News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. March 13, 2001 [2001-62]
Lutheran Bishops Endorse Proposed By-law on Exceptions to Ordination Rule
(ELCA) The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America endorsed language for a proposed by-law to the church's constitution that could allow for possible exceptions to the current ordination procedures and complicate implementation of the full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church.
The by-law change attempts to respond to some Lutherans who remain opposed to provisions in "Called to Common Mission," the full communion agreement implemented last January 1, especially the provision that bishops must preside at all ordinations. In the past, Lutheran bishops could designate another pastor to preside at an ordination and the by-law would allow a synodical bishop to make that exception "for pastoral reasons in unusual circumstances." The by-law would require the synod bishop to consult with the ELCA presiding bishop and seek the advice of the synod council before making such a decision.
The wording of the by-law was originally proposed by the ELCA Church Council last November and offered to the church for discussion. The council is expected to discuss the by-law at its April 6-8 meeting and may send it for action to next summer's Churchwide Assembly, which has the authority to implement it. It would require a two-thirds majority vote. "The worst possible outcome is for the by-law not to be adopted and the church therefore have no guidelines for how it will handle those who feel they must dissent," said Bishop Ted Schneider of the Metropolitan Washington DC Synod. The by-law should not be seen as a "rear guard action to undo what the church has done in adopting CCM," added Bishop Peter Rogness of the Greater Milwaukee Synod.
Canadian churches call for Middle East peace settlement
(Anglican Journal) A broad coalition of church leaders representing nine Canadian churches has called for a peace settlement in the Middle East that would guarantee "peaceful existence within secure borders" for both Israelis and Palestinians.
"Palestinians have the right to exist in peace and freedom in an internationally recognized homeland and state" and Israel has an equal right to exist in peace and security, said the leaders from Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox, Baptist, Presbyterian churches and the United Church of Canada.
"We believe that the rights, which apply to one people, must also apply to the other," their statement said. They also called for dialogue "to keep Jerusalem open and accessible to the three faiths that hold it sacred, and to all residents of the region who see it as the centre for their livelihood and identity." The leaders expressed appreciation for the humanitarian assistance Canada has provided and said, "We believe that Canada can play a significant leadership role in the search for peace."
Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry exceeds capital campaign goal
(ENS) Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania has announced the completion of its "Such Faith" capital campaign. The $13.4 million received in donations and pledges exceeded the 1999-2000 goal by $1 million. In addition, the campaign raised $3 million in deferred gifts.
"We are so grateful to those in the Episcopal community who believe in our mission of training ordained and lay leaders in the evangelical and orthodox tradition," said the Rev. Peter Moore, dean and president of the seminary. "This is a sign of God's hand at work here at Trinity as we continue preparing and forming our students for ministry and mission."
The monies will help the seminary to:
· triple funds available for scholarship assistance;
· expand the library facility into a state-of-the-art library/academic center, including four new classrooms equipped with modern educational technology;
· enrich the Stanway Institute for World Mission and Evangelism;
· fund new offerings for faculty and students including the expansion of the Extension Ministries Program.
George Gallup, chairperson of the campaign, said, "God calls students to Trinity who are enthusiastic, intelligent, and have a zeal for Christ. Because of the campaign, we will be able to provide scholarship assistance to these faithful people who are preparing for ministry."
Sewanee Church Music Conference set for July
(ENS) The 52nd annual Sewanee Church Music Conference will be held July 9-15 at the University of the South and the DuBose Conference Center in Sewanee and Monteagle, Tennessee.
The conference, which offers continuing education in church music and attracts organists, choir directors, and clergy from across the country, has commissioned new music from American composers Dale Wood and David Ashley White.
During the conference, concerts will be held in the newly consecrated Chapel of the Apostles on the Sewanee campus. They will feature the Schola Cantorum of Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. John Fenstermaker, organist of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and Dr. Stephen Hamilton, minister of music at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, in New York City.
Conference classes will include choral rehearsal techniques, rehearsal and performance techniques for chanting, organ improvisation, organ repertoire, and conducting from the console.
