When Archbishop Timothy Dolan became the leader of the New York Archdiocese this week, he read a part of his first sermon in Spanish. It made demographic sense ”” many of the city’s Roman Catholics are Latino.
But the church, which will increasingly rely on Hispanics for its continued vitality, is facing a challenge: A small but growing number of Latinos are turning to Protestant denominations, particularly Pentecostal and Evangelical, finding the worship styles and Hispanic pulpit leadership can be a better fit for their spiritual needs.
When it comes to religious affiliation of Hispanics do not forget their membership in the Episcopal church. In my former parish we had Mexicans, Salvadorans and Hondurans. A Costa Rican lady, who served on altar guild and as junior and senior warden, originally came to us from the local Roman Catholic parish, membership approximately 6,500. She once told me that in her former parish she felt she had no voice, whereas in her Episcopal parish her voice and participation were valued. Sometimes, maybe size doesn’t matter.
Talking of Hispanic ministry, the only country in Spanish-speaking Latin America where the Episcopal Church seems to have made a breakthrough is Honduras. The statistics from there are pretty impressive: some 48,000 members, from a near zero start a few decades ago. Over 2500 infant baptisms. As a RC I can’t really say that I am happy at Episcopal success in this traditionally Catholic country, but as a keen student of reasons for church growth, I am curious. You folks often bemoan what the Episcopal Church is doing wrong. Seems to be getting something right here. Anybody out there know the reasons for the growth?
Terry Tee, I don’t have a complete answer to your question, but I do know that the Anglican Church in Honduras takes a comprehensive approach to ministry. Their work includes building churches, schools, residences and medical clinics as well as providing volunteer staff to keep these plants going. Obviously, they’re doing something right. I believe similar programs are underway in Belize.