Living in a state where more than 81 percent of the residents were white people as of 2008, it would be easy to shove aside racial and ethnic minorities because the word “minority” loans itself to notions of people “on the fringe” and sometimes it is easier to ignore what people aren’t even willing to think about.
But the United Methodist Church is making valiant efforts to be at the forefront of acknowledging Hispanics and Latinos are currently the fastest growing population in America, with close to 50 million people.
Through in-depth discussions and planning, and the allocation of 3.8 million dollars from 2009-2012, the UMC is committed to opening its doors and arms to the largest ethnic minority in the United States.
“It is a vision of ‘a dynamic and growing church, joyously sharing and living the good news of Jesus Christ in a multiplicity of places...and in a variety of cultural settings,’ that affirms the cultural identities and not just the language of those among whom we are called to witness.”
With well over 400,000 people of Hispanic or Latino descent in the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences, according to the 2008 American Community Survey, the Michigan Area has been expanding the reach of its ministries.
