View source for Concilio Nacional de Iglesias Menonitas Hispanas

The Concilio Nacional de Iglesias Menonitas Hispanas (National Council of Hispanic Mennonite Churches in 1987 served the needs of 72 [[Hispanic Mennonites|Hispanic Mennonite]] congregations with a membership of 2,386 scattered in 17 states of the [[United States of America|United States]], two Canadian provinces, and three bordering Mexican cities in joint efforts with 14 Mennonite conferences. The seven members of its board represented geographical areas and the youth and women's groups. The board was responsible to help plan, facilitate, and implement the decisions of the biennial convention of the Concilio Nacional; represented Hispanic interests in the program boards of the Mennonite Church (MC); and identified needs and leaders for the congregations. The board also helped the staff members of the Mennonite Church General Board (MC) represent Hispanic concerns to the program boards and conferences to help the Mennonite Church develop a better understanding of minorities. The Hispanic Mennonites in the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] were invited to the biennial convention and participate as observers in board meetings.

The Concilio Nacional was instrumental in developing a Hispanic Ministries program at [[Goshen College (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Goshen College]] (MC); an office to serve migration issues through the [[Mennonite Central Committee (International)|Mennonite Central Committee]]; the production and distribution of Spanish literature through the Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries (MC), including a periodical, <em>Ecos Menonitas </em>(1975-); and media services via the [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions]] (MC). Hispanic Mennonites have experienced rapid numerical growth due to their evangelistic zeal, charismatic pastors, and the responsiveness of Hispanics to the gospel. Peace education, congregationalism, and awareness of [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] themes are the frontiers for the emerging churches. In August 1988 the organization changed its name to Convención de Iglesias Menonitas Hispanas de los Estados Unidos y Canada.

After the merger of the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] and [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], the Convención merged in 2000 with the Association of Hispanic Mennonite Churches, its counterpart in the General Conference Mennonite Church, to form the Iglesia Menonita Hispana (Hispanic Mennonite Church). In 2001 the Iglesia Menonita Hispana included 134 congregations in the [[United States of America|United States]] and [[Canada|Canada]] with a membership of 4191.


= Bibliography =
Falcón, Rafael A. <em class="gameo_bibliography">La Iglesia Menonita Hispana en Norte América, 1932-1982</em>. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1985); Eng. trans. by Ronald Collins as <em class="gameo_bibliography">The Hispanic Mennonite Church in North America, 1932-1982</em>. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1986.

<em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Yearbook and Directory</em> (1986-87): 109.

"General" Board Approves New Minority Plan," <em class="gameo_bibliography">Gospel Herald </em>(1 January 1974): 19-20.

Mennonite Church General Board Minutes (11-12 September 1973): 5.

Ortiz, José M. "Church Growth Among Spanish - Speaking North American Mennonites." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mission Focus</em> 5, no. 3 (1977): 2-3.


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