Anglican synod winds up at Biltmore

For much of its early history as a British Colony, Belize’s most influential religious body was, not surprisingly, the Church of England, better known as the Anglicans. Today, although no longer claiming the majority of Belizeans as adherents, the Anglicans remain very much in the mix.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Today the highest governing body of the Anglican Church ended its week long meeting hosted for the first time at the Biltmore Plaza. The religious leaders discussed policies and the church?s future.

Right Reverend Philip Wright, Bishop, Anglican Diocese
?What is happening here is there has been a gathering of clergy and delegates form all across the country, all of our congregations. They have come together to discuss the life of the church to assess our strengths, our weaknesses and to lay down if you will some plans and plan of action for the way forward for the church.?

Today, the Anglican?s claim a congregation over twenty thousand strong with over twenty churches and missions countrywide. Anglican?s Bishop, the right reverend Philip Wright says there are several reasons why his church has such a strong.

Right Reverend Philip Wright
?But I think the very Anglican ethos of being willing to listen to both sides and to work towards a compromise is something we have to offer this country, where sometimes we can have dividing parties. I think the Anglican Church is strategically positioned to play a role in providing a platform upon which issues could be discussed and we could find a way forward together.?

But as the participants work towards the future there are several obstacles to overcome.

Right Reverend Philip Wright
?Challenges always have to do with money. There is always never enough money to do the work we have to do. The challenge will also be to get our people to see themselves differently, to see a church, a renewed church, to see a church that has a lot to offer and to see a church that has a unique place in the whole scheme of things.?

As the religious leaders worked on their policies, across the hallway children from the Anglican primary schools in Belize City were viewing an educational exhibit chronicling the life of the church, its teachings, missions and schools.

Right Reverend Philip Wright
?The whole purpose behind that exhibition is again to capture a sense of us as a diocese, across the country. And what better place than here where you have representatives and so what we did we ask the schools and the congregations to come up with displays that speak of their lives, who they are ,what they do and I must say I was quite impressed.?

That celebration ended with a special service that officially closed the 2006 synod.