| abstract |
This research project aims to assess the experiences of discrimination against Hispanic clergy leading Euro-American congregations in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (GNJUMC) and to explore solutions to these racial issues by analyzing the ministry strategies and practice of a cohort of selected ministers. In order to do this, I interviewed forty percent of all Hispanic clergy pastors currently leading Euro-American congregations in the GNJUMC. Themes surfaced from these interviews that shed light on the disparities between the UMC's claims of inclusivity and the lived experiences of Hispanic clergy in cross-racial and cross-cultural (CRCC) appointments.
The research findings demonstrated that despite issues of prejudice, the Hispanic clergy adapted to the challenges, built trust, and effectively led their congregations and communities towards courageous transformation in inclusivity, reconciliation, and healing. Hispanic clergy helped members of their congregations expand their hospitality skills, which led to people in minority groups becoming more confident in joining the congregation. The findings also revealed that CRCC appointments could be a helpful solution to embracing the increasing multiculturalism in our churches. The findings and implications of this study could help congregations overcome the barriers of multiculturalism as well as to train current and future cross-cultural and cross-racial appointments.
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