New Camino

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

Friday, June 21 at 5 p.m. to Saturday, June 22 at 3:30 p.m.

Watch the video invitation from the bishop here.

Do you want to know how your congregation can connect with your Latino/Hispanic neighbors? New Camino is an Episcopal program for clergy, vestry and lay leaders that explores the changing face, cultural backgrounds, interests and needs of Latino/a communities, while also welcoming, serving, and involving them in our Congregational Life and Ministry.

The seminar challenges the preconceived and incorrect notions, held by many, that Latinos are a homogeneous community, which is largely Spanish-speaking and of immigrant status. Participants will be invited to explore the various Latino ministry models necessary to reach the traditional Spanish-speaking, Immigrant and first-generation Latinos, as well as the increasingly English dominant and acculturated Hispanic/Latino population of second, third and later generations.

Presented by Bishop José McLoughlin and the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and led by the Rev. Anthony Guillén, Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries, this program is specifically designed to introduce diocesan, clergy and parish lay leaders to the broad landscape of Latino ministry, taking into account the current and socio-demographic trends of Latinos. According to Guillén: “We must now be culturally competent to distinguish the linguistic and socio-cultural propensities found in most Latino communities, and what it takes to evangelize them.”

Cost for the conference is $60.00, which covers dinner on Friday, and morning/afternoon snacks & lunch on Saturday. We are also partnering with Asheville hotels for discounted rates for this event only. We have a block of rooms at Hampton Inn, Asheville Tunnel Road (828-255-9220) for $199/night; at Spring Hill Suites, Two Buckstone Place, Asheville (828-253-4666) for $179/night; and at Residence Inn, 701 Biltmore Ave, Asheville (828-281-3361) for $179/night. Please make your reservations by Tuesday, May 21, or they will release these rooms to the general public. If you call to make your reservation, tell them you are registering under the group name "Episcopal Diocese of WNC."

The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén

The Rev. Canon Anthony Guillén has been the Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center since 2005. As Missioner, Guillén developed the Episcopal Church’s Strategic Vision for Reaching Latinos/Hispanics which was adopted at General Convention in 2009. This Strategic Vision challenged the church to rethink the dynamics of ministering to today’s Latino/Hispanic communities, the majority of whom are American-born Latinos characterized as multi-generation, English-dominant, or bilingual and bicultural.