Back on the east coast

to a backlog but I will put down some of my impressions about the consecrations yesterday in Long Beach but let me post two photographs that mean a lot to me.


Archbishop Barahona came up from El Salvador to participate in the consecration, his last act of Primate of the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America. Post consecration he spoke of how powerful it is at the moment of laying on of hands because the Holy Spirit is so present. In the evening, he talked about how support of the LGBTI community is a question of human rights because our sexuality is a part of human nature and a gift from God. His ministry, support and witness have been gifts from God to the rest of us. May God continue to protect him.


There is no going back! Each bishop needed two pages for all the signatures and seals. Incredible!

I could not keep from singing, 'Hail thee festival day, blest day that art hallowed forever...'

New Primate of IARCA

New Primate in the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America (IARCA)
by Susanna Barrera

Panama 16 April 2010

The Right Reverend Armando Guerra of Guatemala was elected Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America during their 4th Provincial Synod, which was celebrated in Panama April 15-17 2010. Some of his roles include maintaining communication with the rest of the Anglican Communion, accompanying his people of the region and being the highest expression of unity. He assumes the position in the context of a new mission of IARCA.

Guerra, 60 years old, is married to Norma Elizabeth Romero. They have three children and three grandchildren.

The new primate will function for a period of four years as established by the canons of this church.

Guerra, visibly moved, said, "Thank you for this support. It is an extremely difficult task, beginning a new era in a new place." He also thanked God, his brother bishops and his family.

Bishop Julio Murray of Panama was elected Vice-President of the House of Bishops and Bishop Héctor Monterroso of Costa Rica will continue as Executive Secretary of the Province.

The new bishop will take on the challenge of accompanying and executing the "Consultative Document in Mission," which was created during this Synod and which is based on several resolutions which will strengthen the path of IARCA.

Guerra assumes his position from Bishop Martín Barahona, Bishop of El Salvador, who functioned as primate during the past eight years. The installation of Bishop Guerra as Primate of IARCA will be this coming June 12th in Guatemala.


IARCA celebrated this meeting at the historic, "City of Knowledge," (formerly
Fort Clayton) in the former Canal Zone which was occupied by the United States from where they administered the Panama Canal. Today this city offers hospitality services and is the seat of United Nations programs and other organizations.


The new primate received many congratulations from those present and was received with the Doxology, the traditional Anglican hymn of thanks.



Nuevo Primado en Iglesia Anglicana de América Central


Panamá, 16 de abril de2010. El reverendísimo Armando Guerra de Guatemala fue electo Obispo Primado de la Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América (IARCA), durante el IV Sínodo Provincial celebrado en Panamá del 15 al 17 de abril de 2010.

Guerra de 60 años de edad,está casado con Norma Elizabeth Romero, han procreado tres hijos y tienen tres nietos. El nuevo Obispo Primado asume en el contexto de una nueva misión de la IARCA. Entre sus roles están el mantener comunicación con el resto de la Comunión Anglicana, acompañar a sus similares de la región y ser expresión máxima de unidad.

El nuevo Obispo Primadoejercerá para un período de cuatro años como lo establecen los cánones de esta Iglesia.

“Gracias por este apoyo, esta es una tarea sumamente difícil, comienza una nueva era ,un nuevo espacio”, dijo Guerra, visiblemente emocionado, a su vez agradeció a Dios, a sus hermanos obispos y a su familia.

Como Vicepresidente de la Cámara de Obispo fue electo el Obispo Julio Murray de Panamá y continúa como secretario ejecutivo el Obispo Héctor Monterroso de Costa Rica.

Entre los retos y desafíos que debe tomar el nuevo Primado es el acompañamiento y ejecución del “Documento Consulta en Misión”, que fue trabajado durante este Sínodo y fue base para varias resoluciones que fortalecen el caminar de IARCA.

Guerra susede en su cargo al Obispo Martín Barahona de El Salvador, quien fungió como Primado durante 8 años.

La instalación del Obispo Guerra como Primado de la IARCA será el próximo 12 de junio en Guatemala.

IARCA celebró esta reunión en la histórica “Ciudad del Saber” de la capital panameña. Zona anteriormente ocupada por estadounidenses que administraban el canal de Panamá. En la actualidad esta ciudadela presta servicios de hospedaje y es sede de programas de Naciones Unidas y otras organizaciones.

