‘There Is No Hope’: Crisis Pushes Haiti to Brink of Collapse

From The New York Times-

“It was scary, really scary,” said Archdeacon Abiade Lozama of the Episcopal Church of Haiti, which owns the hospital. “Every day, things become more difficult, day after day.”

Though the country has been trapped for years in cycles of political and economic dysfunction, many Haitians say the current crisis is worse than anything they have ever experienced. Lives that were already extremely difficult, here in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, have become even more so. 

Weeks of unrest around Haiti, coupled with rampant corruption and economic malaise, have led to soaring prices, a disintegration of public services and a galloping sense of insecurity and lawlessness. At least 30 people have been killed in the demonstrations in the past few weeks, including 15 by police officers, according to the United Nations.

more here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/20/world/americas/Haiti-crisis-violence.html

The Episcopal Church in Haiti: Stretching towards a new future

From Episcopal Cafe-

The 2018 statistical reports for the Episcopal Church are out. There is considerable wringing of hands and some very enlightening commentary around. Among the most challenging is the commentary by Crusty OldDean, Tom Furgerson.  His conclusions present one sort of challenge for TEC, namely to get off the high horse of acting like a corporation. I hope the General Convention will listen to him. Unfortunately, the track record on critical rethinking by TEC is not good. The last round of efforts to deal with the structural problems of TEC fell decidedly flat.

Hidden in the weeds of the Statistical Reports are interesting bits of information regarding the resilience of at least one diocese in TEC. On the basis of the records received from the dioceses, it would appear that the Episcopal Church in Haiti, with 89,717 baptized members, is the largest diocese in TEC. And, looking at ASA (Average Sunday Attendance) figures, it ranks among the top 10 dioceses. It is among only 8 dioceses that have recorded an increase over the last 10 years, and this in spite of the terrible earthquake of 2010.  It has more members than Province 6 or 9. About one in 20 baptized members of TEC is Haitian.

More here-

https://www.episcopalcafe.com/the-episcopal-church-in-haiti-stretching-towards-a-new-future/?fbclid=IwAR0g0zHhVEcHT3PoulYanrqfgciprnCzgBJt8xdxLe3WY672rFisiTJz46s

Presiding Bishop’s statement on consent process in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti

From The Episcopal Church-

January 4, 2019

 

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has issued the following statement:

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus,

On 3 January 2019, the 120-day canonically mandated period for gathering consents to the ordination and consecration of the Venerable Joseph Kerwin Delicat as the Bishop Coadjutor of Haiti came to a close. I am writing to report that a majority of the bishops with jurisdiction in The Episcopal Church did not consent to the ordination and consecration, nor did the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Haiti provide evidence of consent from a majority of the Standing Committees of the dioceses of The Episcopal Church.

In the coming days I will be in consultation with leaders in the Diocese of Haiti, as well as with others around The Episcopal Church, as we look for the next, best steps forward.

More here-

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/presiding-bishops-statement-consent-process-episcopal-diocese-haiti?fbclid=IwAR3NdsXPeV2hBMR0BmFnwIk5dOcbpMZ2GwrOwpFDBRymRxqYWsS2Lq-9iMQ

Why our congregation gives directly to a church school in Haiti

From The Christian Century-

In August 2015 I stood outside l’Eglise St. Matthieu, a small church in northern Haiti, looking at a low rectangular arrangement of stones, concrete, and rebar that was supposed to be the foundation of a new school building. Beside me were a fellow member of Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst, Mas­sa­chusetts, and Père Joseph Tan­crel Diegue, a 61-year-old Haitian priest. We were all frowning.

Three years earlier, Grace Church had raised money to pay for the construction of classrooms for St. Matthieu’s School. With a new classroom building, the school’s five teachers would no longer have to try to teach five different grades simultaneously in the church’s sanctuary, a room smaller than a basketball court. Children at the school had carried stones for the construction. Workers had dug trenches for the foundation, poured the concrete, and set the stones and rebar. Now the foundation was covered with weeds, and the rebar was starting to oxidize. There were no walls and no rafters. No more money, either; it had all been spent, somewhere.

More here-

https://www.christiancentury.org/article/first-person/why-our-congregation-gives-directly-church-school-haiti

A contested bishop’s election in Haiti, Canon III.11.8, and unintended consequences

From Episcopal Cafe-

Shortly after the election of Dean Kerwin Delicat of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-au-Prince, as bishop coadjutor for the Diocese of Haiti, the requisite number of lay and clerical delegates filed objections under this canon. This is the first instance in which this canon has been put to the test.

