Karla Sikaffy duPlantier, who served most recently as the Latino/Hispanic ministries coordinator in the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, has been named interim missioner for the church’s Office of Latino Ministries.
The Rev. Lester Mackenzie, chief of mission program for the church, announced duPlantier’s appointment in a letter to bishops. A seven-member search committee—comprising Episcopal Church leaders in the U.S. and Dominican Republic—was chosen to help with the interim selection before a search for a permanent missioner commences.
“This is an interim role, framed to have lasting purpose and impact in our common work,” Mackenzie said. “Beyond holding space, this position is expected to prepare the ground and create a framework to support a renewed vision for this important ministry. Karla steps into this work not to carry everything alone, but to help us rebuild with intention, to listen well, and to help shape the foundations for the future work of a permanent missioner.”
DuPlantier holds a master’s degree in bilingual, multilingual, and multicultural education from the University of New Orleans. She is cofounder and facilitator of the Louisiana Language Access Coalition and a lead consultant with Crescent City Strategies LLC, a business consulting firm.
As interim Latino missioner, duPlantier will help strengthen ties in Province IX and Spanish-speaking Province II, and across the Latino church in other contexts; build frameworks to support local leadership; and weave Latino ministry into the church’s shared mission and identity.
“Karla is a builder,” Mackenzie said. “She’s steady, strategic, deeply rooted in community, and ready to serve in this season of preparation.”
DuPlantier’s appointment follows the May 1 retirement of the Rev. Anthony Guillén as missioner for Latino Ministries. The missioner for Latino Ministries reports to Mackenzie as part of the Ethnic Ministries office.
