Bishop of Colombia Resigns His See
Episcopal News Service. March 16, 1978 [78069]
New York, N.Y. -- The Rt. Rev. William Alfred Franklin has tendered the resignation of his jurisdiction as head of the Episcopal Church in Colombia, it was announced here at the Episcopal Church Center.
Bishop Franklin said that he was resigning for reasons of "missionary strategy" and that his only desire was "the peace and unity of our beloved Church in Colombia."
The letter of resignation was presented to the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, but according to the canons of the Church all the bishops with jurisdictions and the diocesan standing committees will have to be consulted for their consents to his resignation.
It may take several months before any action can be taken in this regard.
Bishop Franklin, 61, a native of England, was elected Bishop of Colombia in a diocesan convention held in Call, Colombia, in 1971. At that time a great number of the Church membership was composed of English-speaking expatriates but now has become predominantly Colombian.
Bishop Franklin has served most of his ministry in Latin America, first as a chaplain in Chile and Argentina and later as rector of the Church of St. Alban, Bogota.
According to the canon law of the Episcopal Church, when a bishop offers his resignation to the Presiding Bishop, the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese resides in the standing committee of the diocese, which is formed of lay and clerical people. This will be the case in Colombia.
It is probable that another bishop from Latin America will be invited to provide episcopal oversight in the interim.
Bishop Franklin and Mrs. Franklin will remain in the New York area for the near future.