Archbishop Albert Chama and Bishop Metlhayotlhe Belemeas during an interview after the motion to ordain women passed during the 2023 Provincial Synod, Blantyre, Malawi. Botswana has for many years trained women leaders and they are now ready to move to the next step of ordaining them after this vote. 

The synod addressed climate change concerns and after the closing Eucharist, the Bishops Joined Archbishop Chama as he planted the first tree of about a dozen trees that were planted as part of the Anglican Communion Forest by Bishops and other senior leaders in the province. 

Mr. Anderson Makalande is the worship leader and choir master of the Cathedral Church Joint Choir, Blantyre, Malawi. As a differently abled person whose childhood was impacted by polio to the point where he couldn’t walk, he is a true demonstration today of how all people can use their talents to serve God and Humanity. 

The Episcopal Church Office and Global Partnerships works closely with the USPG Team (UK) who also attended the Provincial Synod led by The Rev. Dr. Duncan Dormor and Fran Mate (Africa Officer, USPG). 

The post Women Ordination Vote Passed in the Church of the Province of Central Africa appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

You try texting or calling. No reply. You wait a bit longer and try again. Nothing.  

You reach out to their friends, classmates, coworkers, but no one knows anything. Or maybe you get a call later asking if you’ve seen one of them. 

Human beings aren’t supposed to simply disappear. And yet, hundreds of thousands of people around the world have done just that, leaving their loved ones wondering where they could be, if they are alive, and if they will ever see them again.  

Enforced disappearance is a regular weapon in wartime and under dictatorships. It’s also a documented part of daily life in over one hundred countries around the world. In some cases, individuals are targeted because of what they do, who they are, or who they associate with. In others, it’s far more random. Someone was at a bus stop at the wrong time or was walking alone at night. Or maybe someone was desperate to create a better life for their family and connected with the wrong person. 

Today is the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances [www.un.org/en/observances/victims-enforced-disappearance], a day set aside by the United Nations [www.un.org] to focus on the millions of people affected by enforced disappearances as part of the 2010 adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. 

Only 113 of the 193 UN Member States have ratified or signed the Convention [indicators.ohchr.org]. Of these, 13 countries are part of The Episcopal Church: Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Switzerland, and Venezuela. 

Another of the 113 countries to ratify the Convention is Mexico. The Anglican Church of Mexico (La Iglesia Anglicana de México) was part of The Episcopal Church for many years before becoming an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion in 1995. The Rev. Glenda McQueen, Partnership Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Elizabeth Boe, Mission Personnel Officer, visited partners in several dioceses in Mexico in May 2023  

News reports, movies, and tv shows relating to Mexico often focus on the impact and personalities of drug cartels and trafficking, creating a deeply flawed and harmful narrative. During their visit, Glenda and Elizabeth learned that human trafficking – of live human beings or sometimes only their organs – is now more profitable than the drug trade.  

The stark reality of this situation for Mexico is that officially there are 111,000 people who have disappeared. However, some academics believe that number should be multiplied by at least two, if not four. There are also at least 57,000 unidentified bodies in morgues across the country. 

During Glenda and Elizabeth’s time in the Diocese of Mexico, they joined Bishop Sally Sue Hernández for the Vigil of Pentecost at the Parish of the Holy Family (Parroquia Anglicana de la Sagrada Familia) in Mexico City and spent time with the Rev. Arturo Carrasco Gómez and members of the parish community.  

In addition to being the rector, Fr. Arturo is also the diocesan lead for working with families of people who’ve disappeared (personas desaparecidas). The accompaniment of families who are searching for their loved ones (familias buscadoras) is at the heart of this ministry and part of Fr. Arturo’s daily life and work.  

Together with collectives (colectivos) of familias buscadoras from his parish and others, Fr. Arturo been part of field searches – looking for bones and human remains in mountains, deserts, beaches, rivers, and other locations where bodies may be buried – as well as living searches in prisons, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and on the streets. Not long ago, they conducted a search of 53 kilometers of the Mexico City sewer system.  

The impact of enforced disappearances touches almost everyone. The Rev. Belina Carranza, Dean of St. Andrew’s Seminary (Seminario de San Andrés) and Rector of the Parish of the Holy Spirit (Parroquia del Espíritu Santo) in Mexico City, told Glenda and Elizabeth that “it’s knocking on all of our doors.” Several members of her parish have disappeared.  

