Episcopal Press and News

Search the Episcopal Press and News

Year

All 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962

Enter search query

Four Ordained to Salvador Church

Episcopal News Service. December 4, 1986 [86258]

SAN SALVADOR (DPS, Dec. 4) -- The first four locally trained deacons of the Episcopal Church in El Salvador were ordained Nov. 16 by the Rt. Rev. James H. Ottley, Bishop of Panama, President of Province IX and the bishop overseeing of the pastoral affairs of the diocese.

These deacons were ready to be ordained early last summer, but their ordination was postponed due to the sudden death of Bishop Leonardo Romero in June (he was President of Province IX and the bishop in charge). There are two Episcopal priests in El Salvador -- Victoriano Jimeno and Luis Serrano -- and these ordinations triple the number of resident clergy.

The deacons are: Hector Rivera, Francisco Guardado, Juan Jose Melendez and Jose Luis Mendoza. All are Salvadorians. One, Rivera, was born into the church there. Later, he received a scholarship from the Overseas Leadership Development Office of the Episcopal Church to study veterinary medicine in Monterrey, Mexico. After he finished there, he took theological training and helped in the Diocese of Northern Mexico. He is in charge of the work in La Florida, where several people were murdered a few years ago. The other three have been, at one point or another, Roman Catholic seminarians. Jimeno, who is an appointed missionary, was the one who recruited and saw to the training of these men. He has spent countless hours teaching and counseling them. "They gave me the impression of being alert, enthusiastic, willing to plant the Church in several communities and eager to learn more about the ministry and mission of the Anglican Communion," said one visitor who met them.

Ottley said in his charge to an overflowing congregation that this was certainly a historic date for the life and mission of the Church in El Salvador. "I thank God that you have responded to his call and are willing to give your lives for his mission in this land," he said. He also brought greetings from the Presiding Bishop and told the congregation that in the aftermath of the recent earthquake, they were not alone in this moment of pain and tragedy. He also said that he was inspired by the courage of the people of El Salvador and their willingness to help others. "Together we will be able to help those in need." Ottley also saw the four new deacons as "tangible signs of hope" for the Church in El Salvador.

Ottley was also there to preside over the diocesan convention, which had also been postponed due to Romero's death. The convention was like any other one: reports, discussions, elections. However, one significant statement was approved by the convention: "We express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have suffered during the earthquake, who have lost loved ones, lost their homes and their sources of income. Unfortunately, this tragedy worsens the sad situation of the civil war that our country lives in since 1980. We are aware that this conflict is the product of social, political and economic unjust structures which have forced the two parts in conflict to opt for violence. As part of the Christian people of El Salvador, we pray to the Lord:

• For the increase in assistance to the victims of the earthquake
• For the encouragement of our people to work for peace with justice
• For the alleviation of the suffering of many of our people who suffer the consequences of violence
• For the necessary steps to end the war because we are convinced that until war is ended the true reconstruction and renaissance of our people can not take place.

We are hopeful of a new dawn in which all Salvadorians could live with the dignity with which God had created them. To this end, we offer our humble but sincere efforts."

There was another statement on world peace and on racism. In the latter they agreed to send a cable to Desmond Tutu praising him for his "courageous leadership and exemplary conduct."

The center of the city was practically destroyed in the recent earthquake. Ten and 12 story buildings are inclined at 60 degree angles and will have to be demolished, which may take years. About 1,000 people died. One doctor, Santiago Orellana, who works for the Church wears a plastic identification wrist band like those used for patients in the hospital because: "We all have this in case the building collapses and kills us, we can be identified."

The rest of the city looks normal. Life continues. Many private and government offices operate under tents. CREDHO, a large social program which receives assistance from ecumenical agencies, was originally founded by the Episcopal Church and is run by Serrano, plans to build 2,000 houses ($500 each). The church building, built with a United Thank Offering Grant, was not structurally damaged, but it will certainly need some repairs.