News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. February 20, 2002 [2002-044-1]
Washington office offers training for poverty activists
(ENS) The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations will participate in a consultation on domestic poverty reducing programs, to be held in Washington, D.C. March 13-15.
In 2002, the U.S. Congress must reauthorize three critical domestic poverty reducing programs that serve families and children living in poverty in the United States: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Food Stamp Program and the Child Care Development Block Grant.
The General Convention of the Episcopal Church and the Executive Council have passed a number of resolutions supporting these programs, including a 1997 resolution (A050a) which directed the Office of Government Relations to "urge members of Congress to be responsible for the passage of welfare reform legislation which would aid poor people rather than penalize them and to increase funding for welfare programs."
The Episcopal Church is a member communion with the National Council of Churches of Christ, the sponsor of the event. Staff from the Office of Government Relations and from the Episcopal Church Center in New York will participate and lead some of the programs and events planned. Participants will have an opportunity to receive media and lobby training and issue briefings, meet with legislators and staff on Capitol Hill to advocate for poverty reducing programs, and develop strategies for congressional debate and grassroots activities at home.
Registration for TANF Action Days for Poverty Reduction is $50 and includes the cost of materials and dinner on Wednesday and lunch on Thursday. The National Council of Churches website includes a page on reauthorization of TANF and related programs that is frequently updated at www.nccusa.org/publicwitness/tanf.html. Deadline for registration is March 5, 2002. To register, contact the Office of Government Relations at 1-800-228-0515 or email kbull@episcopalchurch.org.
Zimbabwe police arrest Anglican clergyman for public peace prayers
(SAPA) The South African Press Association reports that Zimbabwean police on February 16 arrested 11 people, including an Anglican clergyman, at a meeting held in the western city of Bulawayo to pray for peace in the run-up to next month's presidential elections in Zimbabwe.
Church officials told the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in South Africa that the Rev. Noel Scott from the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe and other church leaders from all denominations were headed for regular prayer sessions when Scott was arrested.
An ACDP statement said that Scott had earlier asked for permission for the "Peace Prayer Procession" but police denied him permission, citing what they called "unruly elements" which could disrupt the session.
A SAPA correspondent reported that the church leaders were charged under security laws with "disobeying the command of a police officer," which carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.
The ACDP said the Zimbabwean church leaders notified the party of the arrests in a letter which stated: "What usually happens is that here in Hillside, the prayers begin at the Catholic Church, after a church service and prayers, everybody then walks on foot in procession to the next church which has been the Anglican Church.
"The procession, involving hundreds of people, then walks onto the next church which has been the Presbyterian Church. From there the final leg of the peace/prayer walk ends at the Methodist Church."
After Scott was denied permission to lead the churchgoers to walk to various churches, the members decided to drive. Police then arrested Scott and charged him with failing to comply with the prohibition.
David Coltart, an MP in the city for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, told SAPA that the arrested were detained at the Bulawayo central police station.
The ACDP, however, said church leaders in Zimbabwe had been denied access to Scott, who has a heart condition which requires medication three times a day.
Those arrested along with Scott were: the Rev. Graham Shaw of the Methodist Church, the Rev. Kevin O' Doherty of the Roman Catholic Church, Peter Botright, Ron Marillier, Trevor Leonard, Palany Rojah, David Marolong, Barry Dickenson, as well as John Stakesby and his wife Joan, who are both teachers at Girls College.
Borsch named interim dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale
(ENS) Retired Los Angeles bishop Frederick H. Borsch has been appointed interim dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and associate dean of Yale University Divinity School, beginning March 1, 2002.
Chris Sonne, chairman of the Berkeley board of trustees, said, "I am thrilled that Bishop Fred Borsch has agreed to serve as interim dean. He brings extraordinary qualifications as a prominent Episcopal Church leader, scholar, administrator and pastor. I can think of no person better equipped to lead Berkeley during this time of transition."
