The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church is meeting in Province IX in Quito, Ecuador (Diocese of Ecuador Central) from September 15 to September 20.  The following is an account of the activities for Thursday, September 15.

The fall meeting of the Episcopal Church House of Bishops meeting started with Eucharist with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori presiding and preaching.  By considering the life of James Chisholm, priest in tidewater Virginia during a yellow fever epidemic in the 1800’s, she connected the HOB meeting theme of liberation theology with incarnational ministry.  The least unlikely person can be an instrument of God’s healing love when presented with challenges that call forth a sacrificial offering of self.

Emcee for the day was Bishop Nedi Rivera of Eastern Oregon http://www.episdioeo.org/

Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer for the Episcopal Church, greeted the bishops and talked about the Everyone Everywhere 2011 conference, a conference on domestic and global mission, will be held in October. http://archive.episcopalchurch.org/ee11.htm

Bishop Scott Hayashi of Utah introduced the discussion on the Denominational Health Plan and the Lay Pension.  Details were presented by representatives of Church Pension Group: Frank Armstrong, Chief actuary and senior vice president; Laurie Kazilionis, vice president; Michael McDonald, vice president.

The afternoon was dedicated to a presentation and discussion on the Spiritual Foundation for Prophetic Proclamation to the Least, presented by Don Compier, professor at St. Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, MO and in Spanish by the Rt. Rev. Naudal Gomes, Bishop of Curitiba in Brazil.  They impressed upon us the seeds of liberation theology present in our own Anglican history.  They also made connections with our Eucharistic liturgy, Incarnation, and God’s preferential option for the poor.

Bishop Tom Ely of Vermont shared with HOB the devastation in the state as a result of the floods and the needs of the people. http://www.dioceseofvermont.org/

Bishop William Love of Albany spoke about the widespread impact of the flooding from Hurricane Irene https://albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/.

Bishop Andy Doyle of Texas told about the decimation in that state from the wildfires. http://www.epicenter.org/

The daylong session ended with Evening Prayer, led by Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina  http://www.dionc.org/

Visitors at HOB:
– The Rt. Rev. Naudal Gomes, Bishop of Curitiba, Brazil
https://www.ieab.org.br/
– The Rt. Rev. Peter Price, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Church of England http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/
– Archbishop Nathaniel Uematsu, Primate of Nippon Sei Ko Kai (the Episcopal/Anglican church of Japan) http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/province.cfm?ID=J1

– Archbishop Albert Chama, Primate of Central Africa will arrive later in the meeting
https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/member-churches/member-church.aspx?church=central-africa

Media Briefers for Thursday, September 15:
Bishop Gladstone “Skip” Adams, Diocese of Central New York https://cnyepiscopal.org/
Bishop David Alvarez, Diocese of Puerto Rico http://episcopalpr.org/
Bishop James Shand, Diocese of Easton http://www.dioceseofeaston.org/
 

Links:
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori opens
the Episcopal Church House of Bishops fall meeting
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/presiding-bishop-katharine-jefferts-schori-opens-episcopal-church-house-bishops-fall-meeting

Episcopal News Service: House of Bishops fall meeting begins in Quito
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/house-bishops-fall-meeting-begins-quito

The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org