Dear friends and members of University UMC:
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. I always wondered why the celebration didn’t begin on the first day of the month, but then I learned the significance of the dates. September 15 is the independence anniversary of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The independence days of Mexico and Chile are Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. And on Monday, October 13, we observe Indigenous Peoples' Day. These celebrations and observations have me reflecting on the lives of a few of the bishops serving in The United Methodist Church who have enriched my life.
Bishop Joel Martinez is the bishop who ordained me as an elder in The UMC. He is a founding member of the National Hispanic Caucus and has long been a champion of social justice issues. Bishop Martinez is a son of the former Río Grande Annual Conference and was born into an immigrant and farm-working family. I’ll never forget his sermon at my ordination when he shared his experience marching with Cesar Chavez on behalf of the rights of farm workers.
