wfn.org | Central American church wants to go

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July 17, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

ENSGC-02-02

Central American church wants to go its own way

By Carol E. Barnwell
	
PHILADELPHIA (July 17, 1997) - The Episcopal Church in Central America may become a separate province of the worldwide Anglican Communion, according to a recommendation from the Standing Commission on World Mission at the 72nd General Convention.
	
The convention also will consider a proposal for a new partnership for global mission agencies. 
	
Approval is almost certain for the autonomy issue, but not for the Episcopal Partnership for Global Mission.  
	
Autonomy for Central America

Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama, dioceses in Province 9, want to join the autonomous Diocese of Costa Rica in forming a new province in Central America.  "We have a vision of mission expansion," said the Rev. Hector Monterroso of Guatemala, general secretary of the new province, citing the dioceses' work as a witness to unity.  
	
The four dioceses are requesting a 40-year financial aid plan that requires annual reductions.  Members of the committee were concerned about supporting the new province for such a long period. But Thelma Wilson of Nicaragua reassured the committee the dioceses have focused on stewardship training, with the result that her diocese now provides nearly 60 percent of its own funding. 
	
The group was denied approval in 1994 because all the provisions for autonomy had not been met.  "I now have total confidence in the internal structure that has been put into place," the Rev. Patrick Mauney, director of the Office of Anglican and Global Relations, said in an open hearing this morning.  He described the "incredible cooperation" among the countries, citing their cooperation despite the challenges of diversity of race, language and financial status. "This will be a great example, a gift to the worldwide church," Mauney said.  
	
Bishop Cornelius Wilson of Costa Rica, a diocese that is not part of the U.S. Episcopal Church, said he has been hearing about autonomy since his confirmation in 1947.  "We were told to prepare for autonomy then," he said, explaining autonomy for his diocese was achieved in 1977 without the preparation, covenants or financial backing proposed in the resolution being considered by convention.
	
Wilson likened the proposal to a family with grown children. He described all five of his children as married and autonomous, even though "from time to time I need to give them advice.  In this sense," he said, "autonomy is more like interdependence."
	
Partnership plan faces challenge
	
"We are coloring outside the lines," said the Rev. Ian Douglas of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts as he described the resolution that would officially link 40 participating groups engaged in world mission and make them accountable to the Standing Commission on World Mission.  Douglas is chair of the standing commission and spokesman for the partnership.  
	
Although many representatives from different world mission agencies spoke in favor of the partnership, objections were raised on the grounds that, as written, resolution A204 oversteps the purview of the standing commission - which is coloring too far outside the lines, according to some critics. 
	
The Rev. Mark Harris, an original member of the Episcopal Council for Global Mission (ECGM), does not believe the resolution is feasible.  "This is more than the standing commission can legally take on.  I think the partnership needs to happen but not this way," he said. 
	
While supporting the intent of the partnership,  Mauney said he does not believe the standing commission should be the supervisory body.  Specifics on how accountability would be achieved raised additional questions. 
	
Supporters believe the world mission community "is the healthiest part of this church today."  
	
Edwina Thomas, national director of Sharing of Ministries Abroad, said, "We network for counsel, resources and to more fully utilize those resources.  A204 extends that ability."  
	
The Rev. Richard Jones, associate professor of mission and world religion at Virginia Theological Seminary and member of the Seminary Consultation on Mission, sees a "recovery of nerve and vision in the church's role in global mission."  
	
He said the partnership could "carry out tasks that the ECGM cannot because there is no staff person."   The resolution requests $67,500 from the national church budget with an additional $67,500 coming from member agencies.

European mission funds recommended
	
The Committee on World Mission was to consider the resolution Thursday morning.
	
In other action, the committee recommended approval for C031, which requests $60,000 over three years for European mission.  
	
Describing active ministries for indigenous populations in Italy, France and Holland, Bishop Jeffrey Rowthorn, suffragan bishop of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, told the committee, "This is clearly a new day for Europe.  The Episcopal Church is seeking to respond [to a growing spiritual interest] and our missionary work is being responded to."

Carol E. Barnwell is communications officer for the Diocese of Texas.