la Iglesia Metodista Unida (UMC) y la Iglesia Metodista de Puerto Rico. Durante más de 50 años, MARCHA ha abogado en contra de los muchos sistemas opresivos que deshumanizan a las personas hispanas/latinas en nuestra denominación y sociedad. MARCHA reafirma el compromiso del Concilio de Obispos de la Iglesia Metodista Unida de desmantelar todas las expresiones de racismo sistémico que se promulgan a través de políticas, sistemas y prácticas que perpetúan el pecado del racismo y la supremacía blanca en la Iglesia.

El 9 de marzo de 2022, la Jurisdicción Occidental anunció la suspensión de la Obispo Minerva Carcaño. MARCHA está desconcertada por la decisión del Colegio Episcopal de la Jurisdicción Occidental de suspender al obispo Carcaño mientras una comisión especial investiga las denuncias relacionadas con la suspensión. Esta acción genera preocupación ya que un proceso prolongado solo puede producir un impacto negativo, independientemente del resultado de la investigación. Además, MARCHA no tiene conocimiento de que ningún obispo haya sido suspendido sin antes revisar las acusaciones, lo que también genera preocupación, ya que nos hace preguntarnos si se está utilizando un estándar diferente en este caso.

Si bien MARCHA es consciente de la confidencialidad de este proceso, el hecho de que haya una suspensión sin dar claridad de motivos crea más dudas sobre un proceso justo y libre de sesgos. Como una organización enfocada en la busca de justicia, MARCHA siempre está preocupada por las opresiones sistémicas subyacentes que pueden justificar las acciones tomadas, lo que nos lleva a plantear las siguientes preguntas aclaratorias:

  1. ¿Cuál fue el proceso seguido por el Colegio Episcopal para determinar la suspensión?
  2. ¿Por qué se consideró necesario suspender a la obispo Minerva Carcaño de sus responsabilidades episcopales sin antes investigar las denuncias?
  3. ¿Por qué hay una discrepancia entre el anuncio del Colegio de Obispos de “no exceder de 60 días” la suspensión de la Obispo Carcaño versus el anuncio a la Conferencia (14 de marzo de 2022) que indica que ha sido suspendida “por 60 días”?
  4. ¿Qué criterios se utilizaron para seleccionar el comité especial?
  5. ¿Cuáles son los datos demográficos del comité especial (raza, género, edad, ubicación geográfica, orientación sexual, roles en la jurisdicción, etc.)?
  6. ¿Cuál es el cronograma de este proceso?
  7. ¿Cómo se asegurará la objetividad del comité especial?
  8. Como se indica en el párr. 413.3c en el Libro de Disciplina de la Iglesia Metodista Unida, ¿tiene el Colegio la intención de proporcionar un facilitador capacitado e imparcial para trabajar hacia una resolución justa?

MARCHA reafirma y enfatiza el liderazgo profético de la obispo Minerva Carcaño a través de su compromiso inquebrantable con la justicia social dentro de la Iglesia y en nuestra sociedad global. MARCHA reconoce que su voz profética a favor de las comunidades marginadas, inmigrantes y refugiados ha tenido y continúa teniendo un impacto positivo en nuestras congregaciones hispanas/latinas. La ausencia de su voz en este momento crítico en la vida de nuestra denominación quebrantada afecta y daña gravemente el presente y el futuro de la iglesia hispana/latina.

MARCHA llama a nuestra Iglesia a seguir rodeando de oración a todas las partes involucradas. MARCHA tiene la intención de continuar monitoreando de cerca el avance de este proceso mientras caminamos junto a la justicia.

Persona de Contacto: Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez / MARCHA, Presidenta | lyssetteperez@yahoo.com | 973.405.8851

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With:
posted on March 11, 2022 by
1 Comment

MARCHA’S REQUEST TO WESTERN JURISDICTION REGARDING BISHOP CARCAÑO

March 11, 2022 – MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic/Latino American) represents a critical voice for the Hispanic/Latino community within The United Methodist Church (UMC) and the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. For over 50 years, MARCHA have advocated for justice inside and outside the church, and this work has been possible through the vital and visionary leadership across the connection.

