Viva la Provincia Anglicana de Mexico!
Episcopal News Service. September 7, 1994 [94146]
Jan Nunley
To thunderous applause, the Episcopal Church gave birth during the General Convention to a new autonomous province of the Anglican Communion -- the Anglican Church in Mexico.
Members of the House of Bishops rose as one to approve the establishment of the new province, incorporating the five dioceses of Mexico:
Western Mexico, Northern Mexico, Mexico, Cuernavaca and Southeastern Mexico. Immediately following the vote, Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning was presented with a new "mitre" -- a large Mexican sombrero.
"The time has come to take our own place in the Anglican Communion, the larger family," Bishop Sergio Carranza-Gomez of the Diocese of Mexico told the bishops, expressing his gratitude for "the support you have given us, for your tender care, for your leadership, for your friendship, for your love. Please keep us in your prayers." From the Diocese of Western Mexico, Bishop Samuel Espinoza added, "We are in the same boat -- you are in first class, we are in second or third class, but we are in the same boat -- the mission of Christ." Several bishops rose to hail the new province. Bishop Maurice Benitez of Texas, who chaired the covenant committee establishing the autonomous church, recalled how the Mexican representatives began with "apprehension" and moved to "determination and enthusiasm" over the prospect of independence. Quoting a resolution by the Mexican church, Benitez said, "En el futuro no como madre y hija, pero como dos hermanas trabajando juntos por Cristo y su Reina (In the future, we will not be mother and daughter, but two sisters working together for Christ and his reign)!"
Others from dioceses waiting to become autonomous provinces expressed hope that they would soon follow Mexico into independent status. "I would like this house to support us when Central America comes back too," said Bishop Martin Barahona of El Salvador, in an impassioned address in Spanish."
"Being autonomous does not mean isolation, but companions in mission," commented Bishop Cornelius Wilson of Costa Rica, whose diocese is extra-provincial diocese to the Episcopal Church, hopes to join the new Province of Central America when it is formed. Bishop Clarence Coleridge of Connecticut also offered congratulations to Mexico and encouragement to the dioceses hoping to form a Province of the Caribbean -- a process that the Diocese of Connecticut is involved in shepherding.
Resolutions supporting autonomy for Central America and the Caribbean have already passed the House of Deputies and await the approval of the House of Bishops. Both resolutions recommend a three-year wait before granting autonomy.
From the tiny Diocese of Taiwan, now part of the Episcopal Church's Province 8, Bishop John Chien recounted failed efforts to unite with the Provinces of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, adding, "By God's grace and your support we hope we will become autonomous in the near future."
The new Province of Mexico will install its Primate no later than January 1, 1995.