Scattered around N. Argentina are over 100 rural congregations, all of which are led by their own indigenous pastors.  Each congregation is located in one of fifteen zones.  Each zone is supervised by a Dean, who regularly visits the congregations, often cycling for hours on dirt paths.  The history of the chaco region reads like a tightly packed roster of expeditionary forces, all venturing into the scrub to conquer.  The Argentine army, the white criollo settlers, the oil companies, the big friends of the government and the bean farmers have all tried to make their stake in an area inhabited by various indigenous tribes for centuries.  Still, the Christians in the chaco dwell in an orbit distant to that of Argentina, linked to the "outside world" only by appalling roads and odd telephones.  Many indigenous Anglican believers live a hand-to-mouth existence of hunting and gathering and very few houses have running water or electricity.  Some produce woodcarvings or weave bags, others sell fish or goats.  Nearly all belong to the poorest in the country and recent statistics show that the gap between the rich and poor in Argentina is growing alarmingly.

The City Churches

Our city congregations are relatively new.  Anglican witness in the provincial capitals and in other urban areas continues to grow.   In the university cities a growing number of students attend Anglican churches or are reached through ministries run by the church.  The urban and city churches reach a wide spectrum of social groupings.  Apart from a number of students and professionals, there are also those members who are unemployed or underemployed.  This variety in memberships is also reflected in the background of the leaders that are emerging.  All church leaders face the need to continue in their employment - be it medical doctor, carpenter or construction worker.  The recent economic crisis in Argentina has seriously affected the middle class and urban poverty is worsening.  The diocese is seeking God's leading in taking new steps to combat this deprivation and its social consequences.