Key points:
- MARCHA will review its structure and mission, including its bylaws, organization and financial sustainability.
- Advocacy for immigrant communities will remain a priority, along with education and civic engagement.
- The caucus plans to strengthen its ties with Latin America and its endowment fund.
One of the most significant outcomes of the annual meeting of The United Methodist Church’s Hispanic-Latino caucus was approval of a resolution calling for a comprehensive review of its organizational structure and bylaws.
MARCHA, which stands for Associated Methodists Representing the Hispanic-Latino Cause, met online July 31-Aug. 1 after its board decided to change the in-person meeting planned for Puerto Rico because of increased immigration enforcement in the United States and an atmosphere of fear among Hispanic-Latino communities.
Emma Escobar, MARCHA president, said the organization’s structure has not undergone a thorough review in several decades, while the church and the communities it serves have experienced significant changes.
The board was given the mandate to lead the process and examine the organization’s mission, vision, organizational structure, bylaws and financial capacity.
“We need outside support to do this work,” Escobar said, noting that MARCHA is considering hiring a facilitator with experience in organizational capacity building.
The process is expected to be completed in less than six months, with the resulting proposals presented to the membership for consideration and possible approval.
The review process will be incorporated into MARCHA’s next regular assembly, which will be moved up to the first quarter of 2027. Because of the nature of the work, the meeting is expected to be held in person. The board is considering several possible locations and is consulting with organizations specializing in immigrant justice to assess security conditions. The site and dates are expected to be announced by late October.
Leading courageously in a time of uncertainty
Immigration was a recurring theme throughout MARCHA’s discussions. During worship and other activities, participants remembered immigrants and community members who have died because of actions by U.S. immigration authorities.
The concern was connected to a broader question about MARCHA’s prophetic responsibility and its ability to represent Hispanic-Latino communities.
Escobar said one of the questions that shaped the discussions was how to continue lifting up the voices of immigrant brothers and sisters. She added that the caucus’ responsibility “includes continuing to develop educational spaces on immigration and civic participation, with the purpose of helping communities discern which public officials can work on behalf of immigrants.”
MARCHA also is preparing to bring this perspective to The United Methodist Church’s next General Conference, scheduled for May 8-16, 2028, in Minneapolis.
For Escobar, the immigration challenge also raises questions about how the church itself exercises leadership. In explaining the decision to change the format of the annual meeting, the MARCHA president connected it with the call to “love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously,” referring to the denomination’s new vision statement.
“What does it mean to lead courageously when our church is still considering holding General Conference in Minnesota, given everything that has happened in that area, and knowing that brothers and sisters are coming from outside the United States, especially from countries that have been affected by this administration’s policies?” she asked.
For MARCHA, the issue goes beyond where meetings are held. It is about determining how to build a truly inclusive church capable of listening to the voices of communities facing the greatest vulnerabilities.
Strengthening ties with Latin America
MARCHA’s review also creates an opportunity to deepen its relationships with Methodist communities throughout Latin America.
Although the addition of new groups was not formally part of the approved resolution, Escobar highlighted the intention to strengthen ties with the Methodist Mission in Honduras and the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Escobar explained that MARCHA had already invited representatives from Honduras and the council to participate in its activities. The goal now is to restore and deepen those relationships so that the voices of Latin American Methodist communities are present in the caucus’ dialogue.
The Elías Galván Endowment Fund
Subscribe to our
e-newsletter
Another project that received renewed momentum is MARCHA’s endowment fund, which will be named the MARCHA Elías Galván Endowment Fund in honor of the first Hispanic United Methodist bishop, who was deeply involved in the organization’s founding and development.
The fund originated in an initiative promoted during the presidency of the Rev. Lizette Pérez and was previously connected to efforts to promote MARCHA lifetime memberships.
The initiative lost momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the organization had to focus on responding to new needs. In 2025, the board received a mandate to resume the work and develop a plan to strengthen the fund. An interdisciplinary team of clergy and laity was created for that purpose.
Before launching a new fundraising campaign, MARCHA is consulting its membership and the broader community. “We want to know what people’s commitment is to MARCHA’s mission and vision,” Escobar said.
The consultation seeks to learn not only about people’s willingness to make financial contributions, but also about contacts, connections and other resources that could contribute to strengthening the organization.
Looking toward the future, Escobar said the challenge is to build an organization capable of representing the voices of its communities and contributing to a church that does not concentrate power and voice solely in the United States, but is truly inclusive and connected to the realities of its communities.
Vásquez is coordinator of Hispanic-Latino Relations for United Methodist Communications. For inquiries to UM News, contact (615) 742-5470 or [email protected].
