E PIS COPAL COU N CIL S
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La Rogativa monument at the Plazuela de la Rogativa, San Juan, Puerto Rico
BY TH E R EV. D R . JO S É RO D R Í G U E Z
The Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico met in a special convention on July 31, 2021, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, to discern a path toward finding its place within The Episcopal Church. Early on, it became clear the special convention was choosing between union with Province II and its historic Puerto Rican community in New York, and Province IV, which includes Florida and thus houses the largest population of Puerto Ricans outside of the island. The Episcopal Church is a union of dioceses in the United Stated States and dioceses encompassing entire countries outside the United States. We are an international church within the Anglican Communion, and our provincial structure leaves many of our international dioceses tucked away in either Province II or IX. Puerto Rican nationality is complex but represents the transnational identity of the church at large. It is politically American but ethnically and linguistically unique. The Episcopal Church in Puerto Rico has a rich history, drawing from both English and American missionary efforts while also bringing in the independent, catholic and apostolic tradition of the Iglesia de Jesús that merged with Puerto Rican Anglicanism in 1922.
Since 2003, Puerto Rico has found its ecclesiastical home in Province IX. In many ways, Puerto Rico’s inclusion into the rich tapestry of Province IX set it up as an outsider within a province with historical and geographic ties and a very different identity from its sister U.S. territory diocese. Anglicanism in Puerto Rico has had to wrestle with its relationship to the other U.S. dioceses while simultaneously navigating a province it faithfully served but eventually felt called to leave. In resolving to leave Province IX during its special convention, the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico called upon the Holy Spirit for more than 12 hours to help the laity and clergy discern a path forward.
PRESENT PAIN The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer had the task of introducing the special convention to Province IV with the help of a presentation developed by his staff and Puerto Rican leaders within the Diocese of Central Florida. The presentation was
HISTORICAL ROOTS Anglican worship began on the island in 1869 during Spanish colonial rule when Puerto Rico was under the Anglican jurisdiction of the West Indies. Jurisdiction was transferred to The Episcopal Church after the United States military forcibly seized Puerto Rico from the Spanish crown in 1898. From 1979 to 2003, Puerto Rico enjoyed independence as a diocese extra-provincial to the See of Canterbury before returning to The Episcopal Church in 2003. Left to right, Rev. Dr. Jose Rodriguez, Rt. Rev. Mike Klusmeyer, Rt. Rev. Orlando Guerrero, Rt. Rev. Rafael Morales Maldonado and Rt. Rev. Gregory Brewer
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Advent 2021 CFE
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