Province IX Synod Acts on Consultation
Episcopal News Service. April 1, 1982 [82083]
PANAMA CITY, Panama (DPS, April 1) -- The future of the Ninth Province of the Episcopal Church -- especially its role in the Anglican Communion -- came under close scrutiny during two related March meetings held here.
The first was a follow-up "Partners in Mission" consultation which devoted much of its attention to the possibility of the dioceses of Province IX separating from the Episcopal Church and reconstituting as an individual body within the Anglican Communion. The second was a provincial synod which -- with some division -- set up the machinery to begin to accomplish that goal.
Participants were present from the dioceses of Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Central and South Mexico, Northern Mexico, Western Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. The extra-provincial dioceses of Costa Rica, Cuba and Puerto Rico were also represented.
"Partners" representatives journeyed to Panama for the consultation from Canada, England, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. Archbishop G.C.M. Woodroffe of the Province of the West Indies was present, as was Bishop H.H. Jones of Venezuela -- a diocese seeking translation from Woodroffe's jurisdiction to Province Nine.
Political turmoil in Central America cast a grim shadow over the meeting. The Rev. Luis Serrano of El Salvador could not obtain a visa to enter Panama. Concern was expressed by many for the Rev. Atinaldo Carlos and his 16-year-old-son, Kenneth, who have been in prison in Nicaragua since January. A military coup took place in Guatemala while the meeting was in session. Uncertainty and fear about the political scene reflected in conversation and in intersessions, but -- as the Rev. Thomas Anthony of Canada pointed out -- most Latin American participants were fearful of speaking out openly about national political concerns.
The various dioceses reported on statistics, problems, missionary strategy and plans, as did representatives from the "partner" regions. But the overriding concern of the consultation was the series of questions surrounding the possible formation of these dioceses into an independent branch of the Anglican Communion.
A proposed model plan for such an independent province was presented by Bishop Leonardo Romero of Northern Mexico, chairman of an ad-hoc committee that had been appointed for the task. The proposal would have dioceses in the new province grouped into four regions: Mexico, Panama and Central America, Caribbean Sea, and Ecuador-Colombia. Invitations most likely would be extended to Costa Rica, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela to come into the new church body.
Some major questions raised by the proposal include continued financial subsidy from the Episcopal Church in the United States, pension provisions for clergy and lay employees, development of constitution and canons and theological education.
Discussion by the whole consultation as well as in small groups revealed mixed feelings about the proposal. One bishop said privately that while he desired to raise no objection to the plan, he could muster no enthusiasm for it either. A lay person observed that "you can be oppressed by those close by as well as by those far away."
As the consultation considered the question of autonomy for the Ninth Province dioceses, the question of continuing support from the Episcopal Church in the United States loomed large. In his sermon during a festive Eucharist, however, Romero noted the whole Episcopal Church has received many contributions from the Province Nine dioceses -- and that they should think of contributing more in the years to come.
The Consultation served as a major forum for airing the issue and, when the Synod took it up, participants claimed to see a "general consensus on the question of autonomy" -- in the words of the Rt. Rev. Francisco Reus-Froylan of Puerto Rico -- in the 19-12 vote of approval.
Synod moved from that basic step to establishing an autonomy committee and preparing a resolution asking General Convention action on the plan. A covenant will need to be worked out and close coordination maintained with the Anglican Consultative Council.
In others actions the synod elected the Rt. Rev. Leonardo Romero of Northern Mexico, as its president and the Rt. Rev. Telesforo Isaac of the Dominican Republic as its vice president.
Ramiro Chavez a lay leader of the Diocese of El Salvador and vice president of Banco Salvadoreno. was elected as the Ninth Province's lay representative to the Executive Council.
The Synod also recommended admitting Venezuela as an extra provincial diocese of the province, subject to the approval of General Convention. Until now, Venezuela has been part of the Church in the Province of the West Indies.