'A Problem of America' at Lambeth

From The Living Church:

Posted on: July 30, 2008

Bishop K.D. Daniel of East Kerala in the Church of South India (United) never wavered in his determination to the Lambeth Conference, but that does not mean he is happy with the situation in the Anglican Communion.

“The problem we are basically facing is a problem of America,” he said. “They want to push their problems on to other nations.”

Bishop Daniel was one of 16 nominated to serve indaba group listeners on July 25. This is the group that will prepare the conference “Reflections” paper.

Issues of human sexuality do not predominate in East Kerala, said Bishop Daniel. His diocese is about 360 miles long, but averages less than 50 miles in width. It was created about 25 years ago by dividing the Indian state of Kerala in half. Western Kerala has a prosperous and growing service-sector economy, including tourism, public administration, banking and finance, transportation, and communications. East Kerala is much less developed with large tropical rain forests and agriculture as the primary source of employment. Unemployment is high in East Kerala, Bishop Daniel said.

East Kerala may not be experiencing the same economic boon as its neighbor, but the diocese is growing. There are now 200 congregations, up from 75 in 1983, Bishop Daniel said.

“There we are clear,” he said. “We respect the Bible. Whatever is against the Bible, there is no need to discuss.”

Although English is not his first language, Bishop Daniel attended San Francisco Theological Seminary from 1987 through 1989. While in the United States, he attended St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Inverness, Calif. Bishop John-David Schofield, now of the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin, was the rector at that time.

Bishop Daniel attended Bishop Schofield’s consecration as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin the year he graduated from seminary, but he said he has since lost touch with Bishop Schofield. He asked if Bishop Schofield had indeed left The Episcopal Church. When he received an affirmative answer, he looked down and shook his head sadly.

Steve Waring