One of those leaders is Bishop Minerva Carcaño. MARCHA’s leadership highly respects Bishop Carcaño for her unwavering commitment to social justice within the church and in our global society. We applaud her prophetic voice in favor of marginalized communities, immigrants, and refugees, as well as the many contributions she has made to our denomination and ecumenical organizations through the different positions she has effectively led through with integrity.

On March 9, 2022, the Western Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy and the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops announced that Bishop Carcaño has been placed on leave from her episcopal responsibilities.

In light of this announcement,

  • MARCHA reaffirms Bishop Minerva Carcaño’ s leadership and her many contributions to the Church and our global society.
  • MARCHA calls upon the Western Jurisdiction to ensure that all proceedings follow a fair process for all parties involved. MARCHA request that a transparent and thorough process be conducted that will lead toward a just resolution.
  • MARCHA calls our Church to surround in prayer all parties involved.

MARCHA intends to closely monitor the progress of this process as we walk alongside justice.  

Contact Person:          Rev. Lyssette N. Pérez / MARCHA, President

lyssetteperez@yahoo.com | 973.405.8851  

Filed Under: Noticias, YNews Tagged With:
posted on September 29, 2021 by
Leave a Comment

MARCHA 2021

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. Revelations 7:9

This year, MARCHA will host its yearly encounter ONLINE, live, via ZOOM Webinar and Meetings. Our gathering will include times of worship, celebrations, learning, networking, and strategic conversations as we celebrate our present and past as a movement, and discern the next steps in our journey of advocacy for peace with justice for ALL.

November 19 8-9:30PM

& November 20 12-2:00PM – EST

REGISTER HERE

Visit this page frequently for up-to-date information on our MARCHA 2021 event, and a complete agenda for our time together.

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With: , ,
posted on September 6, 2021 by
Leave a Comment

PRESS RELEASE: National Plan for Hispanic/ Latino Ministry announces departure of Manuel Padilla and search for a new director

The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry Committee (NPHLM) announces that its national interim director, Manuel Padilla, will be stepping down from his staff position effective December 31, 2021, to pursue a new vocational opportunity.

Manuel Padilla gave a presentation about the National Plan at the Hispanic/Latino ecumenical gathering, which took place at Scarritt Bennett in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 10, 2015. Photo by Michelle Maldonado, United Methodist Communications

The NPHLM Committee will be conducting a national search for a new national director, interviewing candidates beginning mid-October
2021.

Padilla accepted his current role as interim national director for two years after serving as a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church since 2013, initially working with the National Plan in the U.S. on strategy and ministry. In the summer of 2016, Padilla was named the manager of conference relations and strategy for the plan.

Members of the NPHLM Executive Committee express appreciation for Padilla’s significant work during his tenure. “Manuel Padilla’s commitment to the Hispanic/Latino church has created a steady foundation for the NPHLM to continue to offer relevant programs and resources” said
Bishop Sally Dyck, president of the NPHLM. Padilla has represented the NPHLM in a variety of ways, including serving on the executive board of MARCHA (the National Hispanic/Latino caucus within The United Methodist Church and the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico) and other boards connected to the work of the NPHLM.

“I have been blessed to lead the NPHLM and to work with this amazing committee under the leadership of bishops Sally Dyck and LaTrelle Easterling,” said Padilla. “The NPHLM Committee undergirded our work as staff to inspire growth, vitality and innovation among leaders who desire to strengthen the Hispanic/Latino and other churches and transform their communities.

The NPHLM is a vital mission initiative within The United Methodist Church and I am confident it will continue to strengthen and resource Hispanic/Latino churches and The United Methodist Church for effective and transformational ministry.”

For more information on the position and application, click here.