El nuevo Primado recibió múltiples felicitaciones de los presentes y fue recibido con la Doxología, tradicional himno de gratitud de la Comunión Anglicana.

(translated by Caminante)

Just a small note from the Most Rev'd Martin Barahona

Solo una pequeña nota

Reciban mi amor y agradecimiento por sus oraciones y expresión de solidaridad con motivo del terrible atentado criminal, el cual sufrí el 17 de marzo del corriente año, y en el cual mi motorista Francis Martínez resultó gravemente herido, pero gracias a Dios ya está fuera de peligro y en recuperación y del que yo salí ileso. Gracias por su solidaridad y a su constante oraciones que han sido nuestro mejor escudo protector.

Doy gracias a Dios por la expresión de amistad que he recibido de iglesias amigas y de toda la Comunión Anglicana, lo cual me da confianza para continuar en el servicio a Dios en este mi amado país El Salvador

Aprovecho la oportunidad para desearles felices pascuas de resurrección.

Rvdmo. Martin Barahona
Obispo de la Iglesia Episcopal de El Salvador
Y Primado de la Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de America (IARCA)


Just a small note

Receive my love and thanks for your prayers and expressions of solidarity after the terrible criminal assassination attempt which I suffered on 17 March of this year and in which my driver, Francis Martinez, was gravely injured. However, thanks be to God, he already is out of danger and is recovering and I was not injured. Thank you for your solidarity and your constant prayers which have been our best protective shield.

I give thanks to God for the expressions of friendship I have received from our friends in the church and in all of the Anglican Communion. These give me the confidence to continue in the service of God in my beloved country of El Salvador.

I also take this opportunity to wish you a happy and blessed Easter.

The Most Rev'd Martin Barahona
Bishop of the Episcopal Church of El Salvador
and Primate of the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America

[photo taken during his recent trip to San Francisco; he is wearing a stole the children from the parish I serve made him in October 2009]

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Francis will have the stitches removed from his stomach tomorrow; last week the doctors put a plate and six screws in his elbow; these will be permanent. The pain in his elbow is still quite noticeable at night; during the day it is not overwhelming.

The IAES still greatly appreciates all of your prayers.

Primatial follies

From the Lead

The Most Revd Ian Ernest, G.O.S.K, Bishop of Mauritius and Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury asking for a Primates meeting which excludes the Primates of The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Church of Canada, suspending communion with all except bishops who have publicly disavowed TEC and ACoC actions, and calling for a restructure of the Anglican Communion with the Primates in charge.

I have a sinking feeling because one of our allies, the Primate of IARCA, is about to step down from his position, and I am worried about the election.

Right now, the primates can go meet by themselves, concoct whatever they want and regardless, the work of the church, done by the people of God, will go on. This attempt at a power grab is sickening. What concerns me, too, is that the ABC is going to fall for it.

Prayers for IARCA

The Synod of the Iglesia Anglicana de la Región de Central América is meeting this week in Panamá. Our Padre Mickey will be on the scene with camera and taking notes for us. He is also preparing the opening liturgy which will take place tomorrow night.

This meeting is an important one because at it they will elect the third archbishop of the province. Their canons allow for two consecutive four-year terms. Bishop Martín Barahona of El Salvador, elected in April 2002 after the death of Cornelius Wilson of Costa Rica, has now completed those two terms and it is time for someone else to take the place. Tea leaf reading indicates it will be the bishop of Guatemala, Armando Guerra, who will be elected, but who knows what the Holy Spirit will be? There is hardly a large field — since the Bishop of El Salvador is ineligible, save changing the canons, that leaves Guatemala, Nicaragua (Sturdy Downs), Panamá (Julio Murray) and Costa Rica (Hector Monterossa). I would be amazed if the bishop of Nicaragua were elected... he has struggled with health issues of late. So that leaves Guate whose bishop has the longest experience, then Panamá and Costa Rica in terms of consecration.

So hold this young province, just barely 12 years old, as it moves through its synod, that God's grace and wisdom shall prevail and politics might sit in the backseat.

I would expect there be a celebration of Bishop Barahona's ministry as archbishop. I hope so! All I can say is that things will be quite different henceforth.