A Latino Ministry Project in Central Pacific Conference has focused on efforts to create the CPC’s first Latino, trilingual (Spanish, English, and indigenous languages) worshipping community. As of July, 2008, however, the project has been suspended in its current form. Anticipating the beginning of leadership by new Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Walter John Boris, the project team calls for an “Hispanic Summit” to address learnings from the current project, alternatives for meeting the needs and interests of the growing and diverse Hispanic community throughout the Conference area, and attention to the development of multi-racial, multi-cultural congregational life in the Central Pacific Conference.

Antecedents of the Project

As with most Christian ministries and initiatives, and in this case, a new church start, we like to believe that the impetus for this was seeded over 2,000 years ago. Actually, the Council for Hispanic Ministries of the Pacific region (CHMP) of the United Church of Christ was key to this project with a history of fostering new congregations or revitalizing established ones since the 1970’s.

The 2003 visit of a young missionary from Mexico to the Forest Grove UCC catalyzed conversations and the possibility of a new congregation in then growing Latino population in Washington County, Oregon. The young man had been involved in the activities of the Centro Alberto Rembao for Theological and Religious Studies (and Christian social action) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. CAR was a bi-national project of the Iglesia Cristiana Congregacional de Mexico and the CHMP.

In 2005, the Central Pacific Conference established the Latino Ministry Project and Latino Ministry Project committee. In 2007, Andrea Cano was called as part time Exploration Minister to give shape and form to the initiative. Her duties as Exploration Minister were concluded in July 2008.

Worship Resources

As part of her ministry, Andrea Cano gathered a rich collection of material beginning with the Dios Habla Hoy Study Bible in Spanish, the RSV English version, the UCC’s New Century Hymnal, and offerings in Spanish from the Red Liturgia of Latin America and from contemporary Latin American cantoautors, theologians, writers, and poets. These resources may be shared with other congregations upon request.

Ministry Offerings to the Greater Community

Andrea Cano is available to preach, lead Bible studies and educational activities, and share a list of resource persons to talk about the following and other related themes:

• Walking the historic pilgrimage of the UCC’s Council for Hispanic Ministries
• Relating to Latino communities and creating ministries in our Northwest region
• Responding to the changing cultural and ethnic demographics in our midst
• Understanding the history and the cultural diversity of Latinos
• Becoming a multiracial, multicultural church
• Affirming the New Sanctuary Movement
• Fostering just immigration laws

For more information, contact Andrea Cano by email at andreacano @ cpcucc.org

© 2008 Central Pacific Conference United Church of Christ.
This site last updated: July 07, 2008.