A search using some of the most common hashtags relating to personas desparecidas – #DóndeEstán, #HastaEncontrarles (Where are they/Until they are found) – will bring up names, faces, and stories of people of all ages. This story sharing intentionally and repeatedly remindd everyone that those who are missing are named, known, and loved, and offers a sharp rebuke to the traffickers and all those who seek to transform human beings into mere commodities. 

In an interview with Fr. Erik Silva, a colleague in the Diocese of Mexico, Fr. Arturo shared part of what has guided his ministry: 

“…the church is called to do something more than beautiful services (masses), that is very important for those of us who believe in God, but I also believe that we have a responsibility before society to lead a life consistent with our faith.” (“…la iglesia está llamada hacer algo más que misas bonitas, que es muy importante para quienes creemos en Dios, pero también creo que tenemos una responsabilidad ante la Sociedad de llevar una vida congruente con nuestra fe.”) 

Christians are called to make a commitment to living a life that truly reflects our faith, so our actions witness to the all-encompassing power of the love of God and our presence serves as a reminder of Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b) 

Today, on this International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, we remember those who are missing and everyone who is grieving for them, and we give thanks for all those whose leadership and example inspire us to live lives of love, understanding, and solidarity.  

Our Global Partnerships team extends a deepfelt thank you to Fr. Erik Silva of the Diocese of Mexico for his fantastic interview with Fr. Arturo on his podcast Aquí platicando ando.

To read more about enforced disappearances, click here.

Reflection by Elizabeth Boe, Mission Personnel Officer

The post Human Beings Should Not Disappear appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

NOTE: Videos will be released on Wednesdays in advance of each Sunday in Epiphany.

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you… Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1, 3, NRSV)

Epiphany is the time of the church year when we celebrate the revealing of Christ to the world. During this season, we celebrate the arrival of the One who is the light of the world: a light that brings life, a light that brings hope. This light shines its brightest when we are in community —with God and with one another. 

The Office of Global Partnerships of The Episcopal Church invites individuals, small groups, congregations, and dioceses to use this video series throughout the season of Epiphany to draw closer to each other and our Lord. Using an adaptation of lectio divina with the gospel passage for each Sunday, you’ll meet and hear from Episcopal missionaries who have served around the world as they read and reflect on Jesus’ revelation to us. You will hear the passage read at least twice and a short reflection offered by the partners. Then, you will be invited to do your own reflection individually or as a group.

Missionary service through The Episcopal Church is accomplished through the Young Adult Service Corps (for Episcopalians aged 21-30) and Episcopal Volunteers in Mission (for Episcopalians over the age of 30). Learn more about these programs at iam.ec/yasc and iam.ec/evim respectively.

The post Epiphany 2023 appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

Reflection from the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England

Who am I?

I am Janice Price and my role is World Mission Advisor for the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. I am also an Ordinand at the end of my second year of three training for ordination in the Church of England.

Where am I finding hope during COVID?

I am finding hope in the strength of relationships both personal and professional. Somehow relationships across vast divides of culture and economics have been sustaining me day by day. For example, a friend in the Anglican Church of Sierra Leone sends me a daily reflection written by their clergy. She started this in Lent and it has continued. I have found amazing wisdom in these short, pithy reflections on Scripture.

What is my community’s greatest strength?

My immediate answer is ‘which community?’ I am part of my local church community. It’s greatest strength is the way the church cares for people regardless of whether they are church goers or not. Then, there is the world mission community which is remarkable for its breadth of vision and compassion.

Why is being part of the Anglican Communion important to me?

This response continues on from the previous question. The Anglican Communion is one part of the Body of Christ which values collegiality and the place of lay and ordained people together. It is diverse, complex, exhilarating, frustrating and joy-giving all at the same time.

How can we be praying for you and your community?

Please pray for strength for all engaged in world mission at this time. For strength of vision and adaptability.

The post Five Questions with Janice Price appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

On June 8th, twenty days after the murder of João Pedro Motta (14 years old, shot on the back during a police operation in his place; he was just playing with his cousins), one week after the death of Miguel Otávio Santana da Silva, just a boy (5 years old, son of a black maid working in a fancy condo, left alone in the lift by the employer to find his mother who was sent to walk with the dogs; he was crying, confused, pushed all buttons and got off in the wrong flor and felt from a balcony), and two weeks after the death of the American George Floyd, in memory of the thousands of deaths of black Brazilians, victims of violence and neglected by the state, Bishop Maurício Andrade, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Brasilia, the Very Revd. Tatiana Ribeiro, Rector of the Anglican Cathedral of the Resurrection, and a group of people who are members of the community, took part in an act in front of the cathedral in memory of all people who have been killed because of the colour of their skin [and] the features of their bodies. The community of the Anglican Cathedral of the Resurrection knelt in front of the building remembering that it is not possible to stand, as if everything is fine, and raised their arms, remembering the struggle of oppressed people to live without fear and in peace.

