Convention Supports Autonomy, Immigration Reform
Episcopal News Service. September 19, 1985 [85185]
ANAHEIM, Calif. (DPS, Sept. 19) -- "They are growing up and leaving home," Bishop Robert Atkinson of the Diocese of West Virginia said. The comment was about the move toward autonomy of a number of overseas dioceses now part of the Episcopal Church.
Dioceses in the Philippines and in Central America are rapidly moving toward a self-sustaining status, and the Church's General Convention enthusiastically approved resolutions dealing with autonomy. Among these was the division of the present Dioceses of Ecuador and the Northern Philippines. Following the votes in both Houses, bishops from those countries thanked them for their continued support.
The Philippine Episcopal Church intends to become an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion beginning in 1988, with the proviso that the conventions of its three dioceses consent.
Also approved was the formation of the Central Region of America "as the first step toward the development of an autonomous province within the Anglican Communion." This region would include the present Episcopal Church dioceses of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica.
In another measure which gained overwhelming approval, the bishops passed a resolution approving a three-year trial period for the two new dioceses in Ecuador and those of Colombia and Venezuela to unite in a proposed autonomous province of "La Iglesia de Los Andes."
Other issues involving Central America were the related ones of refugees and immigration. The Convention endorsed a resolution of the Executive Council which called for sanctuary for Central American refugees and asked Congress to introduce legislation against their deportation and detention and directed a study of the refugee situation. In a more specific resolution, the Convention gave its support to the Flores family, who have been removed from sanctuary in an Episcopal Church in Princeton, N.J. by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.