September 24, 2004

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

Anglican Communion News Service