A Future for the Latino Church: Multi-generational Leadership Development

1. Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute/PALMCON October 23-25, 2013 Daniel A. Rodríguez, Ph.D. Pepperdine University Malibu, California A Future for the Latino Church: Multi-generational Leadership Development Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

2. Table Discussion Questions • What questions did Daniel’s presentation raise that you would like to address to your group? • What question (1) would your group like to ask the larger group? • What comments and or questions (if any) do you have for Daniel?

3. Un BreveRepaso A Brief Review

4. Key Terms and Phrases • Hispanic and Latino/a • Pan-ethnic • Country of origin preferred • First-generation Latinos • Foreign-born Latinos • Immigrant generation • Second-generation Latinos • U.S.-born Latinos • Native-Born Latinos • Third-generation Latinos Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

5. The Problem / El problema • Most Hispanic congregations in the U.S.A. still assume a “Spanish-speaking immigrant-church model.” Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

6. A Situation Similar to Acts 6:1-7? In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

7. Generational Differences • Language use • Educational attainment • Employment, earnings & poverty levels • Marriage patterns • Levels of assimilation and acculturation Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

8. The Dilema of Living in theHyphen • U.S.-born Latinos are too acculturated to fit in at most Spanish-speaking immigrant churches. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

9. The Dilema of Living in theHyphen • U.S.-born Latinos are still too foreign to fit in at most churches of the dominant group. • They are made to feel like “foreigners in their native Land.” Sebastian De La Cruz Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

10. In the 21st Century we need • Multilingual and Multigenerational Churches • Abraham, Isaac y Jacob • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation together • English-speaking Hispanic churches “con el saborlatino” (with a Latino flavor) • English-speaking mostly Hispanic churches with a “mission beyond the barrio” • Servant-leaders with a missional and global vision Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

11. Historical and Social Challenges Desafíos históricos y sociales

12. Questionable Assumptions • “Hispanic ministry” is synonymous with “Spanish-language ministry. • The church must help to preserve Spanish language and Hispanic culture(s). Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

13. Ethnocentrism • Every culture is both a palace and a prison of disobedience (1998:20) • Recall Acts 16:20 (cf. ,19:23-27) “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

14. Every society is Egypt! Every culture sets barriers between people, God and others. As such, every culture is judged by God… For the sake of God’s mission to unite all people as one in Christ, the American church must embrace a “self-critical” vision of America. That means recognizing that some of our cherished values, beliefs and ways are positive, others neutral but that others corrupted by sin. Sherwood Lingenfelter

15. Ethnocentrism Today • In the Dominant Group • “God bless America!” • “…our way of life.” • In the Hispanic Community • El idioma del cielo! • ¡El Diablo habla ingles! Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

16. Strategic Challenges Retosestratégicos

17. 1. Promote a multiracial and multiethnic identity in the church • Not like Acts 11:1-18 • More like Rev 7:9-10 • Reconsider our image of the USA • Egypt or the Promised Land? • Good citizens or good resident aliens? Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

18. Do we live in Egypt or in the Promised Land? • Consider • What would Immigrants say? • What would U.S.-born say? • Hebrews 13:13-14 (NIV) 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

19. Are we encouraged to be good citizens or good resident aliens? • Philippians 3:18-20 • 1 Peter 2:11-12 Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

20. Philippians 3:18-20 (NIV) 18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

21. 1 Peter 1:17; 2:11-12 (NIV) 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

22. As foreignersand exiles • Don’tlive in isolation • We are inbutnotoftheworld • Come out of Goshen (Gen. 47:1-6) • Be a blessingtothe USA • Like Joseph in Egypt • Like Ruth in Israel • Likethegirl in Aram(2 Kings 5:2) • LikeDaniel in Babylon • LikeMordecai in Persía Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

23. Are we encouraged to be good members or good neighbors? • Jay and Alice Farris (since 1961) • Mike and Donna Neville (since 1974) • Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship • Maywood to Huntington Park Luke 10:25-37 Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

24. 2. Commitment to the unnatural way of the cross (Luke 9:23-24) 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

25. Commitment to the unnatural way of the cross (2 Cor. 5:14-15) 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

26. 3. Maintain one pastoral team • One congregation with one pastoral team • Preferably bilingual and bicultural • Examples (more in my book): • Iglesia del Redentor, Los Angeles • Iglesia Alpha y Omega, Miami • Iglesia Bautista South San Filadelfia, San Antonio Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

27. 4. The local church as organic seminary (watch,learn, do, teach) • To invite family & friends to small groups • To read the Bible aloud in public • To give a brief, sincere testimony • To pray (intercede) for others • To lead heart-felt worship • To give a brief Bible-based message • To lead others to Christ

28. 5. By example, demonstrate the missional value of being bilingual • ¡Ojo! (Watchout!) • Avoidbeingcritical of others • Avoidlaughing at others • Take and offerclasses in English • Recognizethosewho use it. • Take and offerclasses in Spanish • Recognize those who use it. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

29. 6. Promote mutual respect between generations (1 Cor. 12:15-18) 15 Now if the agringado should say, “Because I am not puraraza, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the immigrant should say, “Because I am not U.S. born, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

30. 7. Promote the true purpose of the church • Not to preserve the culture or language of any group (Anglo or Latino) • To collaborate with God in his mission to unite all things in Christ (Eph. 1:9-10) • To announce to a lost world that in Christ we are members of the same family (Eph. 3:8; 2:18-20) Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

31. 7. Promote the true purpose of the church • To demonstrate the certainty of our apostolic message • By preaching the Gospel in word and deed • Our multigenerational & multiethnic unity • Making disciples among all ethnic groups • That all may glory and honor to our God and Savior Jesus Christ (Psalm 96:3). ¡Amén! Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

32. 8. Promote dependence upon God to accomplish his plan • “We serve a God that is big enough to overcome the racial barriers in our society. The problem is often that we lack the faith [vision] to fully live out the power he offers us.” George Yancey, from the Foreword to Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church (2007) by Mark DeYmaz. Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

33. Remember where our pilgrim’s journey ends (Rev. 7:9-10) After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

34. Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute/PALMCON October 23-25, 2013 Daniel A. Rodríguez, Ph.D. Pepperdine University Malibu, California A Future for the Latino Church: Multi-generational Leadership Development Email: daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

35. Table Discussion Questions • What questions did Daniel’s presentation raise that you would like to address to your group? • What question (1) would your group like to ask the larger group? • What comments and or questions (if any) do you have for Daniel?