News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. November 1, 2001 [2001-316]
Churches divesting from oil company doing business with military regime in Sudan
(ENS) Churches in the US and Canada, including the Episcopal Church USA, are choosing to divest from their investments in Talisman Energy because of its partnership with the military regime in the Sudan. The Khartoum government is accused of genocidal policies against non-Muslims in the southern part of the nation, bombing Christian churches and villages and kidnaping children.
A resolution passed at a recent meeting of the church's Executive Council made it "clear that current oil exploration and extraction activities do not serve human needs in Sudan, but rather enable continued war and genocide." Parishes, dioceses and the Church Pension Plan were urged in the resolution to divest from Talisman Energy as well. The Anglican Church of Canada, Presbyterian Church USA and Lutheran churches are bringing pressure on Talisman, which argues that it is following a policy of "constructive engagement" with the Khartoum regime.
"It is clear that not only do oil revenues allow the Sudanese army to purchase armaments and continue to pay its armed forces, but that the generation of such revenues directly leads to human rights violations," said the Executive Council resolution.
The resolution also makes a direct connection with the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. "Just as this Church disinvested from South Africa and Namibia in 1985--not just to protest against apartheid but also to make a statement that it would not profit from apartheid, this Church undertakes a similar policy with regard to Sudan," it said.
The population of Sudan has suffered during a civil war that has ranged for 34 of the last 45 years, and which has included the religious persecution of Sudanese Christians, the abduction and enslavement of human beings, and attacks on civilian targets.
"This is only the third time that we have chosen to divest rather than seek dialogue with corporations by filing shareholder resolutions," said the Rev. Brian Grieves, director of Peace and Justice Ministries. "We took similar action against South Africa because of its policies of apartheid--and we decided not to hold any investments in tobacco companies. The situation in the Sudan is so serious that we decided that the church must make a public witness," he said.
A report by Amnesty International published in May 2000 concluded that "massive human rights violations by Sudanese security forces, various government-allied militias, and armed opposition groups are clearing linked to foreign companies' oil operations."
Anglican Liturgical Consultation discusses issue of ordination
(ACNS) More than 70 Anglican liturgists representing 30 provinces of the Anglican Communion met in Berkeley in August, discussing ministry and the theology and liturgies of ordination.
The Anglican Liturgical Consultation has been discussing baptism, Eucharist and ministry in recent meetings and concluded the California meeting with a statement making it clear that the theology and practice of ordination is based firmly on the baptismal nature of the church, emphasizing the role of the people of God to be one of ministering to the world in the name of Christ. God bestows a variety of gifts to build the body of Christ and enable its mission and ordained clergy, the statement said, are integral members of the body, called by God and discerned to be signs and animators of Christ's self-giving life and ministry.
Ordained presbyters are called to share with bishops in the oversight of the church, especially in identifying and nurturing the gifts of the Spirit given to the community for the work of ministry.
The consultation noted that the terms "presbyter" and "priest" are both used among Anglicans and both are appropriate. However, the ordination rite should affirm the priesthood of the whole baptized community and the sacramental, pastoral and teaching relationship of clergy to the community.
The consultation stressed that the act of ordination belongs to the community as a whole, with the bishop presiding as the focus of the church's unity. Because an ordination is an ecclesial event in which the church's life and ministry are ordered, it should take place in the context of a Eucharist celebrated at a place and time when all the church's ministries may be most fully represented.
"The conversation around eucharistic food was a moment when representatives from several African provinces made major contributions in what will be an ongoing conversation," said the Rev. Clay Morris, the church's staff director for liturgy and music.
Massachusetts church leaders join Episcopal bishops calling for Palestinian rights
(Boston Globe) Church leaders in Massachusetts are adding their voices to a call by three Episcopal bishops for justice for the Palestinians, although several expressed regrets for the deaths of Jews as well as Palestinians.
"We have to cry as many tears over Jewish deaths as Palestinian deaths," said the Rev. Nancy Taylor of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. "There is brokenheartedness for everyone who gets killed in the Middle East."