The racist structure of our society, a legacy from the colonial period, and the way in which the Christianity has connived with centuries of slavery demonstrate that we need to talk about racism and act against it. It is urgent that we have this conversation more directly and frankly, because not being racist is not enough: we need to struggle against every form of racism and prejudice. We need to raise our voices and our bodies to defend black lives and not allow, or resign ourselves, to the deaths of so many children, young people and adults.

The Church can no longer quietly accept that lives are taken in such a brutal and unfair way. For a long time, Christian churches accepted theologies that denied black people had souls, which were used as ideo-theologies to allow enslavement. These ideo-theologies need to be increasingly totally rejected and seen as a sinful construct that takes away the value that God gives to all people.

The Christ whom we follow, and his disciples were “black”! Not only from a phenotypic perspective, but also in the sense that race marks and marked the social place of our brother, born in Bethlehem, but raised in a small village: Nazareth, “can anything good come out of Nazareth? (Jn 1.46). He was a survivor of a genocidal action perpetrated by the State (Mt 2.16) and welcomed in Africa as a refugee (Mt 2.13) and, despite struggles and pains, calls us to life and love. It is necessary to revive in our memories who our Christ is, where he came from, how he lived and with whom he would associate today.

It must be said that #BlackLIVESmatter, because black people have been unjustly murdered, as if their lives were worthless, and now we repeat: #BLACKLIVESMATTER, because every life matters and is a sign of the presence of God, because everyone is created in His image and likeness: women, men, be they black, indigenous, white, trans, lesbian, gay, straight, foreign, from the margins, bearers of disabilities. All people are loved by God and have the right to live safely and to be respected!

As a community, we are in solidarity with the pain of all families who mourn the death of their sons and daughters, victims of the brutal violence of a society that is still racist and prejudiced and of a state that should protect but kills.

We believe in the God who became a person, a black person, a person from the margins, who suffered, was persecuted by the state, but who conquered death and brings (or offers) us life to be lived abundantly. We believe in the Living Christ who walks beside us in the daily struggle for a life of love, peace and security. “We believe in the hope of starting again, in the beauty of the gesture of solidarity, in justice for all oppression (or the oppressed?), in compassion in the face of pain, in love, divine-human gift” (Brazilian Book of Common Prayer, p.122)

“Black lives matter. Indigenous lives matter. Our faith does not permit racism, but requires love that builds the inclusion of all people, regardless of their colour, nationality, gender, religion or sexual orientation. When we stand in front of our Cathedral, we reaffirm our commitment against all forms of racism and discrimination, because we are an inclusive Church open to welcoming all people”. – Bishop Mauricio Andrade

“We will never admit any kind of prejudice in our community. The cathedral is open to ALL people, to live their faith here and they will be respected. We fight for the church to be a safe space for people when they arrive here: respect, fraternal love, compassion, solidarity and also to find a community that lives the “love, because perfect love casts out all fear”, and in the name of this love, we are not afraid to fight against every form of racism, prejudice, injustice and violation of rights”. – Very Revd. Tati Ribeiro

“Every black woman and man lives with the hard anguish of knowing that their child is three times more likely to be hit by violence; death comes from all sides, we have no shields, even state agents are possible aggressors and murderers of our children. To be a black parent is to be resilient, to teach your children to have an honorable posture even in the face of the submission of the State police power, to be afraid of phone calls at dawn every day.  But we will be champions as our ancestors were, who were enslaved and, even in the worst conditions, were still pillars in building their nations. Black people fight and cry for their children, every day during the genocide, but we will not stop fighting for equity”. – Saulo Lino

The post Anglican Diocese of Brasilia in Solidarity for #BlackLivesMatter & #IndigenousLivesMatter appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

Reflection from the Diocese of Liberia

Who are you? 

I am Dr. Anne Fredericks Cooper, a Liberian female Priest within the Diocese of Liberia. I am currently assigned as a Priest at Trinity Cathedral, Monrovia, Liberia. Besides my regular pastoral duties at the Cathedral, I lead workshops and trainings in various ministry contexts – Lay Eucharistic Ministers/Visitors, Lay Readers, Sunday School Teachers, Bible Study etc. I serve on the Board of Cuttington University, our Episcopal university, and am a lecturer of Christian Education at the Seth C. Edwards Memorial Theological Institute.