The Rev. Rebecca Chopp, dean of Yale Divinity School, said, "I am delighted to welcome Bishop Borsch as interim dean of Berkeley and associate dean at Yale Divinity School. Bishop Borsch brings wonderful pastoral skills, strong links to the Episcopal Church and connections to other denominations, expertise in the world of theological education and a great commitment to the education of leaders for the church. I look forward to working closely with him."
Borsch, a specialist in New Testament studies, taught at the University of Birmingham, Seabury-Western Seminary, the General Theological Seminary and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, where he served as dean and president from 1972-81. Prior to his election as bishop of Los Angeles in 1988, he was dean of the chapel and religious life and professor of religion at Princeton University. He is the author or editor of 16 books and numerous articles, and has written extensively on contemporary issues in theological education and the ministry.
A member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature, Borsch served as chair of the theology committee of the House of Bishops from 1988-2000. He co-founded the Los Angeles Interfaith Environmental Council and has held numerous leadership positions within local, national and international charities and organizations.
New York PBS affiliate honors Phoebe Griswold for 'making a difference'
(ENS) Phoebe Griswold, wife of Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, was among the "Women Who Make a Difference" honored at WLIW21 New York Public Television's sixth annual Awards in Excellence Gala, held February 13, 2002 at the Garden City Hotel.
Griswold was honored as Humanitarian of the Year for 2002. Other honorees included the popular British singer Petula Clark (PBS Entertainer of the Year); Nina Lewis Demuth, president, PDA Foundation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Inc. (Excellence in Community Leadership); Janice Reals Ellig, corporate executive and co-author of "What Every Successful Woman Knows: 12 Breakthrough Strategies to Get the Power and Ignite Your Career" (Excellence in Economic Development); and Connie Schwartz, director and chief curator of the Nassau County Museum of Art (Excellence in the Cultural Arts).
"These extraordinary women embody the mission of public television with contributions to our community in the arts, business, education and volunteerism," said WLIW21 president and general manager Terrel L. Cass. "Their leadership and accomplishments are an inspiration to us all."
A one-hour broadcast with highlights of the evening airs in New York on Thursday, February 21st at 10:00 PM and Sunday, February 24th at 4:30 PM. WLIW21 New York is the fourth most-watched public television station in the United States, reaching a weekly audience of 1.9 million households.
Episcopal bishop featured in previews of new TV version of 'The Protestant Hour'
(ENS) Two special previews of a new television version of "The Protestant Hour" will be broadcast March 3 and March 24 on the Hallmark Channel's "America at Worship" Sunday morning programming block.
The featured speaker for the two programs is the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, bishop of Atlanta. Comments from representatives of other participating denominations are also featured.
"America at Worship" is broadcast from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays, and "The Protestant Hour" segment will be included in the 10:00 hour. The Hallmark Channel is available on many cable systems and DirecTV and reaches 43.5 million homes.
"The Protestant Hour," a cooperative outreach of the Episcopal Media Center, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Methodist Church, is in its 57th year of ecumenical radio broadcasts. The TV version, produced in association with Faith and Values Media, will begin airing on a weekly basis this summer.
Education program focuses on seeing the unseen and exploring hard questions
(ENS) Summer continuing education programs at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin will focus on seeing the unseen and exploring hard questions with which the Episcopal Church and many other denominations are struggling.
Nora Gallagher, noted author of "Things Seen and Unseen: A Year Lived in Faith," will team with visual artist Marie Schoeff in presenting "Seeing the Unseen" during morning sessions. The Rev. William Seth Adams, liturgics and Anglican studies professor at the seminary, will engage participants in a discussion of three current and difficult theological issues during the afternoon.
Writer Gallagher and painter Schoeff will lead drawing and writing exercises to explore ways to observe and honor the sacred within and around us. The focus is on the process of seeing, not on creating a product. Adams' offering, "Hard Questions: Whatever to Say?" centers on three current issues that express themselves in liturgical terms: lay presidency at the Eucharist, the blessing of same-sex unions, and the question as to who is welcome at the Eucharistic table.
Registration deadline for the June 3-7 continuing education program is May 28. Detailed descriptions of the offerings are available at www.etss.edu/ConEd02.html.