Episcopal Life Online October 27, 2007
Executive Council learns from covenant partners Mission and ministry in Brazil, Central America, Liberia, Mexico, Philippines inspires members
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] Members of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council spent a large portion of the second day of a three-day meeting in Dearborn, Michigan, October 27 hearing about the mission and ministry of its covenant partners in Brazil, Central America, Liberia, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The Council, the church's governing body between meetings of General Convention, also elected the Rev. Canon Emily Morales, Diocese of Puerto Rico program missioner, to succeed the Rev. Miguelina Espinal of the Dominican Republic. Espinal resigned to become the Episcopal missioner with the Pastoral Leadership Search Effort (http://www.theplse.org) (PLSE).
The Council has the prerogative in Canon I.4.2(c) (http://www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/pdf_const_2003/Title_ I_O rgAdmin.pdf) to elect people to replace members elected by General Convention, until the Convention elects a successor.
The members of the Council also heard from their colleague Bishop Wilfrido Ramos-Orench of Central Ecuador who will host the Council's next meeting February 11-14, 2008 in Quito. Ramos-Orench said Council members would "see and observe a diocese recovering from a devastating trauma." The diocese had a difficult relationship with its previous bishop that included alienation of some diocesan property.
Ramos-Orench told the Council that he hoped the members would be able to engage in mission work while they were in the country and meet with Latin American theologians and other experts who can talk with them about the social and political transformation in Ecuador.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_91382_ENG_HTM.htm