The NPHLM Search Committee is composed of the following persons:
Raúl Alegría, Chair (SEJ)
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling (NEJ)
Bishop Sally Dyck (NCJ)
Rev. Ismael Ruiz Millán (SEJ)
Rev. Ella Luna-Garza (SCJ)
Rosie Ríos (WJ)
Rev. Juárez Gonçalves (NEJ)

Filed Under: Noticias
posted on September 3, 2021 by
Leave a Comment

VOICES: Latin@s – In the Heights – In Our Pews?

By Rev. Lydia Muñoz

Musicals in my household were part of the diet I grew up on.  From old Mexican musicals by the likes of Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante and Libertad Lamarque to the beloved Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland and Fred Astair. If there was a musical on, we would watch it.  Of course, a staple in this musical diet was West Side Story. Not just because of its incredible musical score and unparalleled choreography but because Rita Moreno was one of the leads and she was Puerto Rican. This was a big deal not just for Puerto Ricans but because she was a Latina in an industry that was largely ignoring us except to cast us as savages, maids, bandidos and overall “bad hombres.” You can imagine the excitement when one of our own won the Oscar for best supporting role. Pure pride!

            Now that’s been a minute!  It has been a long time since a story about some of the many struggles of Latinx communities have been portrayed across the silver screen. Although most of the cast in West Side Story that portrayed Puerto Ricans, including the character of “Maria,” were not from the Island nor from any Latin American country for that matter, it was 1961 and any sliver of representation that had a much more authentic and relatable character like “Anita” was worth celebrating. It’s been precisely 60 years until this moment when the phenomenal In The Heights by one of our very own, Lin Manuel Miranda, leapt from the success of Broadway to our screens at home a couple of weeks ago to bring us the story of just one Latinx barrio in the United States.

I have to admit, I’ve watched it at least three times already since its release and every time I watch it, I am in tears. The characters are exactly everyone I ever grew up with even though I did not grow up in Washington Heights. This is the story of my parents, who met and married in Washington Heights after their arrival from Puerto Rico. They had three daughters in Washington Heights and later moved to Brooklyn and eventually, in that perpetual search of all immigrants for better work and better living for their family, they moved us to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  My sisters are Nuyoricans, but my brother and I consider ourselves DutcheRicans!!  But the story is the same in any barrio.

It is the same story of neighborhood, community, church family and the struggle to figure out how we are supposed to be, how to survive and what we are supposed to give up from our culture and what we had to take in from this new place. The constant shifting between living in two worlds has always been a reality for Latinx communities, especially for those of us who are bilingual and bicultural. This is an incredibly exhausting work, so much so that the only solace we find is when we come back home emotionally, and as “Nina” does, when we listen to our blocks to remind us of our value and worth. You want to know why Latinx people wear our “banderas” in our rearview mirrors and in almost everything we wear? Or why when we see each other in annual conference we want to sit together and talk Spanish? It’s not because we’re talking about you (although we might be) or we want to exclude others in any way. It’s because we are looking for our sense of dignity and pride, as Doña Claudia reminded us in the details of our food, music, craft, stories, our shared struggles and our “sueñitos.” Because the truth is, we don’t find them anywhere else and so the work of lifting up our own sense of pride is on us.

This is especially true in this church that I have grown to love and am ordained in – The United Methodist Church. Even though we like to tout the famous words of Wesley “the world is my parish,” that world doesn’t seem to include places like Washington Heights, East LA, Humboldt Park in Chicago, or F & Tioga here in Philly. Oh sure, we’ve had ministry in these communities, but tell me if you recognize this very usual script:

White dominant congregation in the middle of a changing community does not know

how to minister to this changing community.  Into that mix is sent a Latinx local pastor, lay missionary, or if we’re lucky a commissioned or ordained person if we can find one.  Placed on them is the responsibility of ministering to the community with all its social and political issues as well as transforming the congregation that operates in racist fear spiritual anxiety who probably never wanted to be transformed in the first place but are just looking for a way to survive.  Into this mix, comes the constant micro-aggressions from a system that continues to see ministry among and with Latinx people as a desperate attempt at survival and numbers instead of a missional priority that has at its core the eradication of racism and whiteness.

