Letter from the Primate of Brazil to the Most Revd Frank Griswold
Porto Alegre
16 March 2004
The Most Revd Frank Griswold Presiding Bishop of The ECUSA
Episcopal Church Centre 815 Second Avenue
New York 10017, NY.
United States of America
My Dear Brother,
It was with surprise, sadness and concern that we received the news
about the participation - without permission from the diocesan bishop of
Ohio - of the Brazilian Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti, diocesan Bishop of
Recife of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, in a confirmation
service of 110 people in the state of Ohio, together with five retired
bishops of ECUSA, as his participation has been stated in the press "as
illustrating international support for the measures."
We want to express to your Grace our strong disapproval of this action
taken by this bishop, the Right Revd Cavalcanti, who, apart from showing
himself through this gesture to be both impolite and disrespectful, has
violated the constitution and the canons of ECUSA, by performing an
Episcopal and sacramental act in the Diocese of Ohio without the
permission from the bishop of that Diocese.
With regard to the above-referenced act and also with reference to any
others he may have participated in during his presence in the USA,
Bishop Cavalcanti was neither an official nor a sanctioned
representative of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil. His
participation in all and any events while in the USA was a purely
personal initiative and not in any way as an envoy from our Brazilian
province. He did not and would never have obtained permission for such
action; furthermore, at no stage were we informed as to his intentions
with regards to such a visit. Within our Brazilian province, such an act
constitutes a blatant violation of our constitution and canons, in the
most basic context of the traditions of the Church.
As one of the Primates who attended the Primates` meeting of October
15th and 16th, 2003, I can also state that the fact of some bishops
arrogating for themselves the right to perform sacramental and Episcopal
acts, without permission from the diocesan bishop, and at the same time
proclaiming such acts to be in accordance with the mandate of the
Archbishop of Canterbury and with the Primates, is neither true nor
correct. The declaration arising from this meeting states that all
provision for Episcopal oversight of "dissident minorities" is a matter
to be resolved by the province in question and, as such, restates that
"whilst we reaffirm the teaching of successive Lambeth Conferences that
bishops must respect the autonomy and territorial integrity of dioceses
and provinces other than their own, we call on the provinces concerned
to make adequate provision for Episcopal oversight of dissenting
minorities within their own area of pastoral care in consultation with
the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates."
Thus, on behalf of the Bishops' Chamber, of the clergy and of the people
of the Province of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, I would like
to offer to your Grace our most sincere apologies for such a
disrespectful and impolite act as done by one of our bishops. Similarly,
I would like to reaffirm that in no way do we agree with nor would we
sanction such a canonical violation, done in total disrespect for the
autonomy of your province and for the Diocese of Ohio. Further, I take
this opportunity to inform you that this matter will be taken up and
examined in the next meeting of the Bishops' Chamber, 22-23 March, 2004.
I also wish to reaffirm our respect for the decisions of the General
Convention in Minneapolis, thus recognising the autonomy of our brothers
and sisters of ECUSA, who, in their own cultural and ecclesiastical
context, and through regular and democratic canonical process, confirmed
the election of Bishop Gene Robinson.
Last but not least, I also wish to reaffirm our communion and
companionship with our sister Church ECUSA. We believe that the family
we belong to, the Family of the Anglican Communion around the world, has
to be an instrument of God's love for the world and that means, that in
seeking to hold together as a Communion, we have to be seeking to serve
that purpose and no other. So, it is my belief that by attempting to
work through differences within our family we may come to a better
perception of the calling of our mission.
We reaffirm that we are Partners in Mission with ECUSA. Be assured of
our prayers for your well-being, for the pastoral ministry that God has
entrusted to you, and also for all the clergy and people of ECUSA.
"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8.28
With every good wish and blessing,
Most Revd Orlando Santos de Oliveira
Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil
Editor's note: The following letter was sent to ACNS by the Primate of
Brazil with a request that it be published on our news service. J M
Rosenthal
16 March 2004
The Most Revd Frank Griswold Presiding Bishop of The ECUSA
Episcopal Church Centre 815 Second Avenue
New York 10017, NY.
