IEAB in solidarity with Haiti

xicosilva59 — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:24:19 +0000

A Provincial Campaign was launched to raise funds to support Haiti after the tragedy we saw Tuesday.
Destruction and pain: two words that sum up the tragedy that struck Haiti. The earthquake that struck the country has create a sad picture that must be overcome with the solidarity of the world. Children walking in the streets alone and injured, without direction, because they have lost their families. Bodies are everywhere. Mother in searching some news about missing children. Families marked by mourning. Lack of water, electricity, medical help, no medicines and all of this in the midst of urgency to bury the countless dead. The Haitian people are really in need of our help and every one of us must to offer concrete help.
Restoring hope and a decent future in Haiti is a difficult task, but if we each give our small collaboration will overcome this challenge. Governments, churches and organizations around the world are doing their part. Are contributing to the reconstruction of this beloved people. The Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, moved by solidarity, also unites this current and is launching the Campaign Solidarity with Haiti.
All donations will be sent to Episcopal Relief Development for support the work of rebuilding the country.
We are not a wealthy church but we have a rich heart and our prayers are being raised to God for those in Haiti through our thoughts and actions.

The Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva
Provincial Secretary

Our deep concern over the tragedies in Haiti

xicosilva59 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:36:27 +0000

Prayers and concrete support are needed to those who are now without homes, schools, hospitals, and experiencing the pain of losses of parents. May God help us to stand besides this beloved people who is part of one of the most poor countries in the world. If you want to contribute and support the work of rebuilding Haiti please send your contribution to ERD – Episcopal Relief Development at http://www.er-d.org.

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Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva

Provincial Secretary of IEAB

IEAB Publishes Official Note on the Proposed Ugandan Bill

IEAB Friends — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:36:06 +0000

“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.” (Blaise Pascal)

International society has, throughout its long history, adopted new levels of conscience and freedom and gradually overcome several ways of excluding human beings because of their race, economic status, culture, beliefs and sexuality. We understand this process as a consequence of God’s love for humankind. The Church, as part of this process, has the responsibility of courageously defending the advancement of respect for all peoples, based in the law of love.

The Church itself accepted discrimination in the past, and in many cases helped promote people’s exclusion, revealing its incapacity of responding to its own time’s demands. God’s spirit, however, has challenged the Church to understand that nobody has the right to act, or consent to actions, against any innocent person. This process of gradual spiritual enlightenment has allowed the Church to integrate those who, until very recently, were discriminated because of their ethnicity, opinion, gender and sexuality.

We express, in the light of the Gospel, our deep opposition to legal measures currently being studied in Uganda in order to implement an unacceptable persecution to homosexual people. First of all, such measures take us back to a time of ignorance and barbarity. They are gravely against human rights, and an unacceptable measure in our times. Also, no Christian is allowed to persecute or even threaten other human beings because of the way they live their sexuality. It is acceptable not to agree with someone, but it is an abomination to exert prejudice towards anybody.

An eventual approval of such measures demands a clear and eloquent witness against the imposition of a de facto police state, and for the defense that every person is able to live fully (including their sexual orientation) within the principles of love, mutual respect and commitment to life. In a world where poverty and hunger kill more than wars, governments should be more concerned about fostering a society where there are no excluded people for any reason. Laws that end up promoting discrimination and exclusion, despite being abominable and contrary to human rights, end up masking unsolved problems that Uganda needs to face.

As a final word, we remember that God’s main wish is that we live in love. Our faith tells us that “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Gl 3:28). The Law was already fulfilled by Jesus and we are entitled to manifest the Divine Grace in the world by ardently and compassionately loving all human beings.

“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalm 33:5)

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The Most Rev. Maurício Andrade
Primate of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil

IEAB Responds to the Anglican Covenant

IEAB Friends — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:38:23 +0000

An official response to the Ridley Draft of the Anglican Covenant was published. It reaffirms IEAB’s interest in engaging in conversation with fellow Anglicans around the world, while noting that an Anglican Covenant is not necessarily an appropriate way to do so.