The best part is that we want younger, and more diverse persons to be a part of our white dominant denomination, but we watch while we make our communities do the emotional, mental, and spiritual adaptability gymnastics to belong.  As we watch our communities not only be gentrified by the commercial world and hipster cafe shops as our communities disappear, but then we also must experience our own denomination step in and begin to absorb our churches both physically and spiritually as if our story as Latinx in this church never existed from Rio Texas to Washington Heights.   This is the story of In the Heights and that is why the main character “Usnavi” kept telling the kids to repeat the name so that they would not become invisible and the song “we are powerless” during the blackout is so significant. I see the same blackout today across many conferences throughout our denomination.

            Although schism is the talk of the town these days throughout our denomination, the reality is that Latino ministry has often felt segregated and schismed (not sure that’s a real word, but Spanglish helps me create new ones) within our church. We often speak of Latino ministry as something we do for Latinos and not for the entire denomination. The National Plan for Hispanic Ministries, as much as I’ve heard the argument that this plan is for the entire denomination, is often seen as a plan available if a conference wants to start Latino ministries within their boundaries. More often, when we do start a ministry, we are just looking for warm bodies who speak Spanish to cover ourselves and start ministries that don’t cost the conference much money or effort. Never have I heard it prioritized as a ministry of every conference and even now, there are many conferences that have never even engaged in its services. 

It’s the oldest excuse in the book that I’ve heard so much in my 20+ years of ministry, “we don’t have those people here.” Yet, they are here. They are sitting in our pews or at least they should be, waiting for someone to ask them about their stories; waiting to hear their stories from the streets to the pulpit to the administrative council and finally reflected in conference and denominational leadership, not as something novel whenever we want to talk about diversity or immigration, but as a vital and viable part as we consider our future as a denomination.  If they are not in our pews, we should ask ourselves where they are. Why aren’t they in our pews on Sunday morning? Perhaps we haven’t realized that most of them are making your morning coffee at McDonalds or landscaping your lawn while we worship comfortably in our pews.  Or most of them are just doing their own thing to celebrate all that they are because we don’t, not in our worship, not in our church administration, not even in our welcoming statements.

My favorite scene in the movie, without giving away too much for those who haven’t seen it, is “Carnaval del Barrio.” It is an unbridled celebration of all our cultures, all our experiences and stories of arrival and survival. It is the mass of the people, of the barrio with all its struggle through life and death and its small resurrections every now and again.  It is an elevation of all that we hold dear and all we have to hold together. It is bar none, the best display of a holy celebration that I have seen in and out of the church. The line in the song that always send me to my knees is:

Esa bonita bandera! (Hey!) This beautiful flag

Contiene mi alma entera! (Hey!) Contains my entire soul

Y cuando yo me muera  And when I die

Entiérrame en mi tierra! Bury me in my land

Every Latino community that I have encountered has this same sentiment. We are here out of necessity, and it’s clear to me it is this country’s necessity more than it is ours. The history of colonization and US intervention in Latin America have created these odds. Raising our flag is not a denial that we are here and that we are grateful, you just must take a long look into how many Latinos have fought in every American war to realize that loyalty and civic duty toward Uncle Sam has never been a problem coming from our community. Rather this is an affirmation of our identity that cannot be consumed, and our history that cannot be erased. It is a reminder of our resistance and resilience as a people that, in this critical race theory moment, aren’t even given a seat in the room let alone the table. We are a community that continues to be ignored in our overall conversations about the future of the United Methodist Church, and conversations over us continue to discount our ability to make out of our backyards in our barrios and in our abandoned buildings, places where communities of faith are formed over asados, music and shared humanity. 

