News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. May 14, 2002 [2002-120-1]
Poll finds Canada may be experiencing a period of spiritual renewal
(ENI) A recent survey by Canada's foremost religion pollster suggests that the country may be experiencing a period of spiritual renewal--one not limited to churchgoers.
A survey of 3,500 Canadians revealed that weekly church attendance had increased, the core membership had stabilized, and those who attend church infrequently were not "deserting the ship." The trend was particularly obvious among mainline Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Canada, and Roman Catholic churches.
"If we use cold marketing language, there has been a demand for religion," said Reginald Bibby who teaches sociology at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. He has monitored religious trends in Canada every five years since the 1970s. His most recent survey suggests that a 30-year downward trend in church attendance has been halted and that attendance of youth has rebounded.
More than 80 percent of those polled said that they believe in God, 75 percent prayed at least occasionally, 73 percent admitted to having spiritual needs, 68 percent believe in life after death, and 65 percent believe in heaven.
"God continues to do well in the polls," said Bibby. He admitted that he was surprised by the recent results because earlier surveys had pointed to a waning religious influence in Canada. "Groups like the United Church and the Anglicans may be joining the evangelicals in experiencing revitalization," he said. The renewed interest among youth may be the result of direct efforts by the churches to reach out. "Religious groups are doing a much more aggressive job of targeting and ministering to young people," according to Bibby. "Churches are making youth ministry, ministry to young adults and to children, a much higher priority than in the past."
St. George's in Jerusalem offering special youth program
(ENS) In spite of the violence that grips Israel and the West Bank, St. George's College and the pastorate committee of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem are sponsoring s special "education for peace" initiative for Jewish, Christian and Muslim children.
In early July a group of 12 Palestinian and Israeli youth, aged 11 and 12, will travel to Texas to be special guests at Camp Allen, an Episcopal summer camp and conference center near Houston, in a program called "Kids4Peace 2002." They will explore each other's realities, traditions, languages and dreams, according to an announcement. Planners hope that, in the neutral and supportive atmosphere of the summer camp, the youth can escape the tensions of their world and lay the foundation for their role as "pioneers of peace," showing the way to a better and more peaceful future in the land they share.
It is hoped that follow-up projects, involving the parents of the youth, and future "education for peace" initiatives will determine the real value of the program in the long term, according to Henry Carse, director of special programs at the college, and the Rev. Suheil Dawani of the cathedral staff. They point out that the staff and parents share a common commitment that recognizes that youth are tomorrow's leaders and that education for peace can turn the hearts of the people in the Holy Land toward a just and peaceful resolution of the current conflict.
More information on the program is available on the web site of the college and cathedral or the independent website at www.kids4peace.org.
Survey reveals Americans want government to be even-handed in Middle East conflict
(ENS) A survey released May 8, shortly after Congress passed resolutions expressing support for Israel's incursions into the West Bank, show that the American public wants its government to be more even-handed in the conflict--and only 22 percent believe that it currently plays that role.
The poll of 801 people by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) found that both the Israelis and Palestinians are equally to blame for the current situation with over 60 percent in favor of withholding aid to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority if they fail to agree to a cease-fire and return to the negotiating table.
Only 17 percent of those who responded see Israel's conflict with the Palestinians as part of the war on terrorism launched by the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11. About 63 percent also endorsed President George W. Bush's call for Israel to withdraw.
"What this poll makes clear is that recent actions by Congress are out of step with the American public and their views on the crisis in the Middle East," said Steven Kull, director of PIPA. "Americans clearly hold both sides equally responsible for the current situation and are willing to increase pressure on both sides to achieve a peace deal." An overwhelming 82 percent support an international conference to reach a peace agreement.
About 76 percent reject suicide bombings as a legitimate form of resistance but 62 percent also think that Israel's recent actions have increased the likelihood that the bombings will continue.
'Green Patriarch' honored for his environmental work
(ENI) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, has been honored by a Norwegian foundation for his work on environmental issues.
