Perspectives - An online publication of the OGA

An online publication of the Office of the General Assembly

Features:
June 2005

2004 Annual Statistics
by Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

A Wake-up Call to the Presbyterian Church
by Clifton Kirkpatrick

New Immigrant Groups Are Helping to Grow PC(USA) Membership
by Angel Suárez-Valera

Who Owns the Kitchen? Casseroles, Kimchee, and Enchiladas
by Barbara Anderson

Church Growth and Decline in Historical Perspective: Quest for Identity, Leadership, and Meaning

by James H. Smylie

Past Issues

OGA Main Page

New Immigrant Groups Are Helping to Grow PC(USA) Membership!

by Angel Suárez-Valera

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is joyfully growing in membership with the new immigrant groups among Brazilians, Africans and Pakistanis. That is the testimony of 110 new immigrant Presbyterian pastors and lay leaders representing 63 fellowships and congregations who gathered in Atlanta, GA, last September for the 4th Immigrant Ministries Leadership Training event.

At the beginning, people were happily greeting each other: “Hello, how are you?” using different foreign languages from 15 countries. Actually, 34 different languages and dialects are represented in this type of Presbyterian gathering. Participants represented constituencies from 17 countries: Ghana, Togo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Brazil, Portugal, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and USA.

Three basic goals of the event were achieved. First, participants were exposed to information on themes that included: Stewardship, with Emanuel Nasir (South Asian American Presbyterian Council); Validated Mission Support Groups with Bill Young (Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship) and Jose Pezini (Outreach Foundation); PC (USA) Polity Resources, with Mark Tammen (Constitutional Services); and Urban Challenges, with Phil Tom (Urban Ministries). A second goal was accomplished with the meeting of the three national council representing the new immigrant constituencies from Africa, Brazil, and South Asia. Participants also had another “face-to-face” opportunity with synod and presbytery staff related to racial ethnic ministries.

Highlights included Latino liturgical experiences presented by Loida de Valera, Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Venezuela; Networking with African Immigrant Constituencies, made by Curtis Jones and Eleanor Dotty, from the National Black Presbyterian Caucus; Challenges in the Denomination shared by the 2004-06 G.A. Moderator, Rick Ufford-Chase; and the Cultural Night when each group presented a piece of its own country’s folklore.

During the closing of the event, several reflections were approved. In the face-to-face activity with middle governing bodies, the following recommendations were presented:

1. South Asian American Presbyterian Council

a. Educate middle governing bodies on new immigrant ministries

b. Develop means for presbyteries to consult the South Asian Council on all matters related to this specialized ministry.

c. Develop strategies for ministry with women and young adults.

2. Portuguese Language Presbyterian Council.

a. Address issues related to undocumented immigrants: immigration status, driver’s license, health, education, Social Security, and opening bank accounts.

b. Organize a task force with presbyteries/synods to address concerns related to: pastoral care for immigrant leaders; recognition of ministers ordained back home; physical space for immigrant ministries; guidelines for membership and finances growth to become NCDs.

c . Address issues of cultural values under multicultural models of evangelism and church growth

d . Develop intentional strategies from presbyteries for church planting among immigrant groups.

3. African and Caribbean Presbyterian Council.

a. Organize a task force to address the issues pertinent to African immigrants and African Americans in PC(USA).

b. Design a program for leadership development among immigrants.

c. Encourage Presbyteries to design programs for second-generation immigrants.

d. Address the activities of immigrant women’s ministries within the Presbyterian Women.

4. Middle Governing Bodies:

a. There is a need to provide legal counsel for immigrant ministries regarding immigration status and consequences for family concerns.

b. Need to expand website to exchange experiences.

c. Resource materials needed for nesting practices, models for church growth, etc.

d. Data bank of Immigrant Ministries.

e. Team of knowledgeable people to consult with organizing bodies.

f. Advocate for teams to accompany immigrant groups into the mainstream denomination.

g. More training is required, especially with regard to the role of the session.

h. More dialogue about the expectations of immigrant leaders in PC(USA)

i. How to manage leadership standards in order to avoid “burn out.”

j. Task force to study the availability of land for churches.

k. Educate the denomination regarding the G.A. emphasis on evangelism among immigrants.

As a collective summary statement from the face-to-face activity, both partners shared:

We, as staff in Middle Governing Bodies, heard the New Immigrant National Council’s concerns for a:

1. Need to develop more comprehensive and consolidated “standards” in all presbyteries to receive immigrant pastors.

2. Need to request that the Moderator lift up the 2004 overtures regarding new immigrant ministries sent to the presbyteries for approval.

3. Request for legal council to develop resources to assist immigrant families who have undocumented children entering high school and college.

We, members of the New Immigrant Presbyterian Councils, commit ourselves to:

1. Get intentionally involved with presbytery meetings and committees (NCD, COM, CPM, etc).

2. Speak for the new immigrant overtures in presbytery committees and on floor of presbytery meetings.

3. Develop strategies for women’s and young adult ministries.

4. Learn from Presbyterian polity how decisions are made in presbyteries.

5. Partner with presbyteries in managing conflicts and misunderstandings.

6. Identify and meet other local immigrant pastors from other denominations.

The 5th national leadership training event has been initially planned for Dallas, TX, on October 12-16, 2005. All PC(USA) new immigrant leadership is invited to attend.

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