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Executive Council Embraces Changes with Long-term Implications for Church

Episcopal News Service. March 1, 2002 [2002-052]

James Solheim

(ENS) Change was in the air as members of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council gathered in San Antonio February 22. On the agenda were a number of proposals that carried the potential for reshaping the church for years to come.

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), for example, was seeking a change in its corporate status that could mean raising as much as $20 million a year for its work. A Memorandum of Intent, recently passed by the board of the General Theological Seminary, offered a road map that would result in a move of the national offices across town to the GTS campus. A new survey was released that will now be used to establish mission priorities and aid the church's efforts to double participation in parish life by 20/20. Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold laid out a reorganization of the church's ethnic ministries to better serve the 20/20 initiative. And the church elected a new treasurer who reassured the council that prudent fiscal management is making it possible to support the church's mission.

However, council members also heard a sobering report from the task force that has been visiting the three dioceses that do not ordain women to the priesthood and they expressed sadness at the formation of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) and its irregular consecration of bishops in June 2001 in Denver.

In his opening comments, Griswold described events in the life of the church since the council's last meeting in Florida, including his participation in the World Economic Forum, anti-racism hearings in Washington, DC, and a recent visit to the church in Nigeria. While it was difficult to connect in the face of significant cultural differences and even some suspicions, by the end of the visit we developed a deep sense of commonality, he said. The visit underscored Griswold's conclusion that we must always speak and act recognizing the global implications. He concluded that the visit was another example of God in Christ meeting me in a completely different way.

Reorganizing ethnic ministries

In announcing the reorganization of ethnic ministries, Griswold said that the change comes as part of a strategic thinking process that is seeking to align the work of the staff with the mission energies of the broader church. He added that it has become clear that our best energies in seeking to serve the ethnic communities need to be focused on congregational development and clergy recruitment, bringing it in line with the vision of 20/20, the mission energies around the church, and the demographics of our nation.

The result is creation of a new grouping to be called Ethnic Congregational Development with a new director who will report to the assistant to the presiding bishop for program, Sonia Francis. New job descriptions have been prepared for positions serving African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic and Native American communities.

In its capacity as the board of directors for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, the council approved the incorporation of ERD as a separate not-for-profit corporation.

In outlining the rationale, ERD says that the change will allow ERD to receive matching gifts from foundations and corporations that do not fund churches, to solicit funds from a broader audience of philanthropic institutions and from individuals who prefer that their contributions go directly to humanitarian activities, not through a church. The change will also strengthen the operation and accountability of ERD.

A memorandum of understanding outlines the relationship of ERD to the church, including the nomination and election of board members and a commitment to work collaboratively with the Episcopal Church within the context of the priorities and programs of the church and collaboration on all fundraising activities. ERD staff will be employed by DFMS and seconded to ERD, subject to the church's personnel policies.

Bishop Robert Tharp, who chairs the ERD board, assured council members that ERD will continue to be connected in a very direct way with the church.

Church Center move?

The council also approved a Memorandum of Intent (text available at http://www. gts.edu) between the church and the General Theological Seminary that constitutes an expression of the current interest and intent of both parties to move ahead while not legally binding either. The memorandum already approved by the board of GTS, moves us to the next stage of the initiative, according to Russ Palmore of Virginia, one of the six members of the committee that produced the memorandum.

We are still on board and think this can work, said Dall Forsythe of New York, another member of the committee who made the presentation to council. The train is moving down the tracks but will make some stops when either party can get off.

In the first phase, already underway, both parties are evaluating their space requirements, reviewing ownership options and budgets. The next stage must seek the necessary approvals and create a more binding set of agreements.

Pat Mordecai, assistant to the presiding bishop for administration, said that phase one could be completed by the June meeting of the council and that the approval process in phase two could take 14-18 months. She said that the definitive agreement between the two parties will determine the feasibility of moving forward, barring surprises in the construction bids that are key in phase three.

Enthusiasm on 20/20 initiative

The council welcomed several visitors who had been part of a recent meeting at Camp Allen in Texas on the church's 20/20 initiative to double church participation. Their testimonies evoked considerable enthusiasm among council members.

