Costa Rica Becomes Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction
Episcopal News Service. February 3, 1977 [77034]
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- With a service of praise and thanksgiving on Jan. 12, the former Missionary Diocese of Costa Rica became an autonomous member of the Anglican Communion with ties to the Ninth Province rather than the Episcopal Church's General Convention.
The Convention authorized the move at its meeting last September with a resolution declaring the diocese an extra-provincial one under the "metropolitical power of the House of Bishops of the Ninth Province. " At the same time the House of Bishops accepted the resignation from the House of the Rt. Rev. J. Antonio Ramos, Bishop of Costa Rica, and promptly voted him a collegial member with seat and voice but no vote. Bishop Ramos was urged by the House to take advantage of his privilege and join their deliberations often.
At that time, Bishop Ramos hailed the move as a "tremendous step in mission strategy." The Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, replied that "we view the experiment you have launched as one which may demonstrate the real relationships within the Church" rather than the usual "patterns which put people into certain defined relationships."
In his sermon on Jan. 12 -- the eighth anniversary of his consecration -- Bishop Ramos noted that the historic moment was the culmination of 10 years of planning and study.
Taking part in the service were a number of leaders from other churches in Latin America and the Rt. Rev. Lemuel B. Shirley, Bishop of Panama and the Canal Zone and President of the Ninth Province, the province with which the Church in Costa Rica will now be affiliated more directly.
The Ninth Province is now composed of 12 dioceses in 10 Latin American countries.
![[thumbnail: Bishop Lemuel B. Shirley...]](/e-archives/ENS/photographs/thumbnails/77034_2_thb.jpg) |