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Problems and Possible Solutions (Written by Harold
Nugent)
Holy Trinity Cuba Committee
Julie Sullivan, David Hill, Harold Nugent from the Diocese of Florida Cuba
Committee attended a meeting of Episcopalians from across the nation and the
Caribbean who are interested in supporting the Episcopal Church in Cuba (ECC).
Eighteen people met at St. John's Church on Lafayette Square in Washington on
Dec. 5-7. Earl Strimple of St. Albans Church called and led the meeting of
lay and clergy representatives from Colorado, New York, Virginia, Washington,
DC, Louisiana, Florida as well the Bishop of Dominican Republic, the Rt. Rev.
Julio Holguin, now Bishop of Cuba until Jan. 1, 2004. Other notables were Romi
Gonzales, son of the last elected Bishop of Cuba; Rev. Juan Marquez from World
Missions of the Episcopal Church of United State of America (ECUSA); and the
host of the meeting, Rev. Luis Leon, Rector of St. Johnıs Church, Lafayette
Square.
Agenda of National Meeting in Washington
The agenda of the meetings held at St. Johnıs and discussed at lunch and
dinner at nearby restaurants was as follows: brief history of the Episcopal
Church
in Cuba (ECC) by Romi Gonzales, up-date on ECC by the present Bishop, Rt.
Rev. Julio Holguin, Cuban-born bishop of Dominican Republic, and report of
meeting of Earl Strimple, Rev. Leon Luis, and Romi Gonzalez and Juan Marquez
with
Richard Newcomb, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
concerning the legal options ECUSA has under the financial restrictions of the
Patriot Act. I can best summarize the meeting by dividing the subject matter
into
two sections: problems and possible solutions.
Problems Articulated by
Members
1. Lack of consistent leadership of Cuba Church in the past few years has
resulted in no little confusion, exacerbated by problems that to my mind are
more
political than spiritual. For example, how Cuba can be independent on ECUSA
but, at the same time, be friendly and receptive and careful not to offend
either governmentıs official policies.
2. As a result of previous inconsistencies, there has been a lack of
accountability complicated by the Cuban and American governmentsı slowness in
granting funding and permitting for approved projects. As a result of more than
a
year without a bishop, individual ECUSA and Canadian Anglican Churches have been
sending help directly to individual Cuba churches. This has often resulted
in funding of some churches and none at other churches as well as mutual
disconnecction and the weakening Cuban Diocesan office.
3. Pension fund of Cuban Clergy under the order of Ingrid Morris, ECUSA,
citing the Patriot Act, ceased to make pension payments to eight recipients,
placing them in dire straits with no one to turn to.
Possible Solutions Articulated
by Members
1. The Metropolitan Council* has appointed Bishop Miguel Tamayo, Cuban born
Bishop of Uruguay, to be Bishop of Cuba for three years, beginning Jan. 1,
2004. Bishop Tamayo is well-respected by all and is described by Romi Gonzalez
as
a "dynamic and endearing man who should be welcomed with open arms by the
Cuban Church."
*The Metropolitan Council consists of the Archbishop of Canada, the
Bishop of Puerto Rico, and the Bishop of Dominican Republic.
2. The representatives attending the Washington meeting Dec. 5-7 decided to
become a formal entity entitled Christ in Cuba Coordinating Council or the
4C's. It is the intent of this body not to be directlly under the auspices of
ECUSA, thus enabling CCCC to continue to undertake the
admirable and needed projects without activating national policies. CCCC
representatives including Julie Sullivan and Harold Nugent plan to meet with
Bishop Tamayo while he is in Jacksonville for the Diocese of Florida Annual
Convention. Here they hope to pledge mutual trust and cooperation, thus
strengthening the Bishopıs position and subsequently ensuring equal treatment of
all
Cuban parishes as well as increased accountability to all the friends of the ECC.
3. On Dec. 5 several of the members of CCCC met with Richard Newcomb,
Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and reported back to the meeting that
ECUSA funds should be flowing again for the pensions of Cuban priests as well as for other
major ECUSA projects as soon as some necessary paperwork is completed and US Government
sign-offs are secured.
Conclusion
All lay and clergy attending the Washington meeting felt that God's
presence was amongst us in our present accomplishments and that He will be with us as we work to
strengthen the relationship between ECUSA and the ECC, all in name of the Father, Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
NB. On Sunday morning at 5:30 am we received a call at the Washington Hotel
from Father
Luis Leon, Rector of St. Johnıs two blocks away, that President Bush, dad,
mom and wife,
were planning to attend the 8 am Eucharist. If we would like to exchange The
Peace with them, we
should sit in row nine on the Gospel side. We did and made sure we took
"the opportunity of a
life time in the life time of the opportunity," keeping our Democratic sound
bites to
ourselves. After President Bush whispered something into his mother's ear
on the way to the Eucharist, she, following behind him, gave him a sharp spank
on his behind. The sight was a gift from God to see such a mom and her son
doing what comes naturally.
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