United States of America
My Dear Brother,
It was with surprise, sadness and concern that we received the news
about the participation - without permission from the diocesan bishop of
Ohio - of the Brazilian Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti, diocesan Bishop of
Recife of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, in a confirmation
service of 110 people in the state of Ohio, together with five retired
bishops of ECUSA, as his participation has been stated in the press "as
illustrating international support for the measures."
We want to express to your Grace our strong disapproval of this action
taken by this bishop, the Right Revd Cavalcanti, who, apart from showing
himself through this gesture to be both impolite and disrespectful, has
violated the constitution and the canons of ECUSA, by performing an
Episcopal and sacramental act in the Diocese of Ohio without the
permission from the bishop of that Diocese.
With regard to the above-referenced act and also with reference to any
others he may have participated in during his presence in the USA,
Bishop Cavalcanti was neither an official nor a sanctioned
representative of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil. His
participation in all and any events while in the USA was a purely
personal initiative and not in any way as an envoy from our Brazilian
province. He did not and would never have obtained permission for such
action; furthermore, at no stage were we informed as to his intentions
with regards to such a visit. Within our Brazilian province, such an act
constitutes a blatant violation of our constitution and canons, in the
most basic context of the traditions of the Church.
As one of the Primates who attended the Primates` meeting of October
15th and 16th, 2003, I can also state that the fact of some bishops
arrogating for themselves the right to perform sacramental and Episcopal
acts, without permission from the diocesan bishop, and at the same time
proclaiming such acts to be in accordance with the mandate of the
Archbishop of Canterbury and with the Primates, is neither true nor
correct. The declaration arising from this meeting states that all
provision for Episcopal oversight of "dissident minorities" is a matter
to be resolved by the province in question and, as such, restates that
"whilst we reaffirm the teaching of successive Lambeth Conferences that
bishops must respect the autonomy and territorial integrity of dioceses
and provinces other than their own, we call on the provinces concerned
to make adequate provision for Episcopal oversight of dissenting
minorities within their own area of pastoral care in consultation with
the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates."
Thus, on behalf of the Bishops' Chamber, of the clergy and of the people
of the Province of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, I would like
to offer to your Grace our most sincere apologies for such a
disrespectful and impolite act as done by one of our bishops. Similarly,
I would like to reaffirm that in no way do we agree with nor would we
sanction such a canonical violation, done in total disrespect for the
autonomy of your province and for the Diocese of Ohio. Further, I take
this opportunity to inform you that this matter will be taken up and
examined in the next meeting of the Bishops' Chamber, 22-23 March, 2004.
I also wish to reaffirm our respect for the decisions of the General
Convention in Minneapolis, thus recognising the autonomy of our brothers
and sisters of ECUSA, who, in their own cultural and ecclesiastical
context, and through regular and democratic canonical process, confirmed
the election of Bishop Gene Robinson.
Last but not least, I also wish to reaffirm our communion and
companionship with our sister Church ECUSA. We believe that the family
we belong to, the Family of the Anglican Communion around the world, has
to be an instrument of God's love for the world and that means, that in
seeking to hold together as a Communion, we have to be seeking to serve
that purpose and no other. So, it is my belief that by attempting to
work through differences within our family we may come to a better
perception of the calling of our mission.
We reaffirm that we are Partners in Mission with ECUSA. Be assured of
our prayers for your well-being, for the pastoral ministry that God has
entrusted to you, and also for all the clergy and people of ECUSA.
"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8.28
With every good wish and blessing,
Most Revd Orlando Santos de Oliveira
Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil
Editor's note: The following letter was sent to ACNS by the Primate of
Brazil with a request that it be published on our news service. J M
Rosenthal
posted by KHR+ at 2:17 PM
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