Taylor and other church leaders said they are concerned about the plight of Palestinians in light of Israel's raids into several West Bank towns-including Bethlehem. "The bishops did a provocative thing because they were trying to get people to take seriously the urgent situation there." Bishops M. Thomas Shaw, Barbara Harris and Roy Cederholm Jr. demonstrated in front of the Israeli consulate, issuing a statement that the Palestinians are "victims of an injustice that cannot be allowed to continue." They called for international protection for those living in occupied territories.
Bishop Margaret Payne of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America expressed sympathy with the Israeli victims of suicide bombers but said she was dismayed with the destruction of Palestinian homes and the deaths of children.
"I am increasingly convinced that moving toward real justice in that part of the world is going to require United States to understand that there is more than one image of justice in that part of the world-and to understand that we have been participating in the creation of a world where the violence of September 11 is imaginable, and part of that is our support for Israel," added the Rev. William Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Metropolitan Methodios of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Boston said that he believes that "unless a Palestinian state is founded or established soon, that part of the world will have no peace." Cardinal Bernard Law said earlier that the violence in Bethlehem "in a disturbing way appears to be further evidence of the Israeli government's apparent indifference to the concerns of the Christian community and other faith communities." But he also chided the Palestinians for their violence, calling it "equally intolerable."
Jewish leaders in Boston expressed outrage that the Episcopal bishops did not mention the deaths of Jews in the Middle East. "It is painful to think that their moral concerns would not also extend to deliberate acts of terrorism which target teenagers at nightclubs, diners in restaurants, families traveling in their cars, and schoolchildren," said Robert Leikind of the Anti-Defamation League.
"What I'm hearing from Jewish and Christian friends and colleagues is that a shifted focus on the rights of Palestinians may be emerging, and it's possible that will lead to greater criticism of the present government of Israel and that in turn may lead to significant strains between Jews and Christians in this country," said Padraic O'Hare, director of the Center for the study of Jewish-Christian relations at Merrimack College. "I do think there are more Christians taking a second look, or a first clear look, at the rights of Palestinians in the context of the present government of Israel."
Methodist court affirms policy against ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians
(ENS) The highest court of the United Methodist Church has affirmed the denomination's policy that forbids the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians. The nine-member Judicial Council based its decision on its interpretation of the Methodist Book of Discipline. The ruling was in response to a statement by a Seattle lesbian's argument that she is living in a "partnered, covenanted, homosexual relationship with another woman." That statement is sufficient to trigger a review of her clerical status, the court concluded.
At the same time, the court ruled that a bishop cannot depose gay clergy without a full church hearing.
The church's General Conference, which sets its policy, voted last year to underscore its doctrinal position that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching."
An opinion by four members of the council said that the church "is coming to terms with the fact that, in essence, the United Methodist Church has a don't ask, don't tell policy with respect to gay and lesbian clergy." That reality is heightened, they said, "when fair process provisions are overlooked or violated."
Canadian churches urge comprehensive solution to settlement in Indian residential schools lawsuits
(ANS) Reacting to the government's decision to move unilaterally towards a partial solution to resolve claims arising from Indian residential schools, churches are urging that the government seek a comprehensive solution to the issue.
"While the government's offer is a reasonable first step, the solution needed is not just about money," said the Rev. Jim Boyles of the Anglican Church of Canada. "It's about bringing justice to individuals harmed and healing to communities affected."
The churches are urging the government to return to the negotiating table to consider a full and fair solution that will take into account both the ongoing needs of First Nations communities and the need to find alternative ways for some church organizations to meet their financial obligations. "Regrettably, the government didn't even want to discuss our proposal," said the Rev. David Iverson of the United Church of Canada, who argued that a mediator might be necessary. "Former students deserve it, the churches need it, and surely the government has a broader obligation than to simply wash its hands of the matter."
In the meantime, Iverson noted, churches affected will continue to participate together with representatives of aboriginal people in the design of alternative resolution processes, pay claims as they are decided by the courts or in settlement agreements, and support programs focusing on healing and reconciliation within native communities.