:Anglican Church in Central America

Four of the five dioceses of the Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de America (IARCA) were founded by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Anglicanism was also introduced by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel when the United Kingdom administered two colonies in Central America, British Honduras and Miskitia. In later years, immigrants brought the Anglican Church with them. This first period is often called the time of the chaplaincies.{{cite journal|last1=Monterroso|first1=Hector|last2=Miller|first2=Duane|title=Entrevista del Rdmo. Hector Monterroso por el Dr. Duane Miller|journal=Misionologia Global|date=June 2017|pages=1–7|url=https://www.academia.edu/33385020|access-date=24 June 2017}} Bishop William C. Frey was consecrated as the first missionary bishop of the Diocese of Guatemala in 1967.{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=Duane Alexander|title=Entrevissta con Bill Frey, primer obispo de la diocesis Episcopal de Guatemala|journal=Misionologia Global|date=January 2015|page=1|url=https://www.academia.edu/10380997|access-date=13 February 2015}}

In 1977, the Diocese of Costa Rica was recognized as autonomous by the Episcopal Church, and in 1978 the newly autonomous diocese elected Costa Rican native Cornelius Wilson as its third bishop.{{cite news |title=New Bishop of Costa Rica Elected on First Ballot |url=https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/ENS/ENSpress_release.pl?pr_number=78192 |access-date=6 May 2024 |agency=Episcopal News Service |date=July 13, 1978}} In 1998, the dioceses of El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama were also granted autonomy from the Episcopal Church, and they combined with the Diocese of Costa Rica to form IARCA. Bishop Wilson was chosen as the first primate of the newly recognized Anglican province.{{cite news |title=Central America: New Province Formed |url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/1998/05/central-america-new-province-formed.aspx |access-date=6 May 2024 |agency=Anglican Communion News Service}}

By 2008, the Anglican Church in Central America had voted to consecrate women bishops although none had yet been consecrated as of 2008.{{Cite web

| url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/12966/five-hundred-priests-threaten-to-leave-anglican-church-over-female-bishops

| title = Five hundred priests threaten to leave Anglican church over female bishops

| website = Catholic News Agency

| access-date = 2016-03-01

}} By 2013, the Diocese of El Salvador offered ministries on behalf of and in support of LGBT members.{{Cite web

| url = http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/03/27/la-formacion-de-un-ministerio-para-los-hbt-en-el-salvador/

| title = La formación de un ministerio para los HBT en El Salvador

| website = Episcopal News Service

| date = 27 March 2013

| language = en-US

| access-date = 2016-03-01

| archive-date = 2016-08-13

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160813112145/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/03/27/la-formacion-de-un-ministerio-para-los-hbt-en-el-salvador/

| url-status = dead

}}

1. Cornelius Wilson (1998–2002)
2. Martín Barahona (2002–2010){{cite news |title=Installation of Bishop Martin Barahona |url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2002/08/installation-of-bishop-martin-barahona.aspx |agency=Anglican Communion News Service |date=August 21, 2002}}
3. Armando Guerra (2010–2015){{cite news |title=CENTRAL AMERICA: Armando Guerra of Guatemala elected primate |url=https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/ENS/ENSpress_release.pl?pr_number=041910-06 |access-date=6 May 2024 |agency=Episcopal News Service |date=April 19, 2010}}
4. Sturdie Downs (2015–2018){{Cite web|title=New Primate for Central America|url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2015/03/new-primate-for-central-america.aspx|access-date=2021-05-31|website=www.anglicannews.org|language=en-gb}}
5. Julio Murray (2018–2022){{Cite web | title = Anglicans "a people of hope and here to stay" says new Primate-elect of Central America | work = anglicannews.org | date = April 24, 2018 | access-date = 2018-04-25 | url = http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2018/04/anglicans-a-people-of-hope-and-here-to-stay-says-new-primate-elect-of-central-america.aspx }}{{cite tweet|number=1293049775722504192|user=AnglicanWorld|title=A big congratulations to The Most Revd Julio Murray, Archbishop of Central America, on the anniversary of his insta… |date=11 August 2020}}
6. Juan David Alvarado (2022–present){{cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Mark |title=Juan David Alvarado Elected Central American Primate |url=https://livingchurch.org/2022/05/02/juan-david-alvarado-elected-central-american-primate/ |access-date=6 May 2024 |work=The Living Church |date=May 2, 2022}}

Today, there are over 35,000 Anglicans{{Cite web |last=Conger |first=George |date=2022-05-13 |title=New archbishop for the Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central America |url=https://anglican.ink/2022/05/13/new-archbishop-for-the-iglesia-anglicana-de-la-region-central-america/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Anglican Ink © 2025 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Mark |date=2022-05-02 |title=Juan David Alvarado Elected Central American Primate |url=https://livingchurch.org/news/news-anglican-communion/juan-david-alvarado-elected-central-american-primate/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=The Living Church |language=en-US}} out of an estimated population of 30.1 million.

