Latin America, Caribbean bishops uphold diversity of Anglicanism
Episcopal News Service. May 31, 2007 [053107-01]
Anglican bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean, meeting in San José, Costa Rica, May 18-22, released a declaration reaffirming their call for the Anglican Communion "to preserve its participative nature, diverse, ample and inclusive," characteristics they say are essential to Anglicanism.
The declaration was signed by 21 bishops, including the Primates of Brazil, Central America and Mexico, and Bishop Lloyd Allen of Honduras, president of the Episcopal Church's Province IX.
Saying they represent the "plurality and diversity that are universal characteristics of Anglicanism," the bishops acknowledged that they "hold different positions on the themes that are presently discussed in the Communion." However, they continued, "we have also experienced that the plurality and diversity we represent has become a rich source for growth, rather than a cause for controversy and division."
The bishops unanimously expressed their determination "to remain united as members of the same family and will continue to come to the Lord's Table, together." They invited all bishops, clergy and laity "who identify with this vision to join together and work for an effective reconciliation, interdependence and unity in the diversity of our family of faith and so preserve the valuable legacy of which we are guardians."
The declaration is intended to "renew and ratify" a position proposed in a statement that that was issued at the Latin America Anglican Theological Congress meeting in Panama City October 5-10, 2005.
In Panama, the bishops identified themselves as the "Global Center" and called for the Anglican Communion to regain "the participatory and tolerant character that Anglicanism has always offered as the middle way within Christianity."
They also criticized what they had seen as efforts to polarize biblical and theological discussions with labels that assign people to the Global North or the Global South and said they felt pressured to choose sides when, in fact, neither alternative fits their views.
In their recent declaration, the bishops said their concern had grown since the 2005 meeting, "because of the polarization regarding the biblical and theological positions manifested in the Anglican Communion, during the last years; positions known as Global North and Global South, non reconcilable in their character and putting the unity in the Communion at risk."
"In the midst of this painful controversy, we do not identify with either side, because they don't fully represent the spirit of our thoughts," they said. "As disciples of Jesus, called to live out the mandate of love (St. John 15:17), we declare our commitment to be together and with all our strength, struggle for unity, as an act of obedience to His will expressed in the Holy Scriptures."
The full text of the declaration, in both English and Spanish, follows.
Declaration of the Anglican Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean (Global Center)
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3
"By this all men would now that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
We the Anglican Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, who sign below, gathered in San Jose, Costa Rica from the 18 to 22 of May 2007, renew and ratify our position proposed in Panama, better known as the Global Center, in which we call the Communion to preserve its participative nature, diverse, ample and inclusive, characteristics which we consider essential to Anglicanism and at the same time our contribution to the Christian tradition.
Since our last meeting, our concern has grown because of the polarization regarding the biblical and theological positions manifested in the Anglican Communion, during the last years; positions known as Global North and Global South, non reconcilable in their character and putting the unity in the Communion at risk.
In the midst of this painful controversy, we do not identify with either side, because they don't fully represent the spirit of our thoughts.
It has been proven in our relations that we greatly represent the plurality and diversity that are universal characteristics of Anglicanism and that we hold different positions on the themes that are presently discussed in the Communion. However, we have also experienced that the plurality and diversity we represent has become a rich source for growth, rather than a cause for controversy and division.
We unanimously express our determination to remain united as members of the same family and will continue to come to the Lord's Table, together.
We invite our brothers and sisters in the episcopate, as well as all the members of the Clergy and laity who identify with this vision, to join together and work for an effective reconciliation, interdependence and unity in the diversity of our family of faith and so preserve the valuable legacy of which we are guardians.
As disciples of Jesus, called to live out the mandate of love (St. John 15:17), we declare our commitment to be together and with all our strength, struggle for unity, as an act of obedience to His will expressed in the Holy Scriptures. Trusting that the Holy Spirit, whose descent we are about to celebrate on the Feast of Pentecost, will guide and strengthen us on such a difficult journey.
The experience of these few days confirms our conviction that, we will make it with God's blessings. Of this, we are sure and now we return to our dioceses comforted and full of joy and hope.
San José-Costa Rica, May 2007.
