THE election of a Canadian as the next Bishop of Uruguay has been ratified by the Province of the Southern Cone of America, ten months after it was originally rejected. The House of Bishops of the Southern Cone has voted to allow the Ven. Dr Michael Pollesel, former general secretary of the Anglican Church of Canada, to serve as Bishop Coadjutor.

A visit by the secretary-general of the Anglican Communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon, helped to find a resolution. He recommended that a delegation from Uruguay attend the Bishops' meeting.

Dr Pollesel said that at the meeting, "we were able to bring down some defensive walls" and to "build some bridges of understanding and reconciliation".

The small diocese of Uruguay is a liberal diocese in a largely conservative province, and has requested the province to allow it to ordain women to the priesthood. Last year, it asked to be transferred to the Episcopal Church of Brazil (News, 7 December), but the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council found that this was against canon law.