In an interview with ENS, Bishop Ousley (bishop for pastoral development on the Presiding Bishop’s staff) said; “it is clear that while the provincial court of review is given a role in the contestation process, the canons say the role is that of an information-gathering body charged with producing a report on the allegations, not acting as a court. Normally, the court of review functions within the church’s clergy discipline canons.  They’re not going to make a judgment about guilty or not guilty. They’re not necessarily going to come down on one side or another.”

Instead, its report will be a compilation of the information the members were able to get. “It’s not the court’s responsibility to decide for the church or to tip the process one way or another,” he said. The group might say that certain allegations are true or not. “But more than likely, it is going have a number of things that will say ‘on the one hand but on the other,’” he said.

More here-

https://www.episcopalcafe.com/a-contested-bishops-election-in-haiti-canon-iii-11-8-and-unintended-consequences/

Court of Review of Province II issues Report of Findings

From The Episcopal Church-

The Province II Court of Review has released its Report of Findings regarding the Contestation of the election of the bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Haiti.

Following the June 2nd election of the Venerable Joseph Kerwin Delicat as bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Haiti, a group of lay and clergy delegates to the Electing Convention filed written objections to the election process. Canon III.11.8 (a) outlines the process for contesting the election process.

As required by Title III.8, the Presiding Bishop referred the matter to the Province II Court of Review for investigation of the complaint. (Province II includes the Diocese of Haiti.) The Court’s Report of Findings is here. Copies of the report will be distributed to bishops with jurisdiction and all Diocesan Standing Committees as part of the election consent process. 

More here-

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/court-review-province-ii-issues-report-findings

Provincial fact-finding group looking into claims of episcopal election fraud in Diocese of Haiti

From ENS-

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has taken the next step in a never-before-used canonical process contesting the election of the Very Rev. Kerwin Delicat as bishop coadjutor for the Diocese of Haiti.
Curry on July 17 officially asked the Province II Court of Review to convene as a fact-finding commission and prepare a report on allegations of what a group of Haitian Episcopalians called an “electoral coup d’état.” The group represents more than 20 percent of the clergy and lay electors of the June 2 convention that chose Delicat, dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The 16 priests and 26 lay people say that Bishop Diocesan Jean Zaché Duracin and his supporters:

• Violated a covenant that was agreed to just more than a year ago by Curry, Duracin, Haiti Bishop Suffragan Ogé Beauvoir and the diocesan Standing Committee to “address and resolve many of the issues of conflict that have been burdening the diocese.”
• Manipulated ordinations to influence the election results.
• Developed an illegitimate slate of candidates by eliminating those who did not support the bishop.
• Violated election canons and the diocese’s bylaws governing elections.
• Planned and implemented obstacles to voting that amounted to fraud.

More here-

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/provincial-fact-finding-group-looking-claims-episcopal-election-fraud-diocese-haiti

Oxfam scandal: Archbishop Desmond Tutu steps down as ambassador

From The Church Times-

THE Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Dr Desmond Tutu, announced on Thursday that he would retire as an ambassador for Oxfam, because of “allegations of immorality and possible criminality” involving the charity’s aid workers.

The widening crisis over allegations of sexual abuse in the aid sector has led to the Charity Commission launching a formal inquiry and the Government threatening to remove millions of pounds of funding.

Allegations that Oxfam workers engaged prostitutes while working in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti have spread rapidly in recent days to cover other disaster zones and other agencies, calling into question the behaviour of aid workers and ability of charities to manage them.

More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2018/16-february/news/uk/oxfam-harassment-case-puts-pressure-on-ngos

also here-

https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2018/02/15/oxfam-time-to-learn-not-destroy/

Presiding Bishop preaches on ‘forgiveness, repentance, healing and reconciliation’ in Haiti

From ENS-

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preached a sermon “on the occasion of the liturgical signing of the covenant of reconciliation” on May 23 at the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. All clergy in the diocese attended the special liturgy.

“Mutual forgiveness and repentance, healing and reconciliation are hard work and they often take time. Healing and reconciliation do not happen quickly. But it happens, if we are willing, to allow God’s grace to work in us, for God’s grace is sufficient. God is able,” said Curry in his sermon.
On April 24, the Episcopal Church announced that Curry, Haiti Bishop Jean Zache Duracin, Haiti Bishop Suffragan Ogé Beauvoir and the diocesan Standing Committee had entered a covenant agreement that “seeks to address and resolve many of the issues of conflict that have been burdening the diocese.”

