Sun, 6 Aug 2006

My friends,

I never imagined it would be such a challenging ministry the one I am doing at the Diocese of Ecuador Central! We have been here for a little more than five weeks and at times it seems as if it were 5 years already. The intensity of the work can be overwhelming; yet, I feel things are beginning to move in the right direction.

We know have a new President of the Standing Committee. There was a big split (3 and 3), but finally they made the right choice in the person of Padre Andres Ortega of Puyo who embodies a new style of leadership. We are in the process of organizing a Diocesan Executive Committee that was non existent. My intent is to create a series of Committees that could broaden the participation from the Diocese and address important areas of mission and ministry such as: Stewardship & Finances, Strategy and Expansion, Companion Relationships, Christian Education, Youth Ministries, and Social Witness.

Our Diocesan Center is now almost refurbished. A lot of good work has been done in the property. We have a Theological Education Program in place under the leadership of Father Geoffrey Reeson. Thirty five students are attending the short terms courses that meet every six weeks. I am in conversation with Indianapolis to provide funding for helping us build and develop a theological library. My hope is that some of the courses could be done by distance once we have the proper technology in place given the large distances students have to travel.

Indianapolis, particularly the Cathedral Church, is very much on board. They brought two mission groups over the Summer (Medical & Construction) and they are delighted to see a Bishop now at the helm. It should be a very productive relationship.

I am also nurturing the relationship with Atlanta. Neil Alexander cannot come to my Installation service, but he is sending a representative. We are working on a future day soon for him to visit with us.

I have traveled almost all the Diocese already. It is a huge territory to cover. Everywhere that I go I feel most welcome. Attendance at Pastoral Visitations have been very large (an average of at least 300 people). In one of my confirmation services in San Felipe Ibarra I had 325 Confirmations & Receptions. It was a 3 1/2 hours liturgy. I was totally exhausted by the end of the service. Already I am setting new guidelines for my visitations so that we focus on quality of preparation and not so much in quantity. Yet, I must confess that I see many signs of the early Church and the potential for missionary growth and expansion.

I am beginning to move towards a process of redeployment of our clergy. Clergy composition is one of the weakest links in the Diocese. They need so much formation. Geoffrey Reeson and I are planning a series of continuing education Conferences and Workshops to assist them becoming better Anglicanized. I am hoping we can find scholarship money to send them one by one for residential studies in our theological institutions.

A urgent challenge is to proceed with depositions of clergy who abandoned our Anglican Communion. There are about 10 of them that action should have been taken long time ago.

More and more I see the need of building a team to assist me in my work. Chris Morck and his family are moving at the end of September. As volunteers in mission with their expertise in Psychology and Education they can be a valuable resource. Chris also will work closely with CLAI.

One of my dreams is to be able to recruit a well seasoned, perhaps a retired bilingual priest, who could come to work closely with me. I need some one that could have my full confidence and work closely with me in the rebuilding of the Diocese. If anyone of you has some idea, I am all ears!

We are now very involved in the preparation for the Service of Investiture or Installation to take place on Wednesday, September 13, 5:00 PM, at la Iglesia Catedral de El Señor, Quito. Hope you all can join us. It coincides with the meeting of Province IX Council. I have invited Drew Smith to be the preacher. I was hoping Frank could come, but at GC he indicated to me he was unable to do so. I also invited our new PB, but Katherine said she is already booked. I imagined Bishop Lloyd Allen will preside as Provincial President.

This is it for now. I am enjoying my ministry and thankful for the opportunity God gives me to serve this Diocese.

Greetings and blessings,

In Christ,

+Wilfrido