Province IX Charts Course for the Future
Episcopal News Service. December 17, 1987 [87251]
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (DPS, Dec. 17) -- The tenth synod of Province IX of the Episcopal Church in Latin America met here (Dec. 1-4) under the general theme of "unity, commitment and participation."
The work of the synod was preceded by a day-and-a-half training session on stewardship and autonomy where participants explored the close relationship between the two. "Without stewardship we cannot be autonomous," said the Rev. Benito Juarez, a Mexican priest who served as one of the facilitators.
The synod heard reports on the autonomy plans for the Central American region as well as the Caribbean region and ARENSA, the northern region of South America. It was reported that the dioceses were almost ready to form a province which may eventually become an autonomous province within the Anglican Communion. Before a new province can be formed, the dioceses will have to request permission individually to leave the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.
The synod also passed resolutions expressing concern for the situations in Haiti and Central America, and asked Episcopalians to pray and work for peace.
The synod also heard a report of the recent Latin American Anglican Congress, and empowered the Synod President to meet with the primates of the Southern Cone and Brazil in order to carry out the recommendations of the congress. The group is scheduled to meet early in January in Caracas, Venezuela.
In a resolution presented by Bishop Onell A. Soto of Venezuela, the synod requested that a small consultation be held before Lambeth in order to study the concept of authority in the Anglican Communion as understood in the Latin American context. It also requested that the Church in Latin America contribute ideas and suggestions to the whole Anglican Communion in areas such as evangelism, social involvement, and family life.
This is the first time that the synod has met in the Dominican Republic. "We have waited for this moment for 30 years," said host Bishop Telesforo Isaac.
The synod re-elected as president Bishop James H. Ottley of Panama who was serving the unexpired term of the late Bishop Leonardo Romero of Northern Mexico. Bishop Samuel Espinoza of Western Mexico was elected vice-president. Virginia Norman, treasurer of the Province since 1972, was re-elected.
The synod also accepted the invitation of Bishop Leo Frade of Honduras to meet in Tegucigalpa in 1990.
Province IX was established by action of the 1984 General Convention to gather together the Spanish-speaking dioceses in the area. In recent years Costa Rica and Puerto Rico have requested their autonomy and are now extra-provincial dioceses, along with Venezuela which was transferred from the Province of the West Indies.