The May 23 liturgy included a formal signing of the covenant, which took effect in April.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/05/23/presiding-bishop-preaches-on-forgiveness-repentance-healing-and-reconciliation-in-haiti/

Partners in Agriculture plans new facility, continues fight against hunger in Haiti

From Upper South Carolina-

For 18 years, Greenville’s Gillaine and Charles Warne have grown food and taught sustainable agriculture in Haiti to eliminate malnutrition. Now they’re feeding thousands with three farms, a family security program, and a vocational school.

In 1999, Gillaine Warne made her first trip to Haiti’s Central Plateau through Christ Episcopal Church after Father Fritz Lafontant, a Haitian Episcopal priest, asked her to teach English in the small rural village of Cange.

During her visit, Warne witnessed the extent of malnutrition. “I felt as if each of my senses had been assaulted,” Warne says. “Children were dying, and mothers were walking barefoot across mountains for days to find help. It was even more astonishing to see that nobody was growing anything.”

More here-

https://greenvillejournal.com/2017/04/26/partners-agriculture-plans-new-facility-continues-fight-hunger-haiti/

Presiding Bishop announces covenant agreement for the Diocese of Haiti

From ENS-

With profound thanks to Almighty God and with deep gratitude for the prayers of so many throughout the church, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael B. Curry announces a covenant into which he, Bishop Jean Zache Duracin of Haiti, Bishop Suffragan Ogé Beauvoir, and the Standing Committee have entered.

The covenant “seeks to address and resolve many of the issues of conflict that have been burdening the Diocese,” brings an end to the pause on fundraising by the Episcopal Church and opens new possibilities for a united future as the diocese prepares to elect its next bishop diocesan in 2018.

As noted in the presiding bishop’s letter to the parties and shared with the Church, “The Covenant has entirely resolved the Title III matter that involved Suffragan Bishop Beauvoir’s relationship with the Standing Committee of the Diocese.  Further, the Covenant, together with the Memorandum of Understanding [providing guidance for mission partnerships]…fully resolved the Title IV matter that has been pending against Bishop Duracin.”

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/04/24/presiding-bishop-announces-covenant-agreement-for-the-diocese-of-haiti/

Presiding Bishop releases letter about the Diocese of Haiti

From ENS-

Sadly, as we discussed in Haiti, some of those divisions have led to the pending disciplinary proceeding under Title IV of the canons against the Bishop Diocesan, largely stimulated by allegations made by the Bishop Suffragan. Since our meeting, it has become even clearer that this proceeding will continue to move toward an unflattering public trial within the next few months — with painful allegations by both bishops against each other and testimony by clergy of the Diocese as witnesses on both sides — unless away can be found to resolve it amicably. Moreover, since our meeting, divisions among the lay and clerical leadership of the Diocese embodied in both the Bishop Diocesan and the Standing Committee, on the one hand, and the Bishop Suffragan, on the other, have led to the recent filing by the Standing Committee of the petition under Title III of the Church’s canons requesting that I begin the canonical process by which the pastoral
relation between the Diocese and the Bishop Suffragan may now be involuntarily
dissolved.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/12/01/presiding-bishop-releases-letter-about-the-diocese-of-haiti/

Haiti Episcopal college prepares students for agriculture, agribusiness

From ENS-

On a recent February morning a young Haitian man riding high on a John Deere tractor tilled the fields, readying them for the first planting of the year at the St. Barnabas Center for Agriculture, an Episcopal college located on 475 acres of fertile coastal plain in northern Haiti.

As the tractor turned over the dark, clay soil, preparing it for planting, two young men worked to patch a crack in a cement water tank, two others pulled weeds from a carrot patch, and another two used blue and green plastic watering cans to hand-water beets, carrots and leafy greens growing in test plots and the seedlings coming to life in the greenhouse. Another young man drove cattle across the back of the property, while others continued to clear more land for the tractor and future planting.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/02/22/haiti-episcopal-college-prepares-students-for-agriculture-agri-business/

South Florida Haiti Project Dedicates Episcopal Church in Bondeau, Haiti

From Florida-

South Florida Haiti Project, a nonprofit outreach ministry based in South Florida, will join in the dedication of a newly built Episcopal church in Bondeau, Haiti, on July 12, 2015. Formerly known as St. Marie Madeleine, the new Bon Samaritan Episcopal Church will hold approximately 800 congregants and will be the largest Episcopal Church in Haiti.

The day-long dedication celebration, expected to draw 1,000 people, will include a worship service, music, food and fellowship. Clergy and laypeople from across Haiti will attend, including Rt. Rev. Jean Zache Duracin, bishop of Haiti. Also in attendance will be Linda Turner, widow of Jim Turner, the first American supporter of South Florida Haiti Project’s outreach to Bondeau.