{{anchor|Bishop of Costa Rica|Diocese of El Salvador|Diocese of Guatemala|Diocese of Nicaragua|Diocese of Panamá}}

The polity of the Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América is episcopal, which is the same as other Anglican churches. The church maintains a system of geographical parishes organized into dioceses. There are 5 of these, each headed by a bishop:

• The Diocese of Costa Rica
• The Diocese of El Salvador
• The Diocese of Guatemala
• The Diocese of Nicaragua
• The Diocese of Panamá

Some countries of Central America are part of other Anglican churches:

• The Anglican Diocese of Belize is part of the Church in the Province of the West Indies
• The Episcopal Diocese of Honduras is part of Province 9 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America

The Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América embraces three orders of ministry: deacon, priest, and bishop. The Spanish-language version of the Episcopal Church (USA)'s 1979 Book of Common Prayer is used.

{{See also|Anglicanism|Anglican doctrine}}

The center of the Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América's teaching is the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The basic teachings of the church, or catechism, includes:

• Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God. He died and was resurrected from the dead.
• Jesus provides the way of eternal life for those who believe.
• The Old and New Testaments of the Bible were written by people "under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit". The Apocrypha are additional books that are used in Christian worship, but not for the formation of doctrine.
• The two great and necessary sacraments are Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist
• Other sacramental rites are confirmation, ordination, marriage, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction.
• Belief in heaven, hell, and Jesus' return in glory.

Unlike many other Anglican churches, the Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América is not a member of the ecumenical World Council of Churches.http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3587 World Council of Churches

Within the province, the dioceses represent a diversity of opinions on social issues. Regarding gender equality, the province has dioceses, including the Episcopal Church of Costa Rica, that recognize women in ordained ministry.{{Cite web|url=http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/04/27/la-primada-predica-en-costa-rica/|title=La primada predica en Costa Rica|date=2015-04-27|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-06|archive-date=2016-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813103359/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/04/27/la-primada-predica-en-costa-rica/|url-status=dead}} In 2012, the Episcopal Church in Nicaragua ordained two women as priests.{{Cite web|url=http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2012/11/18/nacionales/124256-dos-mujeres-sacerdotes-en-bluefields|title=Dos mujeres sacerdotes en Bluefields|date=2012-11-18|website=La Prensa|access-date=2017-04-23}}

In 2003, the Primate, or Presiding Bishop, of the Anglican Church in Central America attended the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay and partnered bishop in the Anglican Communion.{{Cite news|url=http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/08/01/los-anglicanos-de-el-salvador-llevan-la-delantera-en-la-iglesia-y-la-sociedad-respecto-a-la-plena-inclusion-de-los-lgbt/|title=Los anglicanos de El Salvador llevan la delantera en la Iglesia y la sociedad respecto a la plena inclusión de los LGBT|date=2014-08-01|work=Episcopal News Service|access-date=2017-04-23|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327203108/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/08/01/los-anglicanos-de-el-salvador-llevan-la-delantera-en-la-iglesia-y-la-sociedad-respecto-a-la-plena-inclusion-de-los-lgbt/|url-status=dead}} The Diocese of El Salvador formed a ministry for LGBT people in the country.{{Cite web|url=http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/03/27/la-formacion-de-un-ministerio-para-los-hbt-en-el-salvador/|title=La formación de un ministerio para los HBT en El Salvador|date=2013-03-27|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-06|archive-date=2016-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813112145/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/03/27/la-formacion-de-un-ministerio-para-los-hbt-en-el-salvador/|url-status=dead}} In 2014, the Episcopal Church of Costa Rica, a diocese of the province, has taken steps to welcome LGBT members.{{Cite web|url=http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/03/06/iglesia-de-costa-rica-toma-pasos-para-dar-la-bienvenida-a-la-comunidad-lgbtq/|title=Iglesia de Costa Rica toma pasos para dar la bienvenida a la comunidad LGBTQ|date=2014-03-06|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813112607/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/03/06/iglesia-de-costa-rica-toma-pasos-para-dar-la-bienvenida-a-la-comunidad-lgbtq/|archive-date=2016-08-13|url-status=dead}} Also in 2014, the diocese in El Salvador continued to offer a space for LGBT members to "freely express themselves." The Diocese of Guatemala elected Silvestre Enrique Romero as bishop coadjutor in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.diomass.org/diocesan-news/silvestre-romero-elected-bishop-coadjutor-diocese-guatemala|title=Silvestre Romero elected bishop coadjutor of Diocese of Guatemala {{!}} The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts|website=www.diomass.org|access-date=2017-06-12}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Romero, prior to being elected bishop, served in the US Episcopal Church and offered to bless same-sex unions as priest-in-charge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpeterssalem.org/pages/wedding_guidelines.htm|title=St. Peter ~ San Pedro|website=www.stpeterssalem.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731200807/http://www.stpeterssalem.org/pages/wedding_guidelines.htm|archive-date=2016-07-31|url-status=dead}}

• Cornelius Wilson, Bishop of Costa Rica

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Neill|first=Stephen |title=Anglicanism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=otOFnQEACAAJ|year=1985|publisher=Oxford University Press}}

• [http://www.elsalvador.anglican.org/ Diocesis de El Salvador Website]
• {{Cite web |url=http://www.iepanama.org/ |title=Iglesia Episcopal De Panama |access-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719014529/http://www.iepanama.org/ |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown }}
• [https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/member-churches/member-church.aspx?church=central-america Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America]

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Central America

Category:Protestantism in Costa Rica

Category:Protestantism in El Salvador

Category:Christian denominations in Guatemala

Category:Protestantism in Nicaragua

Category:Protestantism in Panama