Reading sessions will be offered featuring anthems as well as hymn-based organ and liturgical repertoire.
For further information visit the conference's web site at http://www.sewaneeconf.com
Kasper appointed head of Pontifical Council for Unity
(ENI) On March 3 Pope John Paul announced the retirement of Cardinal Edward I. Cassidy as head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 1989 and named Cardinal Walter Kasper as his successor.
Kasper has served as the pontifical council's secretary for the past two years. In January, he was named as one of the new members of the College of Cardinals. Kasper was an assistant to Hans Kung at the University of Tubingen, and from 1970 to 1989 he was professor of dogmatic theology. He has written many books on theology and in 1989 he was appointed Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart.
Kasper is widely regarded as progressive in his views. In an interview in with Die Furche magazine, he expressed doubts about the presentation and interpretation last year of the Vatican document Dominus Iesus which stated that the churches which grew out of the Reformation of the 16th century were not in fact "churches in the proper sense."
"That affirmation offended other people," he said, "and if my friends are offended, then so am I. It's an unfortunate affirmation-clumsy and ambiguous." He added that the section of Dominus Iesus on the Protestant churches was written in "abstract, doctrinaire language, which in some ways excludes [others.] The tone is not appropriate."
Regarding Kasper's appointment, Dr. Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said, "Cardinal Kasper comes to this central position of ecumenical leadership in the Roman Catholic Church with broad pastoral experience and sensitivity and after a distinguished career as a theological teacher." "His competence will be an asset for our work together. We look forward to his leadership and inspiration in the years ahead."
Joint prayer service planned for Easter Sunday
(ENI) Members of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches in South Korea will meet for a combined prayer service for Christian unity on Easter Sunday, April 15.
The committee for church unity of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), along with the Korean Catholic Bishops' Committee for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue, the Korean Orthodox Church, and Korean Lutheran Church, have agreed to hold a Common Easter Prayer for Christian Unity on Easter Sunday at the Korean Orthodox Cathedral in Seoul.
Many Orthodox churches follow a different calendar from Protestant and Catholic churches that in most years, have differing dates for Easter. But this year the dates coincide.
Churches in South Korea have been engaged in discussions about unity for many years, particularly in annual preparations for the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity." This year's Easter prayer is a direct result of those long-term discussions.
The prayer meeting, which has the support of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomeos I, is expected to last about 90 minutes.
Kim Dong-wan, the general secretary of NCCK, said, "I hope this Common Prayer will be held every year, and also hope all Christians in the world celebrate Easter on the same day from this year on."
Media Fellowship International brings God to the press
(Maranatha Christian Journal) Media Fellowship International (MFI), a nondenominational, evangelical ministry that reaches secular media and entertainment professionals worldwide for Christ, was on hand after a 15-year-old gunman opened fire on his classmates March 5 at Santana High School in Santee, California.
Many of the area churches are doing their part to help the community heal, but MFI's mission is to help the media that deal with tragedies like these all too often.
MFI sets up shop around the nation wherever breaking news happens.
In Santee, they set up a hospitality booth to provide free food, hot coffee and a place for working members of the press to gather.
"A lot of people don't really think about the news media as needing help," said Bob Rieth, executive director of MFI. "But they do.
We provide a non-threatening environment for the working press to be exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"No matter how stoic reporters may look on camera, they go through the same emotions that the rest of us do," Rieth said. "They are just human beings."
Through MFI, the working press at the Santana shootings received free counseling along with their coffee and pastries. "There was one reporter on the first day that used our facilities to quietly call home and talk to his teenage son who had just gotten off school," Rieth said. "And there was another cameraman last night who walked into our hospitality suite looking dazed. He told us that this was his fourth school shooting. It was taking its toll on the man."
Reith and his team of volunteers work around the clock to offer prayers and a sense of community among the secular media.
Michelle Locke, an Associated Press reporter from Berkeley, noted that she appreciated the nondenominational aspect of the ministry. "These guys are doing a work that we need among our journalism crowd," she said. "And it's nice to know they just care."