Great Britain & Ireland
Over a number of years in the past an unfortunate situation had developed in the Province of Great Britain and Ireland, as a result of a lack of control, partly due to the peculiar organisational structure of the Province. When Bishop Richard Palmer was consecrated in 1997 as Auxiliary Bishop for the Province, the Presiding Bishop remained Ordinary ex officio. Although Bishop Palmer did good work as an Auxiliary Bishop, the organisational structure was such that it became necessary to institute an enquiry and set professional standards for delineation of responsibility, accountability and transparency in the Province. The problems some have experienced with regard to their subscriptions to this magazine are but symptomatic of the complicated situation prevalent in the Province. In order to institute a full investigation, the Ordinary on February 16, 1999 enquired of the Auxiliary Bishop whether he would be willing to place himself on the Inactive List. On February 17, 1999, Bishop Palmer responded immediately, accepting the Ordinary's proposal.

The step should be seen as a temporary measure and it is fervently hoped that the investigation will lead to a better organisation and control of the Province. Bishop Palmer had, amongst many other things, done his best to resurrect the Central Office as the keeper of the Central Archives of the Church and as General Administrator for the Office of the Presiding Bishop on behalf of the General Episcopal Synod. No one could agree more with his laudable plan, so badly needed to give the Church a professional standing.

In order to facilitate the investigation and to ensure that the Province remains functional in the interim, the Ordinary made the following appointments:

The Reverend Graham Wale remains the Secretary to the Office of the Presiding Bishop. He has also been appointed Secretary to GES-12; the Synod scheduled to meet in Winchester in 2000. The present lack of insight in the affairs of the Province has been one of the reasons for the apparent lack of progress in setting dates, times, and a tentative programme for GES-12.

Supported by a positive vote among the Clergy of the Province, both these officers have now been appointed on the Investigating Committee, with the power to co-opt as and when needed.

Colombia
Bishop Alfonso Ortiz has turned 75. The Presiding Bishop sent him a letter expressing his gratitude to the good work done during his tenure as Regionary Bishop of the Province of Colombia. In particular he was congratulated on the magnificent Liberal Catholic Church in Bogota, the building of which has only recently been completed. With him turning 75, Bishop Ortiz is now Regionary Bishop Emeritus, having the status of Auxiliary Bishop. The Presiding Bishop has assumed the Office of Ordinary ex officio until Bishop Elect Jesus Alberto Rosemberg Cohen is consecrated in Bogota on Sunday, July 4, 1999, during the All-Spanish and Portuguese Congress.

Absence from Home of the Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop, accompanied by Ria, his wife, is at the present on a worldwide trip. From mid February until mid April they will be in Australia, partly on a private holiday. A visit of three weeks is then to be made to New Zealand, to be followed by a tour through the United States of America. On May 30, they will attend the enthronement by Bishop Lawrence Smith of the incoming Regionary Bishop for the USA, Bishop Hein van Beusekom.

During July, the Presiding Bishop, accompanied by the Reverend Mario Herrera, will attend the All-Spanish and Portuguese Congress in Bogota, Colombia. During this congress, on Sunday, July 4, 1999, the Presiding Bishop will consecrate Right Reverend Alberto Rosemberg Cohen, who upon his consecration will be appointed as the Regionary Bishop of Colombia. The Presiding Bishop intends to visit Cuba for a week. The trip will be concluded by a two-week visit to the British Province, returning home on August 9, 1999.

During his absence from home, the Secretary to the Presiding Bishop, the Rev Graham Wale, will receive correspondence on behalf of the Presiding Bishop or provide his forwarding address. The address of the Rev Graham Wale is 7 Madeira Avenue, HORSHAM RH12 1AB, United Kingdom, tel (+44 1403) 21 8229, fax (+44 1703) 21 8229. e-mail GES@LCC.CC.

Congo Bishop’s visit to the Presiding Bishop
The Right Reverend Kamanji Ilunga, Diocesan Bishop for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaďre, spent a week in South Africa visiting the Presiding Bishop and pontificating at the Pro-Cathedral of St Alban in Johannesburg. Fruitful discussions were held with regard to the situation and the future of the Church in the RDCongo.

Argentina
A message was received from Bishop Miguel Batet, telling us that he moved to an ecological farm in Central Argentina. Originally the Waldorf School (also known as a Rudolf Steiner School) owned the farm. Later it became a community farm with conference centre and accommodation facilities. Members of this community must be like-minded in pursuing spiritual goals, be vegetarian, teetotaler and non-smokers. As a remnant of the original establishment, the library still contains many books of the Waldorf School in Dutch. The farm is in a beautiful area with clean water and some waterfalls.