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North Carolina bishop celebrates ILCO’s anniversary |
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The Lutheran Church of Costa Rica (ILCO) welcomed ELCA Bishop Leonard Bolick in a weekend of worship and events to celebrate ILCO’s 20th anniversary. |
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Bishop Bolick opened his visit by participating in the Inclusive Worship Service, a bimonthly service that explores issues of stigma, discrimination and exclusion, particularly among people of diverse sexual orientations, transgender groups and people living with HIV/AIDS.
He also participated in the Saturday celebration of ILCO’s 20th anniversary (officially Aug. 22), sharing his greetings and blessings for the church as it continues its work in Costa Rica. As part of the worship service, he visited ILCO’s botanical garden and the organic market, both at the central offices, and played in cooperative games with youth and children.
The celebration continued Sunday in La Carpio with a joint worship service celebrated by the communities of La Carpio, Alajuelita and San Sebastian. Later, Bolick visited Puriscal, where he was welcomed with typical Costa Rican dance and dishes at a joint worship service for the communities of Puriscal and Quitirrisí.
Bolick also met with Mons. José Ulloa, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Cartago. He and ILCO Bishop Melvin Jiménez discussed progress in ecumenical relationships in Costa Rica, including plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. The doctrine was signed by the two churches in 1999 as a result of extensive ecumenical dialogue.
Bolick and ILCO’s executive committee also met to reflect on the companion synod relationship ILCO shares with North Carolina, as well as to plan steps for the future. Both churches are looking forward to making a plan to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the companion synod relationship in 2009.
The North Carolina bishop was accompanied by Edna Campos, interpreter and leader in ELCA’s Latino ministry there. |
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| Bishops Jimenez and Bolick celebrate ILCO's 20th anniversary in a Saturday worship service. |
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| Translator and ELCA leader Edna Campos, Bishop Leonard Bolick and Bishop Melvin Jimenez participate in a Saturday worship service. |
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| Lutheran Bishops Jimenez and Bolick meet with Catholic Bishop Ulloa to discuss ecumenical relations. |
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