Merino Consecrated Bishop of Colombia
Episcopal News Service. July 26, 1979 [79243]
Bogota, Colombia -- The first native Colombian to be consecrated bishop in the Anglican Communion, has asked for unity and love among Episcopalians in this largely Roman Catholic South American country.
The Ven. Bernardo Merino, 48, was consecrated third bishop of Colombia by the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
The bishops of Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico took part in the traditional ceremony held at St. Alban's Church on St. Peter's Day, June 29.
Bishop Merino said that he hopes to work for the unity of the diocese which has been torn by internal problems in the last several years.
He succeeds the Rt. Rev. William Franklin, who resigned early last year and is now an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Peterborough, England.
Bishop Merino was elected on the first ballot at a special diocesan convention held here on February 10. He was ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church, and after 16 years in the ministry was received in 1971 into the Episcopal Church. After serving churches in Panama, he returned to his native Colombia in 1976 and soon became Archdeacon of the diocese.
He is married to Josefina Zuleta and the couple has three small children.
The Missionary Diocese of Colombia was established in 1964. The Rt. Rev. David B. Reed, now Bishop of Kentucky, was elected in that year to serve as the first bishop. At present, the diocese has 10 parishes and missions served by eight priests. The total number of baptized members is 957 and the communicant strength is 487.
The Episcopal Church in Colombia is part of the Ninth Province which comprises 12 dioceses in South and Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
However, plans are under way to strengthen the bonds of unity with Venezuela and Ecuador in the formation of ARENSA, Regional Episcopal Association of Northern South America. Peru has been invited to be part of ARENSA, but declined and will continue for the time being to be part of CASA, the Anglican Council of South America which unites the Anglican work in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil.
Brazil participates in the activities of CASA, but it has been an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion since 1964, when autonomy was granted by the U.S. Episcopal Church.