Anglican Communion News Service

Members of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council gathered in the Dominican Republic 27 - 30 January for a rare meeting outside the United States - and the setting made a substantial difference in some of the council's decisions.

Bishop Julio Cesar Holguin welcomed council members to the Iglesia Episcopal Dominicana and 'a third world country' where he said about "20 percent of the eight million people live on less than US$1 a day and the income of our middle class is below the poverty level in the United States." Despite the economic and political turmoil, the diocese has grown from 24 to 45 parishes in the last decade.

At the opening Eucharist at Epiphany Church in Santo Domingo, council members encountered a clear challenge. "God knows why you are here," said the Revd Jean Monique Bruno in his sermon. "He sent you for a certain purpose...You are not only here to carry out the policy of General Convention, to give orientation to the Episcopal Church, to work on the unfinished business of the Executive Council. But mostly you are sent by the Lord to teach us, to witness to the Gospel, to proclaim to this country that the Lord God has a plan for it."

He added that "the Dominican Episcopal Church needs the vital support of your physical presence and the prophetic word to continue the work entitled to her by the Lord." He noted that Bishop Holguin had issued a pastoral letter last December, endorsed by the clergy "in which we expressed our concerns and preoccupations for the degradation of Dominican society. The pastoral letter was an SOS launched to all sectors of society" but "mainly aimed at those in power to remind them of their duties as representatives of the people" and to "denounce the corruption" in society. He described an economy that is "very fragile and uncertain," unemployment, a justice system that doesn't work, drugs that are destroying the young, and lack of access to good education and health care for the poor.

The council responded in several ways. They passed a strong resolution saying they had "heard of the plight of a large portion of the Dominican population who are poor and who often have their circumstances aggravated by corruption in the government and private sectors...."

In a move that could have long-term implications for the Dominican Republic and other churches in the developing world, the council voted to add US$472,000 to the proposed budget for the next triennium for dioceses that receive grants from the Episcopal Church. They also added US$258,000 for Native American Ministries.

Introducing her amendment, Becky Snow of Alaska said that seeing the church in the Dominican Republic had convinced her "to think about the importance of our support for overseas dioceses." She said that it did not make sense to cut the support for those least able to absorb the cuts. "There is no excuse for not supporting this work so integral to our church."

The Revd Patrick Mauney, director of Anglican and Global Relations at the Church Center, told council that there had been no increases in support for those dioceses since 1991 "despite very significant growth." He said that the grants "don't reflect current realities" and a thorough review "is way overdue."

As council members gathered they were aware of "rumours of war" in Iraq. Presiding Bishop Frank T Griswold repeated his concern that "the rhetoric is inflammatory. People are prickly and on edge." The Revd George Werner, president of the House of Deputies and vice chair of the council, said, "We're in a time of dread."

Council unanimously endorsed Bishop Griswold's public statement on Iraq, "The challenges of global citizenship," released January 30, commending it to the whole church.

Article from: ENS by James Solheim