Anglican Province of the Southern Cone

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The Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of America (Spanish: Provincia Anglicana del Cono Sur de América) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion that covers the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. In addition, the province currently claims that it also includes one diocese in the United States of America, the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin.

As of 30 Nov 2007, the province reports 22,000 members[1], not including San Joaquin, thinly spread across the nations of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, which makes it one of the smaller provinces in the Anglican Communion in terms of numbers, although one of the largest in geographical extent. It claims eight bishops - about one bishop per 4,000 people. However, it has augmented its membership by recruiting conservative American and Canadian parishes who wish to opt out of their national church whilst retaining a link with the Anglican Communion. This has caused controversy and much tension within the Anglican Communion.

Contents

[edit] History

During the 19th century, immigrants to South America brought Anglicanism with them. The South American Missionary Society (SAMS) was formed to develop Anglican mission throughout South America, and it still has an important place in the life of the church. As the church and its mission grew, missionary bishops were appointed and dioceses were formed. Until 1974, these missionary dioceses were under the metropolitical oversight of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In 1981, the dioceses came together to form the Province of the Southern Cone. Originally, there were six diocese in the province, one for every sovereign country covered by the province, but the Diocese of Northern Argentina was soon formed out of the larger Diocese of Argentina. The province retains and celebrates its mission-focused, evangelical and charismatic roots.

The province consists of eight dioceses under the authority of a Presiding Bishop, currently British-born the Most Reverend Gregory James Venables, who represents the province to the rest of the Anglican Communion as its primate.

Archbishop Venables has been outspoken in support of a conservative position on homosexuality and other issues[clarify].

[edit] Dioceses

[edit] Diócesis de Argentina (Diocese of Argentina)

  • Diocesan bishop — The Most Reverend Gregory James Venables (Presiding Bishop)
appointed 2002, born 1949

[edit] Diócesis de Argentina Norte (Diocese of Northern Argentina)

[edit] Diócesis de Bolivia (Diocese of Bolivia)

  • Diocesan bishop — The Right Reverend Frank Lyons

A 1976 graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton IL USA; a conservative evangelical Christian college in the near Chicago. As Bishop of Bolivia, Bishop Lyons oversees some 35 churches in the United States who have left the Episcopal Church USA. Bishop Lyons was sent to Bolivia as a missionary by South American Missions Society. He was consecrated bishop in 2001.

[edit] Diócesis de Chile (Diocese of Chile)

  • Diocesan bishop — The Right Reverend Héctor Zavala Muñoz
  • Assistant bishop — The Right Reverend Abelino Manuel Apeleo
  • Link dioceses — Episcopal Diocese of Rio Grande and Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh

[edit] Diócesis de Paraguay (Diocese of Paraguay)

  • Diocesan bishop — The Right Reverend John Alexander Ellison
  • Link diocese — Diocese of Nelson

[edit] Diócesis de Perú (Diocese of Peru)

  • Diocesan bishop — The Right Reverend Harold William Godfrey
  • Link diocese — Diocese of Worcester

[edit] Diócesis de Uruguay (Diocese of Uruguay)

[edit] Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin (USA)

  • Diocesan Bishop - The Right Reverend John-David Schofield

On December 8, 2007, clergy and lay representatives of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin voted to change their constitution replacing references to the Episcopal Church with general references to being an Anglican diocese in communion with the See of Canterbury. Subsequently the leadership accepted an invitation to join as a diocese of the Southern Cone. The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church has promised that the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin will continue without the departing members, and a court battle over church property is likely to ensue.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Anglican Journal: Quick facts: The Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America Nov 30, 2007

[edit] External links

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Churches in the Anglican Communion
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