Introduction

The Latino Ministry Strategy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was developed by a group of qualified and faithful people from a variety of cultures that use Spanish as their primary language, who were born or trace their heritage to Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The Latino community of the ELCA is a “community of communities”.

In 1997, the director for Latino Ministries of the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries assembled a group of pastors, lay leaders, administrators, professors, theologians, community organizers and others involved in Lutheran Latino ministries from across the United States and Puerto Rico to form the steering committee that spearheaded the development of the Latino Ministry Strategy of the ELCA.

In developing the strategy, members of the committee sought to respond to the challenges and rewards of living out Lutheran Latino ministries in a changing church and society. The Latino community is the largest growing ethnic group in the United States, and it is the fastest growing ethnic community in the ELCA. The contributions of the Latino people will have a powerful impact economically, politically, socially and faithfully. This is one reason, the ELCA cannot ignore this community. The strategy provides a comprehensive guide for the ELCA to redirect its Latino ministry efforts in the church and society.

Latino pastors and lay leaders from across the United States and Caribbean were invited to participate in a particular aspect in the development of the strategy. Two consultations on Latino Lutheran identity were held; one in Chicago in October of 1999 and the other in California in January of 2000. Information from the consultations was considered by the committee and churchwide staff who, in turn, developed the strategy.

Contents

1. Preface

2. Identity

3. Resources and programs

4. Authentic participation

5. Mission congregations

6. Leadership

7. Social ministry