Where are you finding hope during the time of COVID-19?

I am finding hope in the resilience of a faith community to adjust and accept a new form of worship in our Diocese. Ours is a community of touchers and huggers, yet, we have accepted the restraints imposed by this virus believing that ‘this too shall pass away.’

What is your community’s greatest strength?

The greatest strength I find is the togetherness and support of members of the community. Liberia has had many civil and epidemic challenges over the years. We have been resilient through our constant faith and God’s abiding deliverance of His people who continue to trust in Him.

Why is being a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion important to you?

The world-wide Anglican Communion is a cohesive body. Therefore, if one member suffers, we all do. As a group we serve ‘one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.’ We must always seek the common good of all members despite boundaries of culture, race or independent views.

How can we be praying for you and your community?

As we also pray for you, we hope that you would remember especially the poor and needy in our community who cannot afford to support themselves after loosing jobs and are hardly able to feed their families. We ask your prayers for those afflicted by the COVID-19 disease to be delivered from the illness. We ask your prayers for guidance for the Government and for all health workers that they may be guided to make right decisions for the healing of our Country.

The post Five Questions with Dr. Anne Fredericks Cooper appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

Reflection from the Anglican Church of Uruguay

Español

¿Quién eres tú?

Me llamo Mercedes Tarragona, soy argentina, estoy casada con Daniel y tengo dos hijas mujeres de 22 y 24 años. Soy counselor, master en PNL, y entrenadora de facilitadores de Mother Union. Desde finales del 2018 recibimos la invitación junto con mi esposo a trabajar en la Iglesia Anglicana del Uruguay, él como obispo y yo como misionera diocesana. Actualmente estoy enfocada en el diseño e implementación de un centro de desarrollo personal con un abordaje interdisciplinario de la dimensión  psicológica y espiritual.

¿Dónde encuentras esperanza durante el tiempo de COVID-19?

Encuentro esperanza en estos ámbitos: 

• En la Palabra de Dios con la convicción de Romanos 8:28: “Dios dispone todas las cosas para el bien”. 
• Al mirar la vida como aprendizaje: poder dejar lo superfluo, reencontrar lo esencial y descubrir nuevas posibilidades.
• En el encuentro con el otro: dejamos de mirar lo que había que hacer y empezamos a mirar con una nueva cercanía a quien está próximo y necesitado.

¿Cuál es la mayor fortaleza de tu comunidad?

Como fortalezas en mi comunidad destaco especialmente una fuerte mirada hacia la necesidad social y también una fe genuina para mirar la vida con una actitud flexible.

¿Por qué es importante para ti ser parte de la Comunión Anglicana mundial?

Ser parte de la Comunión Anglicana mundial me ayuda a superar mis propios límites culturales, me anima en la tarea local y permite que como cuerpo más grande intercambiemos dones y talentos para la misión que recibido del Señor.

¿Cómo podemos estar orando por ti y tu comunidad?

Les agradezco si oran por mí pidiendo sabiduría para discernir cada día la voluntad de Dios, fortaleza para afrontar las dificultades y para que pueda contar con nuevas personas en el equipo de misión. Por la comunidad para escuchar, especialmente en estos tiempos, poder escuchar la voz de Dios, abriéndonos a lo nuevo que nos trae su Espíritu.

English

Who are you?

My name is Mercedes Tarragona, I am Argentinian, I am married to Daniel and I have two female daughters, 22 and 24 years old. I am a counselor, master in NLP, and facilitator trainer for Mother Union. Since the end of 2018 we received the invitation with my husband to work in the Anglican Church of Uruguay, he as a bishop and I as a diocesan missionary. I am currently focused on the design and implementation of a personal development center with an interdisciplinary approach to the psychological and spiritual dimension.

Where do you find hope during the time of COVID-19?

I find hope in these areas:

• In the Word of God with the conviction of Romans 8:28: “God arranges all things for good.”
• Looking at life as learning: being able to leave the superfluous, rediscovering the essential and discovering new possibilities.
• In the encounter with the other: we stop looking at what had to be done and we begin to look with a new closeness at those who are close and in need.

What is the greatest strength of your community?

As strengths in my community I especially highlight a strong gaze towards social need and also a genuine faith to look at life with a flexible attitude.

Why is it important to you to be part of the worldwide Anglican Communion?

