LAKELAND — The time is now.

That’s the sentiment of members of the Florida’s Conference’s Haitian Ministries as the conference prepares for the Florida Annual Conference Event May 27-31 here.

Haitian United Methodists are appealing to the event’s voting members to elect delegates to the 2004 General Conference who reflect the United Methodists church’s diverse membership.

The Rev. Montreuil F. Milord, pastor of the South Dade Haitian Mission, said it’s time for the General Conference to have a voice from the Haitian community.

“We want to make an impact with our voices,” said the minister of the 256-member congregation in Homestead. “We want the church to have a larger vision. As a minority, we have issues, and in a big crowd, sometimes people forget.”

Milord, who also chairs the Florida Conference Haitian Ministry, doesn’t plan on allowing that to happen. He and the Revs. Jocelyn Adhemar and Jacques Pierre and lay members Judith Pierre Oakerson and Charline Pierre hope to become delegates to the General Conference. Once that happens, the delegates can advocate on behalf of the Haitian community.

While advocating Haitian issues is a priority, Oakerson said that wouldn’t be the only concern. She says it’s equally important for Haitians to voice their concerns about the church as a denomination.

Oakerson is a lay member at Grace Haitian, in Miami, and also serving as a missionary at Christ’s Community United Methodist Church, a new church start in Miami.

Touting the church’s drive for inclusiveness, Oakerson said she expects Haitian delegates to be embraced by the church.

“I think maybe there hasn’t been a delegate from the Haitian community because maybe there is a perception that there is no leadership,” Oakerson said. “We are here, and we want to be a part of the decision making process.”

Oakerson said it should be a simple process if the church is truly committed to diversity. “We say we embrace inclusiveness and ethnicity, so we should be welcome,” she said.

Gene Rodriguez knows sometimes it’s not that simple. Rodriguez was the first Hispanic elected to the 1988 General Conference from the Florida Conference. The retired layman said the time might be right for a Haitian to be elected.

“I think the church should practice what it preaches,” said Rodriguez, who lives in Pembroke Pines. “I think it’s difficult, but I’m also optimistic.”

Rodriguez attributes the high visibility of Hispanics within the church to relentless hard work.