            If you haven’t heard by now there has been some important conversations about Afro-Latino identity and whether there has been a lack of representation in this movie.  This is an important conversation and one that every Latinx family and congregation needs to be having regarding internalized oppression and the effects of colonialism and whiteness that we have internalized.  If we are not brave enough to have these important conversations about prejudice and colorism, then the very thing we have been fighting against has indeed consumed us.  I choose to believe that it has not and so encourage us to engage with bravery and love for each other and confront this truth without becoming an easy escape for those in power to not have the larger conversation about Latinx ministry and engagement.   My experience is that this is what usually happens.  People have conversations around us about us without us.  Looking back, perhaps that has been the reality all along.

            Now, before you think I am sounding completely bitter and cynical let me assure you, I am not.  As Dr. Miguel de la Torre says in his book Embracing Hopelessness:

“To be hopeless is a desperation refusing to give up, a recognition that even if carrying the cross leads to crucifixion, the struggle for justice is what defines the present and could plant seeds that might blossom in some future.”

I have learned that facing reality and embracing the change I can bring is the real and lasting hope I can give to my family, to my community, to my church and to the world.  I cannot wait for someone else to forge a plan or bring me hope that I will be included in.  I have to build that hope myself along with my community.   Antonio Machado was right:

“Caminante, no hay camino.  El camino se hace al andar.”

(Sojourner, there is no road.  The road is made by walking)

So, go ahead and have all the conversations you want, we’ll continue to scrape out of the ice of our realities con paciencia y fe the sweetness of life with all its flavor and love as we have always done and as the “piraguero” sings;

“Piragua, Piragua

Keep scraping by, Piragua…le lo le lo lei..”

Paciencia y fe, mi gente, paciencia y fe

Lydia

Filed Under: VOICES: Nuestras Voces Tagged With: , ,
posted on May 13, 2021 by
Leave a Comment

VOICES: Latin@s, Hispanics, Latinx: ¡Si! To All of it!

 

By Rev. Lydia Muñoz – It’s fair to say that most people when asked to describe Latinos in the United States would probably be limited to naming a few celebrities and athletes, and a couple of great restaurants they visited on Cinco de Mayo. Most people do not even begin to understand the complexities and the vast diversity of the Latino population in the United States. Just take for example the many ways we are referred to as a group in this country: Latino, Hispanic, Spanish-American, Hispanic-American, and over the past several years Latinx. We have always been categorized as one kind of community because of our common tongue and our ties with Spanish colonialism, but let’s break this down a little bit.

After the Mexican American War concluded in 1848, the term Hispanic or Spanish American was primarily used to describe the Hispanos of New Mexico within the American Southwest. The 1970 United States Census controversially broadened the definition to “a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race”. This is now the common formal and colloquial definition of the term within the United States, outside of New Mexico. This is the same definition as the U.S. Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget use interchangeably for both Hispanic and/or Latino.[1] The term “Latino” is a condensed form of the term “Latino-americano”, the Spanish word for Latin American, or someone who comes from Latin America. However, it also includes a person of Brazilian descent in this definition because Brazil is part of Latin America and has similar colonial history with Spain and Portugal just as other countries of Latin America. 

The term Latinx gained currency among some in the 2010s. The adoption of the X was mostly in part to the more recent work of inclusion by LGBTQI activist within the Spanish-speaking world to eliminate the gender binary so common in the Spanish language. It especially took on more support after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida in June of 2016. However, a 2020 Pew Research Center survey found that about 23% of Latinos use the term (mostly women) and 65% said it should not be used to describe their ethnic group, and as you can imagine both numbers continue to change given the growth of young Latinx millennials.  So, even within the diversity there’s diversity. Which is precisely my point. We are not all the same!

Hispanic, Latino, Hispanic-American, Latinx so many ways we have been identified in this country and, all of them speak volumes about the violent history of colonization of the people that inhabit Latin America and the Caribbean. On our skin, in the texture of our hair, the mixture of our foods, the variety of music and rhythms we share, the accents and idioms that you can hear even as we speak Spanish or Portuguese, both the language of our colonizers, all of it is a living witness to what our people have lived through and the complexities of our diversity or what Jose Vasconcelos called “la raza cósmica / the cosmic race.” We are as diverse as any other group of people and no matter how hard the Census Bureau or political pollsters and demographers have tried to narrow us down, repeatedly we are often misrepresented and oversimplified as a group of people easily defined and predicted.