Being part of the worldwide Anglican Communion helps me to overcome my own cultural limits, encourages me in the local task and allows us as a larger body to exchange gifts and talents for the mission that I have received from the Lord.

How can we be praying for you and your community?

I thank you if you pray for me asking for wisdom to discern the will of God every day, strength to face difficulties and to have new people on the mission team. For the community to listen, especially in these times, to be able to listen to the voice of God, opening ourselves to the new that His Spirit brings us.

The post Five Questions with Mercedes Tarragona appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

Reflection from the Province of Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia

Who are you? 

Rev’d Jacynthia Murphy from the Province of Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia – Te Hāhi Mihinare ki Aotearoa ki Niu Tīreni, ki Ngā Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. I am of Māori descent and serve part time in a Pākehā parish. The rest of me works in the General Synod / Te Hīnota Office as Operations Support Manager to the provincial General Secretary.

Where are you finding hope during the time of COVID-19?

I’m a bit of an environmentalist at heart and I’m always looking for ways in which to poke our nation and church into reducing our negative footprints that create global havoc commonly attributed to the ill-effects of human decadence. Hope has come in many forms during this time of COVID-19: 

• my fuel tank is still on full after weeks of no travel, 
• less rubbish is overflowing onto the streets, 
• traffic flows have markedly reduced our carbon emissions, 
• Zoom meetings have hastened decision making,
• we’ve discovered we can do ‘virtual church’ and our ‘virtual pews’ have overflowed,
• the birdsong in the mornings has been deafening,
• the collective collaboration on the things we enjoy e.g. singing, choir, teaching, and learning, to name a few, has been outstanding.

Hope is in COVID-19 prompting us to accept that we are able to do things differently.  

What is your community’s greatest strength?

I consider my community to have a population of 5 million. My community is my nation and I am extremely proud, in particular with our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in the community to which I belong. We locked down for four weeks and my community complied, coped, and overcame the challenges that lockdown presented. Māori have a saying “Ka ora au i a koe, ka ora koe i a au” I survive because of you and you survive because of me.

Why is being a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion important to you?

Our Anglican Communion managed to bridge the oceans and lands that oftenseparate us. As part of my day-to-day ‘virtual church’ it was comforting to know that many others, from every corner of our Anglican bubble were there to offer support, resources, prayers, and camaraderie. When we needed it, the AC was there.  

How can we be praying for you and your community?

Please pray that we, having learnt from this experience, might consider how to do what we do in a different way. Not by giving less, not by giving more, but definitely by giving back to a world struggling to survive, particularly from an environmental crises. Pray that we move beyond the traditional brick and mortar to the fields where the harvests are possible. Many thanks for your prayers.  

The post Five Questions with The Rev. Jacynthia Murphy appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

Reflection from the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA)

Who are you?

I am Kofi deGraft-Johnson, a Ghanaian from Cape Coast but have been working in Nairobi, Kenya as the General Secretary of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) since January 2020. I have come to this office with precious backgrounds in development work, theological education and church management and administration.

Where are you finding hope during the time of COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic surfaced just as I was settling in to my new role and assignment as the General Secretary of CAPA. The pandemic has swept through 53 of the 55 countries on the continent and every Province of the Anglican Church in Africa has been affected. While the degree of resilience of Provinces and countries to contain the pandemic differs, there is a general weak resilience capacity on the continent as a result of previous contexts. Some countries are just coming out of years of conflict, there are raging pandemics such as Ebola in some parts of the continent, politically-based conflicts and insurgence of armed conflicts which has weakened critical investments in human welfare capacities in most countries. The net effect of previous contexts has aggravated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic especially for the vulnerable and marginalized communities, people in the informal sectors of the economy, masses in informal settlements who cannot practice any of the precautionary measures put in place to contain the spread of the virus – social distancing, hand washing, wearing of face masks.

What is your community’s greatest strength?

CAPA community’s major strength is in the faith we have in God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. This faith is shared within the community, with fellow Christians in the wider Anglican Community and with people in the faith community. The strength of this shared faith plays out in the lives of the people who live for the sake of Christ and neighbour. In the wake of the pandemic, members of the community have and continue to pray and share with others resources of time, knowledge and skills.

Why is being a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion important to you?

Being part of the wider Anglican Community is very important because it provides us with the space to share our faith in unity with diverse people. The opportunity to walk together with people of same faith and belief but from different parts of the Communion enriches our shared faith and builds us up into the stature of Christ, who is the Head and the Foundation of the Church. The Anglican Communion (with its diversity) is a community of practicing Christians who daily live out their faith inspiring hope in and showing love in Christ to neighbours.

