News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. April 19, 2002 [2002-100-1]
NCC delegation begins mission to Mideast
(NCCC/USA) Embarking on a 12-day journey to visit those people affected by the violence occurring in Palestine and Israel, 14 American church leaders spent the first day of the journey in preparation and by meeting with Orthodox Church leaders in Istanbul, Turkey.
The U.S. delegation, headed by Dr. Bob Edgar (United Methodist), general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), and by Elenie Huszagh (Greek Orthodox), the president of the NCC, received first the advice and blessing of His All Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and spiritual leader of more than 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reminded the group that he had met last month in Washington with President Bush and Secretary of State Powell. The patriarch expressed his concern for the American people in the wake of the September 11 disaster. "Last month I visited Ground Zero and I prayed...and I spoke on the meaning of our common prayer." This led Edgar of the NCC to conclude, "So it is in prayer that we Americans come now to express our concern for, and our solidarity with, the peoples of the Middle East."
The U.S. delegation leaves on Friday, April 19, for Beirut, where the group will be hosted by the Middle East Council of Churches and have meetings with religious and political leaders, including Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. The group will then continue on to Syria and Jordan and has scheduled meetings with Syrian president Bashar Al Assad and King Abdullah of Jordan before arriving in the West Bank and Israel on April 23.
Episcopal GenXers to gather for 'unConventional' time
(ENS) The Episcopal Church's "Generation X"--those born 1961-1981--will converge on Indianapolis, Indiana, for "Gathering the neXt Generation (GTNG) 2002 National Gathering: Equipping ourselves for lifelong ministry together," June 20-22 at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis, with a special pre-conference day for Episcopal GenX clergy only on June 19.
This conference by, for, and with GenXers and their friends promises an "unConventional time" and the opportunity for GenXers to connect and "be church," according to conference organizers. Daily worship and Bible studies will be offered in a variety of styles. Featured speaker for the Gathering is Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold.
Nearly two dozen workshops are planned, including sessions on finding vocation and the "heart" experience of being a priest or deacon; cell groups and church growth; reconciliation and deep nonviolence; the 20/20 movement; spiritual direction using e-mail and chat; how to get out of debt; balancing your checkbook with God in mind; and many more. The Expo area will offer displays and booths from publishers, vestment artists, seminaries, and church-related organizations. Childcare and children's activities will be available. Full conference information, including registration form, fees, online payment, workshops, and hotel reservation instructions, is available at www.gtng.org/conference.html.
Barahona chosen to lead Central American Anglicans
(ENS) Bishop Martín Barahona of El Salvador was chosen as Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of Central America (IARCA) on Sunday, April 14. Barahona, 59, succeeds Bishop Cornelios Wilson of Costa Rica.
The election was held in Guatemala City during the second provincial synod of IARCA, whose motto was "Anglicanism: a challenge in Central America." The election was democratic, carried out in a process in which laity, priests and bishops decided the new course of the province for the next four years.
The installation of Bishop Barahona has been planned for August 24 in San Salvador. All are welcome.
For the Salvadoran bishop this election was the work of the Holy Spirit and his main challenge during this period will be the search for unity and the growth of the Episcopal Church.
El Obispo Martín Barahona de El Salvador fue electo como Obispo Primado de la Iglesia Anglicana de la Región Central de América (IARCA) el pasado domingo 14 de abril. Barahona de 59 años de edad sustituirá al Obispo Cornelios Wilson de Costa Rica.
La elección se llevó a cabo en la ciudad de Guatemala durante el Segundo Sínodo Provincial de IARCA, cuyo lema fue "Anglicanismo: un reto en Centro América". La elección fue democrática, conllevó un proceso en el que laicos,sacerdotes y obispos decidieron el nuevo rumbo de la provincia para los próximos cuatro años.
La instalación del Obispo Barahona se ha programado para el próximo 24 de agosto en la capital salvadoreña. Todos y todas están invitados.
Para el Obispo salvadoreño este elección fue obra del espiritu santo, y su principal reto durante su periódo será la busqueda de la unidad y el crecimiento de la Iglesia Episcopal Anglicana.
US Christian leaders explore new ecumenical body
(ENS) On April 4-6, a group of 37 religious leaders meeting in Chicago adopted a statement entitled "Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A.: An Invitation to a Journey." The statement is part of a conversation between Evangelical, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders about a new ecumenical organization for the 21st century which would include most of the Christian bodies in the US.
"In Baltimore on September 7-8, 2001, we met to pray, to listen and to seek the guidance of God on whether all who confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the scriptures can talk together about how to share with the world our common confession of Jesus Christ," the statement explained. "We continued this prayerful conversation in Chicago on April 4-6 and sensed the Holy Spirit leading us to new possibilities."
Lamenting that "we are divided and that our divisions too often result in distrust, misunderstandings, fear and even hostility between us," the document adds that "our lack of faithfulness to each other has led to a lack of effectiveness on crucial issues of human dignity and social justice...We lament that none of our current organizations represents the full spectrum of Christians in the United States. We long for a place, where our differences could be better understood and our commonalities better affirmed."
'I found this second meeting very exciting," commented Bishop Christopher Epting, deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations for the Episcopal Church. "There seemed to be lots of energy in the room around finding a new form of conciliar ecumenism for the 21st century, perhaps less bureaucratic, more flexible, and more inclusive than the structures we've inherited. The Episcopal Church will certainly want to continue to be part of this conversation.'
The statement invites "all churches who confess Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the scriptures" to join in the effort. There will be a follow-up meeting on January 27-29, at a site to be determined.
Episcopal churches become 'river friendly'
(ENS) Ministry on the River's ecumenical River Friendly Church program is attracting Episcopal congregations across the country to join others that minister to mariners on America's inland waterways. Nearly 100 Episcopal congregations are River Friendly Churches.
River mariners perform dangerous work and endure long periods away from home and family, moving millions of tons of valuable cargo. Typically mariners will be away from home for at least six months of the year, disrupting family patterns. Every other Christmas is spent underway. Under the strain of the "home-a-month," "gone-a-month" working routine, marriages are tested, and often damaged. River families endure these hardships without the support systems many take for granted. Their schedule precludes traditional participation in the community.
Ministry on the River and River Friendly Churches provide mariners and their families with pastoral care, counseling, and emergency response onboard and ashore; family support; Bible distribution, worship aids; Pass It On book and video exchange; and the yearly Christmas on the River program. To learn more about becoming a River Friendly Church, e-mail riverministry@seamenschurch.org or call Karen Cox, Ministry Project Coordinator at 270/575-1005.