The Rt Revd Dr Jo Wells, Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, has visited the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil or IEAB) to celebrate the 135th Anniversary of the church and the 40th anniversary of women’s ordination in the province.
The IEAB was a missionary district of The Episcopal Church (based in the United States) until it became an autonomous Province within the Anglican Communion in 1980. The IEAB is now constituted by nine dioceses and one missionary district.
Bishop Jo has been hosted by the Most Reverend Marinez Bassotto, Primate of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil and Regional Primate for the Americas. Bishop Marinez is the first woman to become a Primate in IEAB and the third female Primate in the global Anglican Communion.
Bishop Jo’s visit commenced from May 29th when she attended the National Meeting of Ordained Women in Brazil, titled “Women Weaving Justice”, meeting with female clergy, laity, bishops and the Primate of the province.
The National Meeting of Ordained Women included teaching and dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing ordained women in the region and globally as well as a reflection on the history of the ordination of women. Participants shared experience and celebrated achievements, so many of which have been led by women persevering in witness to God’s abundant love.
The event gathered 50 people together including clergy from the diaconal, presbyteral and episcopal orders, as well as lay leaders and bishops representing all dioceses of IEAB. Among the number gathered for the meeting were Revd Carmen Etel Gomes who was the first ordained woman in the province, Revd Carmen Susana, and Maria Noble Zimmerman who led in advocating for the ordination of women.
(Left to right - Bishop Meriglei Borges Simim, Bishop Magda Guedes Pereira, Bishop Marinez Santos Bassotto, Bishop Jo Wells)
Some other guests and speakers included Revd Cibele Kuss, Director of Fundação Luterana de Diaconia (the Lutheran Foundation of Diakonia or FLD) and Revd Romi Bencke, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Brazil.
On June 1st, Bishop Jo preached at the Anglican National Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in a service to commemorate both the 135th anniversary of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil and the 40th anniversary of Female Ordination. The service concluded the four-day Meeting of Ordained women.
Speaking about her visit, the Rt Revd Dr Jo Wells said, “I have been overjoyed to be part of the province’s celebration of 40 years since the first ordination of women, and in the diocese of Meridional where the very first of those ordinations took place. Over 50 women have gathered from across the country - lay as well as ordained - to recount the history and to consider next steps.
“I am grateful to Bishop Marinez as Primate for her invitation and to witness all she is doing to build and sustain an ambitious vision for mission. And I give thanks to God for the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, a church which may be small (relative to the size of this country) yet which bears significant impact and influence. Of course, there is so much more to do - across all the five Marks of Mission - yet there is so much here to celebrate, from inter-Anglican and ecumenical collaboration, to tackling issues of gender justice and environmental justice.
“My visit began with volunteers at an urban church offering lunch to the homeless and it will end with hospitality from a rural indigenous parish – Oh, the beauty and variety of God’s world, even in one province!”
Speaking about the visit, the Most Reverend Marinez Bassotto, Primate of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil said, “The history of women's leadership in the Church is a story of strength, courage, boldness and faith. A story of transformation, movement, action, inclusion, resilience and equity.
“The 40-year history of female ordination in the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil has come a long way. This story began in 1973 and culminated in July 1984 when the General Synod approved female ordination. The historic synodal decision allowed women to be ordained not only to the diaconate and priesthood, but also to the episcopate. This was an unprecedented decision in the Anglican Communion. On May 5, 1985, almost a year later, the Church ordained the first woman to the sacred ministry.
“Thanks to the strength of lay women in the Church, thanks to the many women who did not even want to be ordained, but who wanted to ensure that those who were called, called by God to the ordained ministry, could say yes and live their vocations fully, many barriers have already been overcome. And many others still need to be broken with our boldness, passion, courage and faith – without ever losing sight of love!”
IEAB released a statement about the celebratory events, stating, “Looking to the future, we reaffirm our commitment to awakening new female ministerial vocations, ensuring a safe Church for all – both clergy and lay women – and promoting the ongoing formation of women, especially at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. We call on our Church to continue opening and consolidating spaces for women to act, amplifying their voices in decision-making processes and canonically formalizing gender parity at all levels – parish, diocesan and provincial.
“We also emphasize the urgency of gender, race and ethnic literacy for the entire ecclesial community, so that we may be agents of transformation of the unjust structures of society, challenging all forms of violence and promoting peace and reconciliation.”
At the end of the final service, the Safe Church Working Group announced their publication of a major new resource, ‘Igreja Segura’ with resources for community dialogue. This is part of a major strategy across IEAB for addressing issues in safeguarding and protecting the vulnerable.
Find out more about the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil.