Title: ELCA Hispanic Leaders Meet ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEFS December 9, 1996 HISPANIC LUTHERAN LEADERS MEET Hispanic clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America talked about ways to build a strong Hispanic community within the church at a recent Los Angeles conference, "United in Mission." The group of 163 took the first tentative steps toward developing a unified vision and strategy for ministry that reflects the diversity within the Hispanic community in the United States. The Nov. 10-12 meeting included discussion, workshops and Bible study. The Rev. Rub?n Dur?n of the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries, urged participants to be clear in their mission and expectation. "Growing a church takes time, and good plants do not grow in isolation. We need to create networks among ourselves and with members of other communities," said Dur?n. "We must participate fully in the life of the church and the development of church leadership," he said. The Rev. Gregory Villal?n, of the church's Commission for Multicultural Ministries, called for new strategies and structures for Hispanic communities and congregations. He asked Hispanic leaders to review the changing role of the pastor. The pastor "is becoming more and more a trainer of lay leadership. We need pastors, but we need them in a new role," said Villal?n. Music from a new Spanish hymnal, was introduced at the conference. "Liturgia y Canci?n" will be published in 1997 by Augsburg Fortress Publishers, the publishing house for the ELCA. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955 or [log in to unmask]; Melissa Ramirez, Assist. Dir., (312) 380-2956 or [log in to unmask]