The Diocese of Puerto Rico, alive and well, has just done a remarkable thing.
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According to ENS they have pledged $300,000 to Episcopal Relief and Development. ENS writes, "The Diocese of Puerto Rico has made a three-year commitment to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) to contribute a total of $300,000 to the organization in support of the Millennium Development Goals Inspiration Fund. "This will be the largest gift ever received from a single diocese in Episcopal Relief and Development's history," and ERD release said."
The Diocese of Puerto Rico is now over 100 years old and has churches throughout the island and a wide variety of medical, social and educational institutions serving the people of Puerto Rico. The two most recent bishops - Bishop Reus and Bishop Alvarez -have been from Puerto Rico. Their two ministries have spanned more than forty years and during that time the church in Puerto Rico has grown rapidly.
You know, I´ve spent almost two decades, collectively, living in Puerto Rico (mostly) and other parts of Latin America too...I must say that Bishop Alvarez has always been a no-nonsense type of hero for me, he has no problem saying a FIRM NO to those that would attempt to dismember The Episcopal Church...I´ve admired him greatly as do most Puerto Ricans, Catholic or Protestant, and there is rarely a social issue that doesn´t have him firmly pictured and quoted in the various popular, very popular, Newspapers on the island. I worshipped at the Cathedral on Ponce de Leon in Santurce and there were three Masses there every Sunday...two English, one Spanish...all well attended, beautiful and sacred (although my favorite was when Archbishop Tutu visited and said he believed in Civil Unions for LGBT people...wow, what a guy, he was featured on the FRONT PAGES of every newspeaper for days).
ReplyDelete¡Dios todopoderoso bendice la diócesis de Puerto Rico!
ReplyDeleteFascinating stuff, the determined, the focused, the welcoming, the inclusive...even during times of Economic hardship on the island of Puerto Rico and the Mainland and worldwide and Churchwide...perhaps some of the other Provinces, like West Indies, and Southern Cone could learn from some friendly brotherly/sisterly instruction on how to build and strengthen the stewardship/mission in Latin America...unfortunately, Southern Cone has almost no following to build upon and West Indies has rampant crimes of hate (the worst in the hemisphere in Jamaica).
ReplyDeleteSouthern Cone and West Indies needs the religious fellowship and plain HELP of TEC and Anglican Communion...no sense trying to steal what would be freely given.
It occurred to me that Puerto Rico is not likely the richest diocese in the Episcopal Church which makes their pledge to ERD all the more remarkable and, frankly, puts many of us to shame. That is likely FAR beyond 0.7 percent of their annual budget. Well done to them and a call to action for the rest of us, in more ways than just the MDGs.
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