The Metropolitan Council of Cuba has appointed The Rev. Griselda Delgado del Carpio as Co-adjutor Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Cuba.
Delgado was appointed after two special electoral synods held last year failed to elect a successor to Bishop Miguel Tamayo Zaldivar, who plans to retire as interim bishop soon.
She was chosen from a pool of candidates who were asked for written responses by the Council, composed of Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of The Episcopal Church, and Archbishop Errol Brooks, acting primate of The Church in the Province of the West Indies. The Council has overseen the Cuban church since it separated from The Episcopal Church in 1967 because of difficult relations between the two countries’ governments.
“The Council found Griselda’s submission to be particularly thorough. We believe she has a good grasp of the nature of episcope [ministry of a bishop],” said Archbishop Fred Hiltz in a letter to the Cuban church. “We believe she has a lot of insight into the history of the Church’s witness in Cuban society. It is clear that she is mission-minded and will lead the church in the spirit of compassionate and courageous discipleship.”
In 1986 Delgado became one of two women Anglican priests ordained for the first time in the history of the Cuban church. She is currently the rector of Santa Maria Virgen Church in Itabo, Matanzas province.
Archbishop Hiltz noted that Delgado is “committed to the ministry of all the baptized and to the principle s of diverse and dispersed leadership.” She is also aware of the “need to give attention to stewardship of financial resources for maintaining ministry and mission.”
As co-adjutor, Delgado will work with Bishop Tamayo until he ends his term.
Delgado’s consecration has been scheduled for Feb. 7, at the closing service for the diocesan synod, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Havana.