The College of Anglican Bishops in Continental Europe (COABICE) met in Oporto, Portugal, July 3-5, at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, to discuss developing a covenant among the four Anglican jurisdictions in Europe -- the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe, the Iglesia Española Reformada Episcopal, the Igreja Lusitana Catolica Apostolica Evangelica, and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe.
The bishops produced a draft document which will be circulated for comment among the authorities of the four jurisdictions, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, and Williams. The meeting was characterized by the bishops as very productive, in an atmosphere of prayer, openness, and warm congeniality.
They thanked Bishop Fernando da Luz Soares of the Igreja Lusitana Catolica Apostolica Evangelica for his welcome and the superb hospitality of his Church, and the Rev. Dr. Manuel Sumares, Priest-in-charge of St. James, Oporto, for his help as recording secretary.
The other bishops participating in the meeting were el Reverendissimo Carlos Lopez-Lozano of Iglesia Española Reformada Episcopal, Bishop Geoffrey Rowell of the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe, and Bishop Pierre W. Whalon of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe -- one of the Episcopal Church's 11 not-domestic dioceses.