This diversity is also reflected in our theological understandings, and nowhere is this more visible than in our current debate in the United Methodist Church. As groups continue to assemble their teams and sides considering the impending and predicted schism of the denomination, the common narrative is that most Latinos/Latinx folks in the denomination will end up leaving the denomination because they tend to lean more conservative. Although that may be true in certain conferences, it is probably not a good thing to place your bets completely on either side. Just as every family must make decisions in their lives, so too every single Latino/Latinx congregation in our denomination is having a series of deep conversations primarily focused on our very survival within this denomination. The diversity of our theological understandings is a testament to our deep commitment to critical thinking and analysis, because believe it or not we are capable of these things and the continued burgeoning of theological critical thought that brought about the “browning of Jesus” long before it was a popular thing to say. People like Gustavo Gutierrez and his pedagogical lens toward the poor and Virgilio Eliozondo and his mestizo Jesus; Ada Maria Isasi Diaz and Elsa Tamez putting a name on the mujerista theology and its “lucha.” As well as the sermons and sayings of one of the most revered and sacred icons of Latin American struggle, Archbishop Oscar Romero. All of these continue to challenge the church to read, as Dr. Miguel de la Torre and Dr. Loida Martell constantly remind us to read with Latino eyes and against the grain.

We shouldn’t be surprised by this diversity of theological thinking because all of it was imported to us by the great missionary endeavor to help Christianize Latin America during its colonial conquest and later on through protestant missionaries. For example, in my little island of Puerto Rico alone that is only 110 miles long by 40 miles wide, it was literally divided among the mainline protestant denominations after the Spanish American war of 1898. 

As the United Brethren Church put it, this was an attempt to keep each other from “stepping on each other’s toes in this new mission field acquired through the war.” It also served as a launching pad for them, “to inaugurate a work that assures the Americanization of the island, similar to the work of welcoming individuals into the joys and privileges of being a Christian disciple…we should inaugurate schools that will reach hundreds of children who can be formed through these institutions in the responsibilities of being an American citizen.”[2] Their words not mine. This same “missionary work” occurred across Latin America. Brazil, which was largely a Catholic country before the 1900’s, is now the fastest growing protestant country with Pentecostalism as its source of largest growth. The continued importation of movements across Latin America primarily by the US includes the growing importation of contemporary Christian music with labels such as Hillsong and Vineyard spreading its prosperity gospel to a largely poor and frustrated audience of packed soccer stadiums and other mega centers. 

Does this prove that Latinx are mostly conservative? Not at all. Countries like Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay, which happen to be the most left leaning country not only in Latin America but perhaps in all the world second to perhaps New Zealand, continue to produce new art, new publications and most of all new theological thinkers that continue to challenge the narrative that all Latinx are conservative, passing very affirming LGBTQI laws both in the public life and in the context of the church.

The one thing we just might all have in common, even within our diversity, is the reality that oftentimes we are not taken seriously enough as part of the life and mission of the United Methodist Church to even be considered in the larger conversations and negotiations. In our national conversations around race, inclusion, and multiculturalism, our inability to move out of binary paradigms built by whiteness of either left or right, black, or white, male, or female or all the other ways we limit race and inter-cultural conversations to two choices, continues to limit all of us.  As a community, we only seem to appear when we are needed to support an idea of inclusion and multiculturalism or to collaborate with other ethnic minorities as a commodity that helps to enliven our diversity within the church. That does not feel like inclusion, but rather tokenism.

So, the next time you hear someone say, “Latinos/Latinx are mostly” perhaps instead of sticking to a narrative that purports and assumes who we are and where we lean in this decision, maybe this is a great opportunity to ask yourself this: what makes you think you can create a narrative? In just that supposition alone, there might be some remnant of colonizing privilege inherent in the narrative that has been created about us itself that we need to confront before we go any further because the truth is we, Latinos/Latinx are just as diverse as you are, and with the same ability to surprise everyone. ¡Sorpresa!

