March 7, 2012

The Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America's Synod has proposed that its province becomes two.

According to a statement issued on March 6, the two provinces would be one comprising Peru, Bolivia and two dioceses in Chile (one to be formed) and another comprising Argentina, Northern Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The proposal comes after the Synod rejected both a request for permission for the Diocese of Uruguay to ordain woman as presbyters and also for the diocese to seek alternative provincial oversight.

Referring to the proposed creation of two provinces the statement said, "This structural change would be developed and presented at regional, provincial, Synodical and Communion levels during the next two years. A calendar was developed and the next meeting of the Provincial Executive will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay in May 2012."

The complete statement follows.

Southern Cone Synod postpones Uruguay petition again

At the extraordinary Synod of the Southern Cone held in Asunción, Paraguay, in November, permission to ordain woman as presbyters in Uruguay was rejected in all orders after Uruguay shared their urgent need. (Ordination of women to the diaconate is the provincial norm.) This fully representative meeting was called to determine how to pastorally accompany the diocese of Uruguay who appealed to the Province because of the failure of the regular Synod to so approve. A second motion was entertained to allow Uruguay to seek other oversight and surprisingly, the extraordinary Synod also voted against that action.

However, upon further discussion that stretched into a second day, it was proposed to multiply the Province into two provinces. This combined a previous desire for growth with a way forward to meet the need in Uruguay. (The diocese of Chile had previously been granted permission to establish other dioceses as their situation allows.) An action plan was designed with additional regional meetings to that purpose. This structural change would be developed and presented at regional, provincial, Synodical and Communion levels during the next two years. A calendar was developed and the next meeting of the Provincial Executive will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay in May 2012.

In response to these votes, the diocese of Uruguay still has the option to seek other jurisdiction. But the probable future of the Southern Cone briefly envisioned was of two provinces: one consisting of Peru, Bolivia and two dioceses in Chile (one to be formed) and another consisting of Argentina, Northern Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Episcopal News Service
Anglican Communion News Service