Perkins to co-host 46TH annual MARCHA meeting on Aug. 10-13

Hispanic/Latino clergy, lay leaders and young adults are encouraged to attend the 46th Annual Meeting of MARCHA – Methodists Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans – scheduled for Aug. 10-13, 2017, at Perkins School of Theology.

July 20, 2017

DALLAS (SMU) – Hispanic/Latino clergy, lay leaders and young adults are encouraged to attend the 46th Annual Meeting of MARCHA – Methodists Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans – scheduled for Aug. 10-13, 2017, at Perkins School of Theology and the Magnolia Hotel. An opening worship and reception on Aug. 10 (as well as a social event for young adults Aug. 11) will take place at Perkins, while all other activities will take place at the Magnolia Hotel.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Rooted in Hope” and also will include a pre-conference young adult workshop entitled “Social Holiness” scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 9, and the morning of Thursday, Aug. 10. Other small-group dialogues and workshops are planned at both at Perkins as well as the nearby Magnolia Hotel.

Speakers scheduled to deliver plenary addresses at the conference include:

  • Pablo Alvarado, coordinator of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network
  • Bishop Minerva Carcaño (M.Th. ’79), episcopal leader of the California-Nevada Conference of The United Methodist Church
  • Mark Hugo López, director of Hispanic research at Pew Research Center
  • Alexis Francisco, coordinator of the East Harlem Community Alliance
  • Justo L. González, Cuban-American United Methodist historian and theologian
  • Troy LaRaviere, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association

Also included at the conference will be a meeting among members from the South Central Jurisdiction to create a jurisdictional caucus of MARCHA. Other jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church have a regional caucus, and representatives of other caucuses will present how they have functioned. This meeting also likely will create a committee to draft a constitution or bylaws and elect officers, along with discussing the mission and goals for the caucus.

For more information and to register, log on to

This year’s conference celebrates the 25th anniversary of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry. Approved at the 1992 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, the National Plan strives for a dynamic and growing church, joyously sharing and living the Good News of Jesus Christ in a multiplicity of places, in a variety of cultural settings, reaching the Hispanic and Latino communities throughout the United States and embracing their cultural richness and diversity. 

MARCHA is the official Hispanic/Latino national caucus within The United Methodist Church and the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico that serves as an advocate for the Hispanic/Latino people inside and outside the church. By encouraging the creation of spaces for reflection on Hispanic/Latino pastoral work, MARCHA promotes a respect for human rights and a commitment to peace, justice, freedom and equality.

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, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of . Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with at SMU’s of Humanities and Sciences.

Media Contact:

Matt Jacob
Associate Director of Public Affairs and Alumni Relations
214-768-1393
mjacob@smu.edu

July 20, 2017