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From Business Wire-
The Church Pension Group (CPG), a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church and its people, in partnership with The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) and Episcopal Relief & Development, hosted a three-day wellness conference for clergy, lay employees, and lay leaders of the Diocese of Ecuador Litoral who were impacted by the April earthquake. CPG covered the cost of attendance for clergy who participate in the benefits programs it offers, and financial support from ECF and Episcopal Relief & Development made it possible to expand the conference to include lay employees and lay leaders in the diocese.
The three-day conference, which took place from July 21 to July 24 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, addressed the psychological, physical, and spiritual needs of attendees who were affected by the earthquake that killed more than 650 individuals and displaced more than 30,000 people. It also offered them assistance in developing coping skills that they can utilize as they continue to minister and serve those impacted by the earthquake.
More here-
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160726005992/en/Church-Pension-Group-Episcopal-Church-Foundation-Episcopal
From ENS-
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s visit to the Episcopal Diocese of Ecuador Litoral last week was meant to show that the people hard hit by the April 16 earthquake and its aftermath are not alone.
Curry assured the congregation assembled June 30 for Eucharist at Catedral Cristo Rey (Christ the King Cathedral) in Guayaquil, the diocesan see, that he brought with him the prayers of the rest of the Episcopal Church and its pledge to walk with them through the post-earthquake period.
The presiding bishop also encouraged the congregation to look outward. “Go out into this world and help us make a better world,” he said at the close of his sermon. “Go out into this world and show them that love is the only way. Go out into this world and join hands with all people until all of us can say: ‘We are not alone; we’ve got a God and with God we cannot fail.’”
More here-
http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/07/05/presiding-bishop-brings-message-of-hope-to-quake-ravaged-ecuador/
From ENS-
The following Daily Account, issued by the Episcopal Church's Office of Public Affairs, offers an overview of the sixth day of conversations and activities of the House of Bishops, which is meeting Sept. 15-20 in Quito, Ecuador.The September 20 session began with Morning Prayer. Bishop Carol Gallagher of Diocese of North Dakota read the Gospel in Cherokee.Emcee for the day was Bishop Sean Rowe, Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania.In the morning session, Bishop Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church, gave a presentation about structure of the Episcopal Church, "Becoming A Domestic And Foreign Missionary Society: An Adaptive Moment." The presentation sparked much conversation among the HOB.In the afternoon:- Bishop Jim Curry of Connecticut reported on the activities of Bishops Working for a Just World.- Archbishop Albert Chama, Primate of Central Africa, offered his reflections and thanks to the HOB.Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori chaired the business session, during which:- HOB had a moment of silence for Bishop Robert Anderson and Bishop Walter Righter, who died since the last HOB meeting.- Bishop Luis Ruiz of Ecuador Central addressed the HOB about the current conflict in the diocese. He said that he and the diocesan leadership have been working with the presiding bishop and Bishop Clay Matthews. He announced his intention to resign and expressed his thanks for the solidarity he received from the HOB. Also the diocesan leadership will resign from their respective positions. Bishop Victor Scantlebury was named by the presiding bishop as interim bishop for the Diocese of Ecuador Central.More here-
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_129892_ENG_HTM.htm
From ENS-
For the "sake of the diocese" the leadership of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Ecuador – including members of the Standing Committee, Bishop Luis Fernando Ruiz, the chancellor, its legal representative and all other diocesan leaders – have agreed to resign by Oct. 1.Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori Sept. 20 convened a meeting of the leadership, along with Bishop Victor Scantlebury and Bishop Clay Matthews, the Episcopal Church's bishop for pastoral development, at the Hilton Colón Hotel in Quito, where the agreement was reached.By resigning their positions, the leadership yields its authority to the presiding bishop; she appointed Scantlebury, who had served as an assisting bishop in the Diocese of Chicago until he retired July 1 to serve as interim bishop.The announcement was made to the House of Bishops, which has been holding its fall meeting Sept. 15-20 in Quito, during its business session. Jefferts Schori, Scantlebury and Matthews have been holding meetings with the Central Ecuador leadership throughout the six-day meeting."They have been advising me to think about my resignation," said Ruiz in Spanish through an interpreter. "This is something that really hurts me … but as I have been saying, if this will contribute to calm in the diocese, and I can get my life back in order.More here-
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_129895_ENG_HTM.htm
From ELO-
