Anglican Communion News Service

by Claudio Simoes de Oliveira
Department of Communications - The Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil

English translation: The Revd Mario Ribas


The 29th General Synod of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil met from 29 May - 1 June in the Bethany Village Retreat House, in Porto Alegre. The meeting, which gathered 130 people - amongst those were the diocesan and districts delegates, ecumenical observers, and partners in mission from other provinces of the Anglican Communion - was a time for prayer, reflection, sharing of experiences, and to decide the future of work and ministry of the Brazilian Church and its new provincial leadership.

During the Synod, the missionary expansion was an aspect that became evident to all participants. The Missionary districts of Amazon and West are definitely settled, increasing each day and becoming more and more fruitful. A new missionary diocese, the Diocese of Curitiba, was also created with the purpose of attending to the specific needs of the Anglican communities within the provincial state of Parana. The gratitude and appreciation of the Most Revd Glauco de Lima's ministry, who resigned during this synod, was another highlight of this meeting.

The former General Secretary and new bishop elected for Brasilia, the Revd Canon Mauricio Andrade, said, "Surely, if we look to our journey during the last years we can, without doubt, reaffirm that we are living a time of hope, a time in which we feel the renewal of faith. We are living in a time to celebrate mission."