Central Americans Install Barahona as New Primate
Episcopal News Service. September 12, 2002 [2002-208-4]
Bishops, clergy, and laity of the five dioceses of the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America (IARCA) gathered in El Salvador August 24 to install Bishop Martin Barahona as the second primate of the young province of the Anglican Communion. He was elected last spring to succeed Bishop Cornelius Wilson of Costa Rica.
'Bishop Barahona will be the bishop of hope,' said Bishop Medardo Gomez of the Lutheran Church of El Salvador in his sermon. Bishop Julio Murray of Panama celebrated the Eucharist and Bishop Sturdie Downs of Nicaragua invested and installed Barahona. Among the other bishops participating in the festive service were Julio Hoguin of the Dominican Republic, Lloyd Allen of Honduras, Thomas Ely of Vermont, James Ottley of Southeast Florida, and William Skilton of South Carolina.
The new primate was presented with a Book of Common Prayer in the different languages of the region, a Bible, the Constitution and Canons of the province, water as a symbol of baptism, and bread and wine for the Eucharist.
Barahona is the first Salvadoran to serve as bishop of El Salvador. Originally ordained in the Roman Catholic Church, he has served for more than 25 years in the Anglican Communion.