Report on the consecration, ordination and commissioning in Peru

 By The Rev. Canon Ian Montgomery

www.virtueonline.org

September 12, 2025

I have been serving in Peru, both full time and part time since being called there in 2008. The crowning joy was to participate in the service of consecration, ordination and commissioning at the end of August. We commissioned a new Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Victor Condori, as suffragan bishop with the right of succession when Bishop Jorge Aguilar retires. We ordained two priests and two deacons. We commissioned fourteen lay ministers. In attendance were visitors and representatives from most of South America, the USA, England and Australia. Bishops participated from all over South America with one from the USA. It was a celebration of the future along with giving thanks for God's goodness over the last several years.

This was not an isolated event. It is part of a continuing plan to discern, develop and deploy Peruvians as evangelists, catechists and clergy in the country of Peru. Peruvians know well their own culture and language. Bishop Jorge Aguilar's vision is to harness his own people as missionaries.

In 2015/2016 we underwent a significant transition.

In April 2016, Bishop Bill Godfrey retired to England and Bishop Jorge Aguilar became Bishop of Peru. In 2015, Bishop Godfrey had commissioned an in-depth report on the state of the Diocese of Peru. The report was published in late 2016. By that time, Bishop Godfrey had retired (April 2016), and Bishop Aguilar had succeeded him as Bishop of Peru. The report contained a call to action for the future. "There is a clear need for a process and development of formation for the people of the diocese, both for the clergy and for the people in general, to help the people of the diocese live a Christian life."  The Diocese of Peru came under Peruvian leadership. This was a huge transition, and this report set the stage for new initiatives. In collaboration with the Bishops of the Anglican Province of South America, we decided to put a moratorium on ordinations and set up a system of collaborative leadership within the Diocese of Peru.

Let me continue with the words of Bishop Aguilar.

"I had been given by the Holy Spirit a theoretical vision for the future. It was a vision given by the Holy Spirit, that from today's perspective I understand to be both inspiration and direction.

"At the beginning (2016), the Lord gave me the Word Luke 15:18. "But I will arise and go to my Father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.’” I then wrote a pastoral letter, reflecting on the evidence of the Father's hand in my personal life.

"Sometime later (2019), I received another Word from the Lord from Matthew 9:36. "When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were helpless and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd." And I was able to see and understand, from the Lord's perspective, the urgent need for SHEPHERDS with the spirituality of the Good Shepherd. Along with that Word, another accompanied it, the entire chapter of Ezekiel 34. The Reina Valera Bible (Contemporary Version) describes this passage as a "Prophecy against the Shepherds of Israel." It is very strong and clear. I looked at myself in that mirror and wept bitterly.

"Then came COVID-19.  It heralded an entire process of brokenness, transformation, and restoration. I understood that the previous Words of the Prodigal Son and the Shepherds of Ezekiel were mine to embody. During that time, I learned deeply the COMPASSION of God in Jesus Christ. I am now a witness and testimony of His GRACE."

·        During the pandemic, we all learned, including me, to TRUST in the Lord. At the same time, we learned new pastoral tools such as "Virtual Church." We took advantage of training with the MOCLAN system (A biblical teaching ministry of Moore College, Sydney, Australia). This has born good fruit.

·        In 2021, we ordained four deacons. 

·        In 2022, we adopted new Canons.  At the 2019 and 2021 Synods, we reconfigured the work of the Diocese into Pastoral Regions with the elected regional coordinators. These made up The PASTORAL COUNCIL that was created. This Consejo Pastoral joins the Bishop in discerning necessary decisions. We also formalized a system of biblical-pastoral-theological formation with MOCLAN. We created a FORMATION PLAN with three levels:

·        Level 1. Formation in local congregations

·        Level 2. Courses with MOCLAN

·        Level 3. Special training at the Anglican Seminary in Chile

In 2023, the Lord gave me a new Word from Paul's own experience regarding Timothy, and we then developed the TIMOTHY PLAN.  This is a plan by which the local congregations and their clergy discern people who might have a call to ministry.  The plan then developed a diocesan process whereby people can be mentored and guided. The Timothy Plan has born very good fruit.

"Now I can see with a better Christian vision that Jesus urged us to allow his spirit to call and for a new leadership to emerge."

The first significant result of this new direction was the ordination on January 6, 2024, of four priests and fourteen deacons. At the time I wrote this - "It was a deeply emotional service– many tears were shed in joy and sweet gratitude for the love and blessing of God being active in the diocese. Those attending overflowed into the parish hall as we could not seat everyone in the Cathedral.  At times the congregation exploded with exhilaration as we sang, prayed, clapped, and shouted our approbation and praise. God is doing something new in the Diocese of Peru. I was there as Dean of the Cathedral. This was emotional, exciting and faith building."

At this years’ service on August 30, 2025, we consecrated a new bishop-coadjutor, two priests, two deacons and commissioned fourteen lay ministers. The focus continues to be one of building ministry leaders for the future. Bishop Victor will eventually succeed Bishop Jorge as diocesan. Bishop Victor's initial ministry as suffragan will be to bring episcopal ministry to a southern missionary area centered in Arequipa, Peru's second largest city.

At the service on August 30th, the two who were ordained priests had been ordained deacons in January 2024 (One other had been ordained a priest in January 2025). The two ordained as deacons were previously licensed lay ministers. I am especially excited about the fourteen commissioned as lay ministers. Bishop Jorge's timeline shows how the diocese planned to develop its ministry to make disciples for Christ - Peru's "sheep without a shepherd" now have both a shepherd and a leadership team all of whom serve under the lordship of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We as a diocese have a vision and a process for discernment, formation and training. We are developing clergy and lay leadership. The consecration of Bishop Victor was specifically to create a stable episcopal succession as well as to give local oversight in the southern missionary area.

FOOTNOTE. Bishop Jorge, the Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Council initiated in May of 2025 a process that harnesses retired clergy as mentors and counselors. We will participate in the life of the Diocese of Peru by coming alongside the parish clergy to give support and counsel, especially to the younger clergy. We will also participate in the councils of the Church.  Bishop Jorge had initiated a collegial style of leadership back in 2016. This will continue using the wisdom of his retired clergy. I am honored to have been named to this ministry.

Fr. Ian Montgomery is a SAMS Missionary and Associate Missionary to Peru, 2008 - present day