The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church is meeting in Province IX in Quito, Ecuador (Diocese of Ecuador Central) from September 15 to September 20. The following is an account of the activities for Monday, September 19.The Episcopal Church House of Bishops began Monday, September 19 with Morning Prayer and Bible Study. The Bible study focused on the Mission of the Church through the lens of Matthew 5:21-26. At the conclusion of the Bible study, HOB chaplain the Rev. Stephanie Spellers of the Diocese of Massachusetts asked the bishops to reflect on their call to be reconcilers asking, “What is the breach you feel most compelled to repair?”Emcee for the day was Bishop Paul Lambert of Dallas. Bishop Clay Matthews reintroduced the theme “Proclaiming the Gospel: Caring for the Least as Bishops in the 21st Century.”The morning was devoted to a panel discussion on Migration, Poverty, Indebtedness, and the Environment in Ecuador. Panelists were Franklin Canelos, economist and university professor; the Rev. Nilton Giese, General Secretary of Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias (Latin-American Council of Churches); Esperanza Martinez, sociologist, biologist and researcher with Oil Watch; and Ana White, Immigration and Refugee Policy Analyst at the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations. Each presented data which detailed the many points and aspects of the topic; presentations were in English and Spanish.http://www.episcopalchurch.org/newsline_129867_ENG_HTM.htm
From ENS-
On Saturday, Sept. 17, the members of the House of Bishops and the HoB spouses/partners group, which is meeting concurrently, visited various sites of mission and ministry in and beyond Quito.One group traveled to the Episcopal mission in Tulcán, located more than four hours outside of Quito, on the border between Ecuador and Colombia. While there, they conducted a prayer service at the bridge where people seeking refuge cross. And they met Colombian refugees -- a woman and her young daughter -- who have fled the violence and troubles in that country.Another group traveled to Iglesia San Felipe, an Episcopal Church in Ibarra, a city of about 182,000 people, located about three hours from Quito. The group met with its vicar, the Rev Carlos Zapata, and retired priest, the Rev. Marco Mejia and his wife, Dolly, and parishioners and learned about the ministries sponsored by the church for the people in that area. Since Zapata took over the ministry five years ago, average Sunday attendance has increased from five people to 50.The church members talked about their ties with the Dioceses of Atlanta, which helped them purchase the building; Connecticut, which as strong ties to the church; New Jersey, which helped build a sports center; and Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis, which purchased the pews.More here-
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_129849_ENG_HTM.htm
From ENS-
After an eight-month separation from them, Antonio boarded a plane with his wife and their three children in Cali, Colombia, last winter and flew to Quito, Ecuador, where they petitioned the Ecuadorian government for asylum.It was the ultimate act in a 10-year-saga that included an attempt on Antonio's life, four internal displacements within Colombia's border and the loss of everything material and familiar. The family landed in metro-Quito in a "safe house" belonging to the Diocese of Central Ecuador.Colombia's half-century-long armed conflict -- characterized by displacement, violence and human and drug trafficking -- has forced more than 116,000 refugees across the border into Ecuador. They are among the more than 15 million refugees worldwide whose plight is spotlighted each June 20 on World Refugee Day, commemorated annually since 2001.In May, ENS visited Ecuador and heard the stories of Colombian refugees living there. Their tales reflect the violence and lost homes, livelihoods, families and lives that have characterized the South American country's prolonged war. To protect the refugees from further harm and persecution, their names have been changed.More here-
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_128774_ENG_HTM.htm
From Zimbabwe-
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is in the eye of a storm after he accepted an honourary degree from a shadowy Anglican bishop in Ecuador as anti-genocide activists have launched a campaign to have it withdrawn.Mugabe was supposed to fly to Quito, Ecudoran capital from New York where he was attending the United Nations General Assembly last month to receive the doctor of Civil Law degree but changed his plans at the last minute.He flew back home last Sunday.The veteran ruler who is already a holder of seven degrees mostly obtained during his time in jail was given the honorary doctorate in civil law by the Autonomous University in Quito.Mugabe’s decision to postpone the trip to fetch the degree coincided with revelations that Bishop Walter Roberto Crespo had been implicated in gun running for Colombian rebels.The Anglican Church of Harare said Crespo was also an unrecognised breakaway bishop.While in Harare Crespo was the guest of Nolbert Kunonga, another renegade Anglican bishop with Zanu PF links.But it has since emerged from close sources that Mugabe will travel to the South American country between next month and December.His visit will be closely monitored by the United States-based Genocide Watch, which last week wrote to Crespo warning him against honouring a “world class criminal like Mugabe.”More here-
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/local/26791-storm-brews-over-mugabes-fake-degree.html
From Business Wire-
