Foursquare Diversity Summit

Although progress is still unfolding after a special Diversity Summit, Foursquare Vice Presidents Ted Vail and Tammy Dunahoo recently announced steps that have been taken during the past six months.

Foursquare leaders, pastors and officials gathered at the Foursquare central office for three days last September. They discussed ways to facilitate multiethnic administration, further support various ethnic and language churches, and prepare for the pending retirement of longtime immigration coordinator Joe Gosha.

The summit focused on the following areas:

Immigration

A variety of leaders from Hispanic, Native American, African, Brazilian, Chinese, Korean and many other communities discussed aspects of building the Immigration Consultancy Network.

Among its responsibilities are encouraging and supporting immigrant congregations while creating video, multimedia, website, and online and printed resources. The discussions included plans for continuing to build the network as we prepare for Joe’s pending retirement. In addition to serving as immigration coordinator, the longtime Phoenix pastor has served as religious visa coordinator.

“There are also some significant challenges here,” says Ted, director of Foursquare Missions International (FMI) and vice president of global operations. “A number of our immigrants are facing challenges, so that’s pushing us along on this one a little faster.”

“What we want you to know is we’re committed to moving this ball down the field and not taking a long time to do it. Thank you for your participation because you made the difference.”

—Tammy Dunahoo, general supervisor and vice president of U.S. operations

An administrator for ethnic issues

In addition to administration, this person will address visa processing and other concerns for non-English-speaking pastors, as well as assisting districts with such details.

Along that line, at the end of 2018 the National Church Office (NCO) hired Mauricio Rodriguez, who had been serving in Nicaragua. He is on a one-year assignment to examine Foursquare’s administrative processes and determine how we can better serve pastors who don’t speak English. His assignment ends later this year.

“He’s been a great person to have on our team,” states Tammy, general supervisor and vice president of U.S. operations. “He’s been talking to candidates and district administrators, and has been able to get in and discover what are the issues and the resolutions. What can we really accomplish? By field testing those in some of our districts later in the year, he will bring a recommendation to us by the end of the year, about where we go from here.”

A new North American area missionary

While Jim Scott already holds that title in addition to being assistant director of FMI, Ted says Foursquare wants to name a full-time missionary to lead the U.S. multicultural ministry, in addition to serving Mexico and Canada. The region consists of approximately 2,085 churches and meeting places that minister within many ethnicities and ministry contexts in the three nations. The role will include serving as a liaison between FMI and NCO.

“We’re doing final discussion on this, and looking for some budget and pulling that together,” Ted explains. “I think you’re going to like what you see.”

Tammy adds: “What we want you to know is we’re committed to moving this ball down the field and not taking a long time to do it. Thank you for your participation because you made the difference.”


Editor’s note: Emily Plater was appointed area missionary to North America. Read more about her appointment.

is a freelance writer and book editor in Huntington, W.Va.
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