Rev. Lydia E. Muñoz is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She currently serves as lead pastor of Swarthmore UMC, in PA, and is an active member of MARCHA strategy team.  

[1] Shereen Marisol Meraji, “Hispanic, Latino, or Latinx? Survey says…” NPR Code Switch, August 11, 2020. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/08/11/901398248/hispanic-latino-or-latinx-survey-says

[2] Rodriguez, Jorge Juan V The Colonial Gospel in Puerto Rico. The Christian Century, January 3, 2017.

https://www.christiancentury.org/blog-post/practicing-liberation/colonial-gospel-puerto-rico

Filed Under: VOICES: Nuestras Voces Tagged With:
posted on January 11, 2021 by
Leave a Comment

MARCHA denounces acts of insurrection at Capitol

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1: 5

MARCHA, the Methodist Caucus that Advocates for Hispanic/Latinos in and out of the Church, unequivocally denounces the domestic terrorist acts of insurrection of this past week and stands with the communities of Asbury United Methodist and Metropolitan Memorial AME along with many other faith communities to raise our voice and shine a light against any racist act of violence, vandalism, and intimidation. 

These recent acts of vandalism and violence against our institutions of democracy in Capitol Hill, as well as the acts perpetrated against Asbury United Methodist Church and Metropolitan Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church have been yet another reminder that in this country we love and call home, racism and white supremacy are still the elephant in the room.

MARCHA believes that white supremacy and colonialism are sins that continue to have profound effects in our society and in communities of color particularly. Those effects include internalized oppression that can manifest itself in and through our own communities fostering self-harm, denial of our own worth as persons of sacredness and dignity, and submission to an ideology of white superiority. This ideology was foundational to the inception of this country and the European colonization of many of our own countries of origin throughout Latin America. Calling out anti-Blackness in the Latinx community means acknowledging that our communities are not monolithic, and therefore there is a moral and Theo-ethical imperative to call out and speak out against anti-Blackness in every way it appears, especially in our own communities.

We are appalled at the obvious policing double standards applied to communities of color as opposed to what we all witnessed on Wednesday, Jan 6th, 2021, the day we celebrated the Epiphany of our Lord. What was revealed for all the world to see was the great disparity between police treatment of white supremacist, hate-filled racist marching to the capitol verses Black Lives Matter, or Immigrant Rights rallies of people of color and allies demanding to be treated with dignity yet met with brute police force.

MARCHA particularly condemns the actions of the Proud Boys, a far right, neo-fascist, male-only, racist, and white supremacist group, and its leader Enrique Tarrio, who identifies as Afro-Cuban.

We condemn the language and actions that incited such violence against the People’s house and the false rhetoric of President Donald J. Trump as well as all those representatives, both in the house and senate, who fanned the flames of insurrection and mob violence. 

We call for the process of equal justice to be applied to all persons involved in the violence and vandalism against our capitol building and our hall of congress, and these two communities of faith, because we believe they are all products of the same white supremacy ideology and vile hatred. 

We call on the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church to remember the witness of the Magi, as they followed the star to the Christ Child and defied the will of Herod and the Empire. We call on the Council of Bishops to follow the light of justice and the dream of freedom and guide our whole Church to engage in serious, intentional work of dismantling racism, confronting white supremacy, and building the beloved community, not just through another act of repentance or book study, but rather through a deep analysis of how our own institution and it is complicity in not confronting white supremacy in our own pews.

Lastly, we call on all disciples of Jesus Christ within the United Methodist Church to engage in deep conversation, study, and reflection as well as intentional action by working with our Council of Bishops, our conferences leadership, district superintendents and every local pastor to hold each other accountable in doing this work together for the transformation of the world.

¡Todos Somos Familia!

MARCHA

Methodist Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans

www.marchaumc.org

Facebook: @MarchaUMC

Contact Person: Bishop Elías Galván, Executive Director.                

galvan222@msn.com

Filed Under: Noticias Tagged With:
Translate »