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In a Journey of Accompaniment & Service to Emerging Leaders
In a Journey of Accompaniment & Service to Emerging Leaders
Ministry
Our call is to
serve to the
needs of others,
particularly
those who suffer
most
The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry is a robust strand of almost thirty years worth of narratives ranging from a racial, economic, political, and religious spectrum. We are collage of diverse stories comprised of fragility and resilience; setbacks and breakthroughs; and certainty and ambiguity.
Our story is not only a confirmation that God is “making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19 NIV) but also a road map to continue that discerning, unrestricted, and all-inclusive vision as we move on to the third decade of the twenty-first century.
Download Legislation 2016Rather than following a hierarchical traditional curriculum, the programs follow a workshop model where the knowledge is synthesized by the participants. This leadership development process promotes and develops the sense of self-determination of the multicultural communities in the United States by affirming their socio-cultural and linguistic heritage.
Our process longs to connect theory with practice in the journey to find truth, which liberates, and love, which reconciles.
Centro Digital para Desarrollo de Liderazgo
Our journey is not only a
confirmation that God is “making a
way in the wilderness and streams
in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19) but
also a road map to continue that
discerning, unrestricted, and all-
inclusive vision as we move on to
the third decade of the twenty-first
century.
215-687-1368
Rev. Dr. Lydia Esther Muñoz is an Ordained Elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference where she is also a delegate to the general conference. Rev. Dr. Muñoz has served in the Philadelphia area for 15+ years and prior to that, she served in the Florida Annual Conference, Baltimore Washington Conference, and Susquehanna Annual Conference. She is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary and has received her Doctor of Ministry from Drew Theological School focusing on Public Theology.
A product of the National Plan herself, Rev. Dr. Muñoz received her call to ministry after attending a Module training at Perkins School of Theology. Muñoz has a long experience developing ministries of justice among marginalized and multicultural communities both as a cross-racial/cross-cultural pastor and as a gifted musician and worship leader has been involved in leading worship for 20+ years in varied and diverse settings, both locally and nationally, including for the World Council of Churches Assembly in South Korea 2013 and the United Methodist General Conference in 2012 and the Festival of Sacred Arts in Falstbo, Sweden. She is a published author and contributor to Abingdon Preacher’s Manual 2019 and 2020 and a variety of journals of Christian liturgy and worship and other advocacy journals.
Rev. Muñoz has also been a strong activist for social justice on a variety of platforms including gun reform, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, and immigration rights serving as a member of the Rapid Response Team for her local conference. She has been a long-time member MARCHA (Metodistas Asociados Representando la Causa Hispano/Latina) within the United Methodist Church, and she is a member of La Raza which advocates social-political causes in Latinx communities.
Lydia is the mother of one 20-year-old named Willow and a 5-year-old, rescue pup named Max.
Active
United States
Northeastern Jurisdiction
Baltimore-Washington Episcopal Area
Philadelphia Episcopal Area
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling is the episcopal servant and leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, the oldest and most diverse annual conference in The United Methodist Church. She is the first woman to lead this historic conference. Bishop Easterling was appointed to this office in September 2016, following her election to the episcopacy that July.
As of September 1, 2021, she will also serve as the Interim Bishop of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference.
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Prior to being elected, Bishop Easterling served as Dean of the Cabinet of the New England Conference and as a superintendent, leading 57 congregations in the Boston Hope District.
She was ordained a Deacon in 1995 and an Elder in 1997 and was pastor of Union UMC in Boston’s historic South End, Pearl Street UMC in Brockton, Mass., and Old West Church, UM, in Boston.
Easterling is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. The child of Mary and Walter Miller, she grew up attending University UMC, under the leadership of Rev. George Rice and then Rev. Harry A. Coleman. As an active United Methodist, Easterling sang in numerous choirs, served as a youth group leader and Sunday school teacher. Upon moving to Denver, Colorado, she joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she learned the art of preaching and the importance of advocacy and justice ministries.
A strong proponent of education, Easterling received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a Law degree from Indiana University School of Law. She graduated summa cum laude in 2004 with a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology.
Prior to entering the ministry, she worked as a human resources manager and director, and as a prosecuting attorney.
A delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conference in 2012 and 2016, Easterling serves on a number of boards and agencies, including the Committee for the National Plan for Hispanic and Latino Ministries, The Council of Bishop’s Immigration Task Force, the Boards of Directors for Wesley Theological and American University, the Board of Child Care and The Jane Robinson Bancroft Foundation. Easterling also serves as the President of the Northeast Jurisdiction Multi-Ethnic Center, the Anna Howard Shaw Board of Boston University School of Theology, and Boston University School of Theology Dean’s Advisory Council. Upon arriving in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, she founded The Seeds of Security ministry, or SOS, which benefits people in crisis who are seeking to leave abusive relationships.
Easterling is a much sought-after speaker and preacher, poet, and published author. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, most recently receiving the 2017 Rainbow Push Trombone Award for Faith in Action, presented by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
She is married to the Rev. Marion Easterling Jr., pastor of Wesley Grove UMC in Hanover, Md., and the former pastor of Parkway UMC in Milton, Mass. They have two grown sons, Garret and Miles.
We are a robust strand of more
than twenty-five years worth
of narratives ranging from
a racial, economic, political,
and religious spectrum.
With our partners, we face the complexity of challenges and opportunities in a society that prioritizes inequality, individualism and violence.
Connectional
Conne- tional
