Open Letter from the Anglican Diocese of Recife, Brazil

December 6, 2004

OPEN LETTER FROM THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF RECIFE –BRAZIL TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, AND PRIMATES OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION

To Your Grace
The Most Reverend Hon. Dr. Rowan Williams Cantuar
Archbishop of Canterbury
Lambeth PalaceLondon SE1 7JUEngland, UK.

Most Hon. Reverend Dr. Williams, and Primates of the Anglican Communion,

The Anglican Diocese of Recife, of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil (19th. Province of the Anglican Communion) convened in its XXIV Diocesan Synod, hereby makes an official communication of its deliberations, and, by the majority of delegates present, both ordained and lay, reaffirms:

1. Its loyalty to the See of Canterbury, and to the Anglican Communion.

2. Its association with the historical legacy, the piety of the people, and the Constitution of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil.

Secondly, this synod, in view of the extreme gravity of the moment in which it exists, in terms of its relations with the provincial leadership, which, through the arbitrary use of its power, has acted (the synod feels) in a discriminatory and oppressive manner; necessitating adequate protection in order to live out its’ faith, hereby makes official request that Your Grace and Primates, take the following urgent measures:

1. To consider the Anglican Diocese of Recife as currently in a state of emergency, and to suspend, in exceptional and provisory character, its bonds with the ecclesiastical power-base which drives this Province. This power-base, disconnected from the teachings of Holy Scripture, has deliberated repeatedly, in a unilateral, authoritarian, illegal and illegitimate fashion, with no basis, either in the Constitution or in the General Canons; through words, attitudes and decisions, which discriminate against and/or oppress this diocese, by, for example,

(a). Imposing a strange form of “Alternative Episcopal Supervision” on certain clerics and parish communities, despite the fact that this as such is inexistent in our canonical system. This measure was taken without the approval of one single diocesan or parish organ, and has resulted in divisions, provocations, and the creation, de facto, of a “parallel diocese”, promoting, in authoritarian fashion, a schism; under the direction of the Province (the Primate and the House of Bishops).

(b). The total suspension of financial resources destined for the Anglican diocese of Recife, by the National Commission for Theological Education (JUNET), with grave consequences for missionary activities.

(c). The initiation of a disciplinary process against the diocesan bishop, owing to his defence of the Law and Order in the Church, and on account of his defence of the authority of the Holy Scriptures, of sound doctrine, and of the Church’s historical ethic.

(d). The attempt of the Primate bishop to suspend, merely two days before its installation, again, in unilateral and authoritarian fashion, and without basis in either the Constitution or the General Canons, the realisation of our diocesan synod, utilising the pretence of an “Episcopal Decree”.

(e). Stimulating a sordid defamatory campaign against our diocese and the diocesan bishop, via electronic communications, or omitting to act to prevent such campaign.

2. We call to attention the fact that the present conflict is one between two concepts of “comprehensiveness” (or “inclusiveness” trad.), one limited and one unlimited (the question of what exactly are essential tenets of the faith, and what may be considered adiafora), with regard to the authority of the Holy Scriptures in matters of Faith and moral conduct, and the normality or not of homosexual practice and the ordination of practising homosexuals. Additionally, there is the question of the Brazilian Province’s relationship with the ECUSA power-base. These issues have progressively provoked division, conflicts, relational difficulties, and a high degree of tension between the leaders of the Province, and the majority of the clergy and the people in the diocese of Recife.

3. As expressed above, in this urgent state of emergency, which must be rectified without delay, the Anglican Diocese of Recife, as part of the greater Anglican Communion, addresses Your Grace and Primates, so that, with great urgency, Your Grace and Primates might intervene in this situation, so as to honour and approve our request for an Alternative Adequate Episcopal Supervision (of a Primate) with full jurisdiction, to be exercised by the Primate of a different Province, in common agreement.

Reaffirming the gravity of the situation and our extreme vulnerability as an oppressed minority, we emit this clamour and public demand to Your Grace and Primates, awaiting the necessary measures,

In Christ, our Lord

Rt. Rev. Edward Robinson de Barros Cavalcanti
Diocesan Bishop

Ven. Mauricio R. F. Coelho
Chairman of Standing Committee