The Rt. Rev. Mauricio Andrade
Diócesis de Brasilia, Brasil
Primate
The Rt. Rev. Carlos Touché Porter
Diócesis de Mexico
Primate
The Rt. Rev. Martin Barahona
Diócesis de El Salvador
Primate
The Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen
Diócesis de Honduras
Province IX President TEC
The Rt. Rev. Jubal Neves
Diócesis South Ocidental, Brasil
The Rt. Rev. Naudal Gomez
Diócesis de Curitiva, Brasil
The Rt. Rev. Sebastiao Gamaleira
Diócesis de Recife, Brasil
The Rt. Rev. Filadelfo Oliveira
Diócesis de Recife, Brasil
The Rt. Rev. Orlando Santos de Oliveira
Diócesis Meridional, Brasil
The Rt. Rev. Armando Guerra Soria
Diócesis de Guatemala
The Rt. Rev. Julio E. Murray
Diócesis de Panamá
The Rt. Rev. Héctor Monterroso
Diócesis de Costa Rica
The Rt. Rev. Lino Rodríguez
Diócesis del Occidente de México
The Rt. Rev. Benito Juárez
Diócesis del Sureste de México
The Rt. Rev. Francisco Duque
Diócesis de Colombia
The Rt. Rev. Alfredo Morante
Diócesis de litoral, Ecuador
The Rt. Rev. Orlando Guerrero
Diócesis de Venezuela
The Rt. Rev. Miguel Tamayo
Diócesis de Uruguay y Diócesis de Cuba
The Rt. Rev. Wilfredo Ramos
Diócesis de Ecuador Central
The Rt. Rev. Julio Cesar Olguín
Diócesis de República Dominica
The Rt. Rev. José Antonio Ramos
Retired Bishop
Declaracion De Los Obispos Anglicanos De America Latina
Y El Caribe (Centro Global)
«Sean humildes y amables; tengan paciencia y sopórtense unos a otros con amor; procuren mantener la unidad que proviene del Espíritu Santo, por medio de la paz que une a todos» Efesios 4:2
«En esto reconocerán todos que son mis discípulos: en que se aman unos a otros» San Juan 13:35
Nosotros los obispos anglicanos de América Latina y del Caribe, abajo firmantes, reunidos en San José, Costa Rica del 18 al 22 de Mayo 2007, renovamos y ratificamos nuestra propuesta de Panamá, posición conocida como Centro Global, la cual exhorta a nuestra Comunión a preservar su naturaleza participativa, diversa, amplia e inclusiva, características que consideramos como esenciales al anglicanismo y que constituyen nuestra contribución a la tradición cristiana.
Desde nuestra última reunión, ha crecido nuestra preocupación con respecto a la polarización de las posiciones bíblico teológicas que se han manifestado en la Comunión Anglicana durante los últimos años; posiciones que son conocidas como Norte y Sur Global, las cuales, con su carácter irreconciliable, enfrentan y ponen en riesgo la unidad de nuestra Comunión.
En medio de esta dolorosa controversia, nosotros no nos sentimos identificados con ninguna de ellas, ya que consideramos que no representan plenamente nuestro pensamiento y espíritu.
En nuestra convivencia, hemos podido constatar que representamos la gran pluralidad y diversidad que son características universales del anglicanismo, y que sostenemos diferentes posiciones sobre los temas que hoy son discutidos en nuestra Comunión.
Sin embargo, también hemos experimentado nuestra pluralidad y diversidad como fuentes de riqueza y crecimiento, y no como causas de controversia y división.
Expresamos unánimemente nuestra determinación de permanecer unidos como miembros de una misma familia y de seguir viniendo juntos a la Mesa del Señor.
Invitamos a todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas en el episcopado, así como a todos los miembros del clero y del laicado que se identifican con esta visión, a que nos unamos para trabajar efectivamente por la reconciliación, interdependencia y unidad en la diversidad en nuestra familia de fe y de este modo preservar el valioso legado del que somos depositarios y guardianes.
Como discípulos de Jesús, llamados a vivir el mandamiento del amor (San Juan 15:17), declaramos nuestro compromiso de luchar juntos, con todas nuestras fuerzas, por la unidad, como acto de obediencia a su voluntad expresada en las Sagradas Escrituras. Confiamos plenamente que el Espíritu Santo, cuyo descenso estamos por celebrar en la fiesta de Pentecostés, nos fortalecerá y guiará en tan difícil jornada.
La experiencia de estos días confirma nuestra convicción de que, con la bendición de Dios, lo vamos a lograr. De eso estamos seguros y ahora volvemos a nuestras diócesis reconfortados y llenos de esperanza y alegría.
San José, Costa Rica, Mayo 2007.
Rvdmo. Mauricio Andrade
Diócesis de Brasilia, Brasil
Primado
Rvdmo. Carlos Touché Porter
Diócesis de Mexico
Primado
Rvdmo. Martin Barahona
Diócesis de El Salvador
Primado
Rvdmo. Lloyd Allen
Diócesis de Honduras
Presidente IX Provincia TEC
Rvdmo. Jubal Neves
Diócesis Sul Ocidental, Brasil
Rvdmo. Naudal Gomes
Diócesis de Curitiba, Brasil
Rvdmo. Sebastiao Gamaleira
Diócesis de Recife, Brasil
Rvdmo. Filadelfo Oliveira
Diócesis de Recife, Brasil
Rvdmo. Orlando Santos de Oliveira
Diócesis Meridional, Brasil
Rvdmo. Armando Guerra Soria
Diócesis de Guatemala
Rdmo. Julio Murray
Diócesis de Panamá
Rvdmo. Héctor Monterroso
Diócesis de Costa Rica
Rvdmo, Lino Rodríguez
Diócesis del Occidente de México
Rvdmo. Benito Juárez
Diócesis del Sureste de México
Rvdmo. Francisco Duque
Diócesis de Colombia
Rvdmo. Alfredo Morante
Diócesis de litoral, Ecuador
Rvdmo. Orlando Guerrero
Diócesis de Venezuela
Rvdmo. Miguel Tamayo
Diócesis de Uruguay y Diócesis de Cuba
Rvdmo. Wilfrido Ramos
Diócesis de Ecuador Central
Rvdmo. Julio César Olguín
Diócesis de República Dominica
Rvdmo. José Antonio Ramos
Retirado