ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS

Declaration of the Anglican Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean (Global Center)

Saturday, 2 June 2007

Anglican bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean, meeting in San José, Costa Rica, May 18-22, released a declaration reaffirming their call for the Anglican Communion "to preserve its participative nature, diverse, ample and inclusive," characteristics they say are essential to Anglicanism.

The declaration was signed by 21 bishops, including the Primates of Brazil, Central America and Mexico, and Bishop Lloyd Allen of Honduras, president of the Episcopal Church's Province IX.

Saying they represent the "plurality and diversity that are universal characteristics of Anglicanism," the bishops acknowledged that they "hold different positions on the themes that are presently discussed in the Communion." However, they continued, "we have also experienced that the plurality and diversity we represent has become a rich source for growth, rather than a cause for controversy and division."

The bishops unanimously expressed their determination "to remain united as members of the same family and will continue to come to the Lord's Table, together." They invited all bishops, clergy and laity "who identify with this vision to join together and work for an effective reconciliation, interdependence and unity in the diversity of our family of faith and so preserve the valuable legacy of which we are guardians."

We the Anglican Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, who sign below, gathered in San Jose, Costa Rica from the 18 to 22 of May 2007, renew and ratify our position proposed in Panama, better known as the Global Center, in which we call the Communion to preserve its participative nature, diverse, ample and inclusive, characteristics which we consider essential to Anglicanism and at the same time our contribution to the Christian tradition.

Since our last meeting, our concern has grown because of the polarization regarding the biblical and theological positions manifested in the Anglican Communion, during the last years; positions known as Global North and Global South, non reconcilable in their character and putting the unity in the Communion at risk.

In the midst of this painful controversy, we do not identify with either side, because they don’t fully represent the spirit of our thoughts.

It has been proven in our relations that we greatly represent the plurality and diversity that are universal characteristics of Anglicanism and that we hold different positions on the themes that are presently discussed in the Communion. However, we have also experienced that the plurality and diversity we represent has become a rich source for growth, rather than a cause for controversy and division.

We unanimously express our determination to remain united as members of the same family and will continue to come to the Lord’s Table, together.

We invite our brothers and sisters in the episcopate, as well as all the members of the Clergy and laity who identify with this vision, to join together and work for an effective reconciliation, interdependence and unity in the diversity of our family of faith and so preserve the valuable legacy of which we are guardians.

As disciples of Jesus, called to live out the mandate of love (St. John 15:17), we declare our commitment to be together and with all our strength, struggle for unity, as an act of obedience to His will expressed in the Holy Scriptures. Trusting that the Holy Spirit, whose descent we are about to celebrate on the Feast of Pentecost, will guide and strengthen us on such a difficult journey.

The experience of these few days confirms our conviction that, we will make it with God’s blessings. Of this, we are sure and now we return to our dioceses comforted and full of joy and hope.

San José-Costa Rica, May 2007.

The Rt. Rev. Mauricio Andrade
Diócesis de Brasilia, Brasil
Primate

The Rt. Rev. Carlos Touché Porter
Diócesis de Mexico
Primate

The Rt. Rev. Martin Barahona
Diócesis de El Salvador
Primate

The Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen
Diócesis de Honduras
Province IX President TEC

The Rt. Rev. Jubal Neves
Diócesis South Ocidental, Brasil

The Rt. Rev. Naudal Gomez
Diócesis de Curitiva, Brasil

The Rt. Rev. Sebastiao Gamaleira
Diócesis de Recife, Brasil

The Rt. Rev. Filadelfo Oliveira
Diócesis de Recife, Brasil

The Rt. Rev. Orlando Santos de Oliveira
Diócesis Meridional, Brasil

The Rt. Rev. Armando Guerra Soria
Diócesis de Guatemala

The Rt. Rev. Julio E. Murray
Diócesis de Panamá

The Rt. Rev. Héctor Monterroso
Diócesis de Costa Rica

The Rt. Rev. Lino Rodríguez
Diócesis del Occidente de México

The Rt. Rev. Benito Juárez
Diócesis del Sureste de México

The Rt. Rev. Francisco Duque
Diócesis de Colombia

The Rt. Rev. Alfredo Morante
Diócesis de litoral, Ecuador

The Rt. Rev. Orlando Guerrero
Diócesis de Venezuela

The Rt. Rev. Miguel Tamayo
Diócesis de Uruguay y Diócesis de Cuba

The Rt. Rev. Wilfredo Ramos
Diócesis de Ecuador Central

The Rt. Rev. Julio Cesar Olguín
Diócesis de República Dominica

The Rt. Rev. José Antonio Ramos
Retired Bishop

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