S. Dylan Breuer of Maryland said that she was encouraged by the diversity at the meeting and the interest of the national church, noting that there is a lot of untapped creativity out there. The Rev. Timothy Jones of Tennessee pointed out that 80 percent of Americans report that they experience the need for spiritual growth, creating an amazing opportunity for the church to meet that spiritual curiosity and hunger.

The 20/20 initiative could change the face of the church, said council member the Rev. Kwasi Thornell of Southern Ohio. We're talking about creating a new church, using new technologies. He urged council members and the whole church to get on board. We can't stop here.

A survey of the church commissioned by the council to provide data for mission priorities and budgeting identified energy fields within key church constituencies, including clergy and laity, bishops, national leaders, and General Convention deputies, that will be useful as the 20/20 initiative unfolds in the coming years. The survey revealed a high level of interest and involvement, with substantial consensus on the role of a church that is ecumenical and socially conscious and a deep interest in ministry to youth and spiritual growth and discipleship.

In presenting the results to the council, John Gilfeather said that the survey provides tremendous building blocks and a foundation for the 20/20 initiative. In response, Richard Miller of Southeast Florida, chair of the administration and finance committee, said that the survey will help council test priorities and make decisions on mission.

Signs of tension

The council heard a sobering report on the visits of task force members to the three dioceses that do not ordain women to the priesthood. A resolution at the Denver General Convention asked council to monitor progress toward full access of women to the ordination process, as required by the canons.

Sarah Harte of New York, a council member who co-chairs the task force, reported that members were greeted with suspicion in the Diocese of San Joaquin. Bishop John David Schofield indicated that he is open to the movement of the Holy Spirit over the ordination issue but he is not currently convinced that the work of the General Convention in revising the canons was, in fact, reflective of the will of the Holy Spirit.

In the Diocese of Ft. Worth, task force members were told that Bishop Jack Iker sees our work as intrusive and negatively reflecting on the life of the diocese, according to Harte. She said that diocesan leaders shared stories of their isolation and what they perceive as persecution from the national church, asking for space, freedom and respect.

Task force members were told that the Diocese of Quincy has two women serving as deacons but that no woman has presented herself yet for ordination. Harte said that it was a good and positive first step in the process and that the task force looks forward to meeting with Quincy bishop Keith Ackerman and diocesan leaders again.

Maintaining unity

Council members unanimously passed a strongly worded statement saying they were saddened and grieved that the Anglican Mission in America consecrated several bishop in Denver in June 2001.

In spite of the differences of opinion on issues confronting our church today, we are of one mind and heart in our concern for the unity of the church, the statement said. The council said it recognized its responsibility to address the inherent danger which comes from schism, whether it be as a body which departs from the Episcopal Church or from another province of the Anglican Communion. We find the coexistence of parallel bodies within one province, both claiming to be in communion with the See of Canterbury, to be untenable.

The statement said that bishops of our church who participate in these irregular ordinations are doing so in direct violation of their ordination vows to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church and to guard our church's faith, unity and discipline, as well as its constitutions and canons. All members of council present at the time signed the statement.

In other actions the council:

-heard a stimulating report on the host Diocese of West Texas, its ministries and commitments, by Bishop James Folts;

-called on Congress and the Administration to pass meaningful conservation-based legislation consistent with the long-standing belief that we are stewards of God's creation, responsible for its care and preservation and stated again the church's opposition to drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge;

-reaffirmed its commitment to reduce poverty in America, calling on the government to help the working poor move out of poverty, improve its networks of programs to reduce the numbers of those living in poverty, and mobilize the church to support programs to reduce poverty;

-elected Ralph L. O'Hara treasurer of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA;

-welcomed the inauguration of Churches Uniting in Christ, a nine-member organization succeeding the Consultation on Church Union;

-received reports from covenant committees dealing with relationships with Central America and Liberia; and

-clarified the role of the Episcopal Council on Indigenous Ministry as a committee of the Executive Council.

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