IEAB’s response also points out that our laity and clergy overwhelmingly support the first three sections of the covenant. However, to most Brazilian Anglicans, the fourth section presents some problems that need to be more thoroughly discussed.

The official response can be accessed here: http://www.ieab.org.br/documentos/Pacto-IEAB-Efinal.pdf

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Luiz Coelho
Communications WG Member

Celebration, Communion and Witness

IEAB Friends — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:31:33 +0000

My experience in Anaheim was unique. Nine days of an intense experience in an assembly that revealed me a diverse, inclusive Church who takes her decisions with great maturity. As I wrote in the Kantinho do Rev, reflexion and courage were the ingredients of this historical General Convention. The IEAB received with joy the approval by the House of Deputies of a Covenant between the two Churches as one more step in the way to share our common concerns in the Mission field. Wr are praying for the Episcopal Church and more strongly from now in face of great challenges TEC will face from some conservatives wings within the Anglican Communion. As an autonomous Province you did what your commitment and conscience determined. And be sure that you are not alone!

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Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva

Provincial Secretary of IEAB

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Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva

Provincial Secretary of IEAB

Virginia Theological Seminary and IEAB

IEAB Friends — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:26:46 +0000

As we continue to share the history of our starting point as the Brazilian Episcopal Church, it’s very important to highlight the role of the Seminary of Virginia in this process.

Two students of the Seminary of Virginia (James Watson Morris and Lucien Lee Kinsolving) were sent to Brazil in 1889 to begin a missionary work. An important aspect to highlight in this story is the missionary zeal of Morris’ part to travel to a country like Brazil – his first intention was to go to the East – and personally ask the leadership of the Church in the U.S. for their support and permission. As the practice in those days was to send at least two people, Morris waited until his companion Kinsolving also wrote to the church saying he wished to share the mission with Morris. Ordained deacons at the chapel of the Seminary in June 1889, and priests, by special permission given in August, both of them traveled to Brazil in September that year.

After a staying in Sao Paulo for eight months learning portuguese, they traveled to Rio Grande do Sul.

On June 1st, 1890, the first celebration occurred at the Episcopal Mission of Trinity – starting point for the creation of the future Brazilian Episcopal Church. The work has expanded rapidly and three years later, during the pastoral visit of Bishop Peterkin, 128 people were confirmed and 4 were ordained deacons.

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Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva

Provincial Secretary of IEAB

Anglican presence in Brazil

IEAB Friends — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:01:33 +0000

The first attempt to establish the Anglicanism in Brazil was in 1805. The first anglican missionary to visit Brazil was Henry Martin. On a trip to India, he landed in Bahia and made the first contact with Brazilians. In his travel diary said: Who is the fortunate missionary that will bring the name of Christ to this west region? When will this beautiful country free of ignorance and spurious Christianity? We have crosses in abundance here, but when they announce the doctrine of the Cross? This missionary arrived at India the following year and when returning to England seven years later died in a shipwreck in Persia.

Expatriate Anglican Chaplaincy starts in 1810 trough a Covenant celebrated between Portugal and England to promote spiritual care (only in English) to British citizens at the mainly Brazilian cities. Such Covenant were possible because the Napoleonic Wars approached politically England and Portugal. Portuguese royal family moved to Brazil escorted by an naval armed English while Napoleon was occupying Lisbon. As part of this agreement, England demanded the opening of all Brazilian ports and the right to religious assistance to british citizens. After the Independence from Portugal, 1822, the Kingdom of Brazil reaffirmed such Covenant and the Chaplaincies continued to work with special permission because the country had an official religion and not allow to worship other than the Roman Catholic Church. With the establishment of the Republic and religious freedom, it started the missionary work which was headed by two missionaries from the Virginia Theological Seminary, USA. In the next post I’ll share this new start.

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Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva

Provincial Secretary of IEAB

Contribute to IEAB

IEAB Friends — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:28:02 +0000

For those who wish to deposit a contribution onto our International account, here is the information you need:

Citibank, NY
153 East 53rd Street/ 16th Floor
New York, NY 100432
Holder: Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil
Account: 10213501
Swift Code: CITIUS33

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Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva

Provincial Secretary of IEAB