SEBRING — Leaders of the Florida Conference’s 52 Hispanic churches and missions decided to ask delegates to the 2003 Florida Annual Conference Event May 27-31 in Lakeland to elect six Hispanic delegates to the 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. They also plan to educate the Florida Conference about some of the uniquely Hispanics issues they expect will arise at the denominational congress.

Nearly 80 Hispanic clergy and laity representing the conference’s Hispanic ministries met at Sebring Hispanic United Methodist Mission here Feb. 1 to discuss strategies to ensure their concerns are addressed at General Conference.

Attendees said participation in the 2003 Annual Conference Event is extremely important in promoting the Hispanic strategy and that supporting Hispanic representation to the 2004 General Conference at all levels of the denominational structure is vital. The Feb. 1 meeting was the first step in beginning that support.

The Rev. David Ortigoza, the Southeastern Jurisdiction’s director of Hispanic Ministries, attended the meeting. “We are witnessing the emergence of a new leadership that has a participative mindset and an inclusive vision, where Hispanics and non-Hispanics [Brazilians] work together towards one same goal: the building up of the Kingdom of God. This new moment is rooted in the context of the Florida Conference, where the role played by Hispanic/Latinos demands unity, organization and strategy towards a more effective participation in the United Methodist Church,” Ortigoza said.

Delegates to the Hispanic Assembly voted to support three Hispanic clergy and three Hispanic laity in their attempt to become delegates to General Conference. Delegates to the global gathering will be elected at this year’s Florida Annual Conference Event.

The Rev. Edwin Santos, the Florida Conference’s director of Hispanic Ministries; the Rev. Aldo Martin, superintendent of the Lakeland District; and the Rev. Luz Elsie Maldonado, a full-connection elder serving Good Shepherd United Methodist Church were selected as clergy candidates.

Jaime Faberlle, youth representative serving the Hispanic Ministry at University Carrillon United Methodist Church; NÈlida Morales, Women’s Division and General Board of Global Ministries director and member of the World Methodist Council executive committee; and Fernanda Curioni, a member of the Brazilian Mission in Kissimmee representing the Brazilian group, are the three lay candidates.

Florida’s Hispanic leaders expect the 2004 General Conference to deal with issues including renewing the denomination’s support of and participation in the National Plan for Hispanic Ministries.