wfn.org | Statement from the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Anglican

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3885     |     BRAZIL     |     24 SEPTEMBER 2004

Statement from the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Anglican Church of
Brazil

To the Brothers and Sisters of IEAB (Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil)

To the People of God of the Diocese of Recife

Grace and Peace!

The House of Bishops has gathered in the city of Porto Alegre for an 
extraordinary meeting under the presidency of the Primate, the Most Revd 
Orlando Oliveira, and attending to the request of the clergy of the 
Anglican Diocese of Recife and its Suffragan Bishop, in the face of recent 
events in that Diocese, has deliberated the following:

Considering the request from the following clergy: Revmo Sirgio L Andrade 
(Dean of the Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity), the Revd Gustavo 
Gilson S de Oliveira, ose (Principal of the Anglican Seminary for 
Theological Studies), the Revd Fabio Vasconcelos (the Parish of the 
Mediator and Chaplain of the Anglican Seminary for Theological Studies), 
the Revd Edmar Pimentel (the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral), the Revd Claudio 
Linhares, osf (Parish of Reconciliation), the Revda Lmlian Linhares, osf, 
(Parish of Reconciliation), the Revd Israel Pereira C da Silva, osf, 
(Parish of the Good News), the Revd Bruno Lums Teles de Almeida, osf (the 
Parish of the Good Samaritan and the Chapel of Christ the Saviour), the 
Revd Severino Abel da Silva, ose (Parish of Jesus of Nazareth), the Revd 
Claudio Norberto Melo da Silva, osf (Parish of Reconciliation), the Revd 
Francisco Sales de Melo Silva, osf, the Revd Joco C. Peixoto Filho and the 
Revd Josafa Batista dos Santos, who feel thems!
elves to be in a climate of tension, unease and a break down of pastoral 
relations with their diocesan bishop, the Rt Revd Dom Robinson Cavalcanti, 
despite all the efforts made towards the unity of the diocese;

Considering the reports received from parishes, mission churches, and 
church plants which have declared through their lay leaders their support 
to their respective ordained ministers in their search for unity and 
communion with IEAB;

Considering the frequent demonstrations by the diocesan Bishop of Recife, 
the Rt Revd Dom Robinson Cavalcanti, towards the intimidation of clergy and 
laity with the threat of disciplinary measures due to pastoral and 
theological divergences;

Considering the need to reaffirm the unity of IEAB and the preservation of 
the bonds of affection and of respect to difference;

Considering what is established by Canon 3 of the General Canons of IEAB in 
its 1st article,

DECIDES TO:

1. Decree a special episcopal oversight for the communities and clergy of 
the Anglican Diocese of Recife who feel pastorally uncared for by their 
diocesan bishop;

2. Appoint the Rt Revd Dom Mauricio Andrade, the diocesan bishop of 
Brasilia, to perform the task of special episcopal oversight for the clergy 
and communities which are in dissent with the pastoral and theological line 
of the diocesan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Recife, thus answering 
the need for spiritual and sacramental assistance to the respective 
communities and their ministers;

3. The present decision, naturally supposes that the Suffragan Bishop Dom 
Filadelfo Oliveira, according to his canonical prerogatives, continues to 
exert his pastoral ministry to the communities of the Anglican Diocese of 
Recife.

Porto Alegre, 16 September 2004

Most Revd Orlando Santos Oliveira
Primate of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil

___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is
distributed to more than 7,500 journalists and other readers around
the world.

For subscription INFORMATION please go to:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/acnslist.html