How can we be praying for you and your community?

CAPA is not well resourced to be able to carry through her mission but believe that God’s resources (of silver and gold) are to be shared. We pray that our friends (worldwide) will support us as we work towards the achievement of our vision of building a unified and self-sustaining Anglican Communion in Africa, providing holistic ministry to all and fulfilling God’s promise for abundant life.

Find out more about The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) visit their website at https://capa-hq.org/

The post Five Questions with Kofi deGraft-Johnson appeared first on The Episcopal Church.

Reflection from The Episcopal Church in the Philippines

1. Who are you? 

Floyd P. Lalwet, Provincial Secretary of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.

2. Where are you finding hope during the time of COVID-19?

If the question refers to the source of hope as we cope with this crisis, then I would say that it is the worshipping community of which we are a part because it is in this community that we pray and care for and uphold each other.

People are saying that this COVID-19 pandemic is a reset button for humanity. Indeed, despite the gloom and sorrow that this crisis has brought, we see very significant bright spots suddenly appearing within our horizons that we hope we will collectively appreciate, protect and uphold as the new normal when this has passed.

I have a small farm in Nakawang up in the mountains of Besao, Mountain Province where I go at least once in two months to be healed by the peace and calm much needed by my weary soul, constantly battered by the highly stressful life in the big city. For the whole day, I could listen to the soothing songs of birds in that mountain hideaway 10 hours drive from Manila.

For the past almost 40 years, I have studied and resided in Quezon City. At the Cathedral Heights compound of the Episcopal Church where we now live, we still have so much trees and vegetation around but over the recent years, the sight and sound of birds have become less and less as the smog that envelops the city gets thicker every day. Three weeks after the lockdown, however, I woke up a number of times feeling that I was up in Nakawang. No, I am in Cathedral Heights and the signing of birds have come back. It now greets our mornings and livens up our day as we stay at home to keep ourselves and others safe from the virus that has turned our world upside down.

I do not know up to what extent the life of our city has come back. From “dead waterways”, “dead air” and “dead communities”, life is coming back and we see these in corners, streets and homes in social media postings. There are so many other positive things and advocacies of the ECP being realized at this time. I really find hope in this situation and I pray that many people will realize that we can actually turn the world upside down in favor of life and a renewed earth.

3. What is your community’s greatest strength?

I believe there are various strengths of our communities that are enabling them to cope with the challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic and that these can not be easily ranked as greatest, greater or great. It all depends on the particular context as well as the specific issues that are being addressed. Some of these strengths include: our culture of being together and finding strength in and caring for each other; our ABCD approach to community welfare and development; our approach to DRR which involved providing alternative livelihood skills to our people, who are now utilizing these skills to generate income even while staying at home. At the same time, some of our cultural strengths make it difficult to come up with alternative ways of worshipping together. For example, our greatest joys and hopes are expressed collectively and physically in a group or in a community. That’s why it remains a challenge for us to find full expression of praise, worship and thanksgiving in live-stream services when we are actually physically apart from each other. Also, our offerings are given as part of an actual ritual or celebration. When we do not celebrate together, how can give our offering in a way that reflects our full sense of praise and thanksgiving.

4. Why is being a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion important to you?

As various church leaders have said, we are in this crisis together. Our being a part of the Anglican Communion is very important to us as we are assured that we are not the only ones suffering and at the same time we are not the only ones praying and working for God’s continuing care and blessings on all people. This is a time when we need to get out of the box to be able to work within the limitations imposed by the pandemic but getting out of the box is, of course, the most difficult thing to do as, for one, certain courses of action would need  to have or evolve a strong theological foundation. This is one area where we value our part of the Anglican Communion because there are vigorous and progressive theological reflections, debates and guides on some of the crucial issues that we certainly benefit from.

5. How can we be praying for you and your community?

On the request of USPG, its General Secretary will be joining a live-streamed service of St. Luke’s Episcopal Cathedral of our Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines on May 3rd.  Since we already have Bishop Ernie Moral of our Diocese of Southern Philippines preaching on that live-streamed service, we would not have the General Secretary preaching but he will be giving a message during the service.  This is a great way of being in solidarity in prayer and worship. 

Find out more about The Episcopal Church in the Philippines on their website: https://ecphilippines.com/

The post Five Questions with Floyd P. Lalwet appeared first on The Episcopal Church.