More here-

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/07/prweb12831794.htm

Five years after devastating earthquake, Haiti shows signs of recovery

From ENS-

Students filled the primary and secondary school classrooms at Trinity Cathedral complex in Port-au-Prince, a new trade school is under construction, music students continue training in what was a convent, and a covered, temporary worship space has been constructed on the grounds, all signs of life noted by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori when she visited the cathedral during a mid-December visit to Haiti.

“The Episcopal Church in Haiti continues to play a major and essential role in this renaissance.  The cathedral church in Port-au-Prince was long seen as the spiritual and cultural soul of Haiti.  Today, its bells are quiet (in storage), its world-renowned murals largely destroyed (three have been preserved for reuse), and its naked altar platform awaits the cathedral’s rebuilding,” said Jefferts Schori in a statement released by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Public Affairs on Jan. 8.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/01/12/five-years-after-devastating-earthquake-haiti-shows-signs-of-recovery/

Presiding Bishop makes historic visit to northern Haiti

From ENS-

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori recently became the first ever primate to visit northern Haiti.

“It is a very significant visit for us,” said the Rt. Rev. Ogé Beauvoir, bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Haiti, during a Dec. 15 interview with Episcopal News Service at the diocesan office in Pétionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince.

Each Sunday Episcopalians in northern Haiti pray for the presiding bishop, said Beauvoir, who has lived in Cap-Haitien since becoming suffragan bishop in 2012, but with the exception of very few, they’ve never met her. As worshipers were boarding buses following the Dec. 14 Eucharist, they told Beauvoir, “’please express our thanks and love to our presiding bishop, tell her that we love her,’” he said.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/12/18/presiding-bishop-makes-historic-visit-to-northern-haiti/

Trinity Wall Street Adds Northern Haiti As New Mission & Service Location

From Haiti-

Located in a pocket of wealth in New York City, Trinity Church is known for its affluent parishioners and its rich portfolio of real estate and stock investments. However, one aspect of the church that is at times overshadowed by its well-endowed members is their tradition of philanthropy and charity – one that will soon benefit a community in Haiti.

The Episcopalian church added the northern region of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti as a fifth Mission & Service location, Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper announced on July 30. Following the recommendation of a team who visited Cap-Haïtien earlier this year, the parish’s Faith in Action Committee and Grants Board selected Cap-Haïtien for a mission partnership.

More here-

http://haitiantimes.com/?p=7369

Remember Haiti on Sunday

From The Living Church-

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has called on all Episcopalians to give generously during a special offering January 12 aimed at assisting the Diocese of Haiti in rebuilding the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince. Haitians are still struggling to recover from the massive earthquake that destroyed the cathedral and caused untold devastation to lives and property throughout the country four years ago.

The Haitian government has said that up to 300,000 people were killed in the magnitude 7.0 quake, which struck just west of the capital of Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010. As many as 1.6 million Haitians, in a country of roughly 10 million, were left homeless, and more than 170,000 still live in makeshift housing.

“I ask that you share your blessings with the Haitian people on January 12,” Jefferts Schori said, adding that the “spiritual heart” of the church’s ministry in Haiti centers on the cathedral. She said that ministry comprises more than 170 congregations and 250 schools, a dozen clinics and two hospitals.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/remember-haiti-sunday

Destroyed Episcopal cathedral to be rebuilt in Haiti

From RNS-

A landmark cathedral that was reduced to rubble in the 2010 earthquake will be resurrected in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Designs to rebuild the

It will be twice the size of the destroyed cathedral and will incorporate the bronze bells and three world-famous murals depicting biblical stories with Haitian characters that were salvaged from the ruins of the original church.

The new cathedral is designed to meet international earthquake and hurricane resistant standards and will generate its own electricity and provide its own purified water.
Holy Trinity (Episcopal) Cathedral were unveiled Tuesday to the Episcopal Church Executive Council during its Chicago meeting.

More here-

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/10/16/destroyed-episcopal-cathedral-rebuilt-haiti/

Architects unveil plan for Haitian cathedral

From ENS-

The architects of a dramatic new cathedral for Haiti unveiled their design Oct. 15 for the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council.

The new Port-au-Prince cathedral is to be built on the same site as the previous Holy Trinity Cathedral that was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. It would seat more than 1,200 people, which is more than double its previous size, and include an entry/narthex with a bell tower incorporating the bells that survived the quake; a round, flexible worship space; and a hospitality and administration area. Worshippers would sit in a circular fashion around and above a central altar platform, with the new altar positioned in the exact location of the altar of the previous cathedral.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/10/15/architects-unveil-plan-for-haitian-cathedral/