The patriarch received the Sophie Prize in recognition of his "pioneering efforts in linking faith to the environment," said the announcement from the Sophie Foundation. Bartholomeos, who became patriarch in 1991, has been called "the green patriarch" because of his environmental concerns.
The foundation's announcement said that the patriarch "has spoken out against injustice and inequity, challenging the present economic globalization that widens the gap between rich and poor and leads to excessive consumption."
The prize, which carries a stipend of $100,000, was established in 1997 by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder, author of the best-selling novel, "Sophie's World." It is awarded annually to an individual or group that has promoted alternatives to prevailing models of development.
"The name sophie means wisdom. Although we knew nothing about the patriarch before the nomination, the more we learned the more certain we became that he was the right recipient," said Anette Langtvet, director of the foundation. She said that she hoped the honor would encourage other church leaders to "make environmental concern part of their faith."
African Lutheran leaders confess past sins in dealing with AIDS
(ENI) Lutheran church leaders in Africa have publicly acknowledged the serious shortcomings in the response of their churches to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
At a recent meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, they condemned the role played by the church in stigmatizing and discriminating against those who are living with the disease, admitting that "our churches have not always been safe or welcome places."
In repenting of those sins, the church leaders said in a statement at the end of the meeting, "In some cases Holy Communion has been refused to people living with HIV/AIDS, funerals of people having died from AIDS have been denied and comfort to the bereaved has not been given."
Organized by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the meeting included bishops, presidents, pastors and youth leaders from 27 member churches in Africa, as well as participants from Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.
Bishops from Zimbabwe and South Africa, with some of the world's highest infection rates, urged the conference to support the use of condoms as a way to avoid AIDS. In the past many church leaders have argued that promoting the use of condoms means promoting promiscuity.
"The fact that the infection rate keeps rising in most of our countries is a sign that a large number of people are not heeding our message of abstinence from sex before marriage and faithfulness in marriage in obedience to the will of God," noted Bishop Ambrose Moyo of Zimbabwe where at least 2,000 people die each week of AIDS-related illnesses. "Many choose to disobey but their lives are also very precious before God."
Bishop A.N. Phaswana of South Africa reported that between 4.7 and 6 million people in his country are living with the disease--and as many as 53 percent of the mothers receiving prenatal care in Soweto's largest hospital were HIV positive. He urged his colleagues to take practical steps to teach their congregations about the value of nutrition in helping those who are infected, pointing to a link between HIV and poverty.
The LWF on May 6 announced the launch of a Global Campaign against HIV/AIDS. "Silence and all forms of myths about the reality of HIV/AIDS amount to an affront of what God has achieved for us in Christ," said Dr. Ishmael Noko, LWF general secretary.
Study finds 'generational' shift to Protestantism among Hispanics
(RNS) A major new study has found that while a strong majority of Latinos in the United States are Roman Catholic, there has been a generational shift to Protestantism. But the study also found that Hispanic Catholics and Protestants shared many of the same views on public issues.
According to the study, "Hispanic Churches in American Public Life," the number of Protestants in the American Hispanic population increased from 18 percent to 32 percent across three generations while the number of Catholics declined from 74 to 59 percent over the same period. Overall, 71 percent of Hispanics are Catholic.
The three-year study was funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Pew Charitable Trust and overseen by a group of predominantly Hispanic scholars from major American universities. Researchers said it had a margin of error of 1.1 percent.
Some Hispanic members of the audience attending the May 3-4 conference in Washington, DC, at which the report was released attributed the shift to aggressive outreach efforts by Protestant churches and more opportunities for youth involvement.
Despite the shifts, however, Hispanic Catholics and Protestants share similar views on issues such as education, the public role of the church and the role of women in the church. Most Protestants and Catholics who were asked about prayer in schools said they support such a policy. In a separate question, a large number of respondents from both groups voiced support for school vouchers to be used at private schools.
Fifty-six percent of Protestants and 49 percent of Catholics surveyed agreed women should be ordained into the ministry. Additionally, at least half of the respondents surveyed from both groups said the church should be more involved in public life. In other findings, the study found 94 percent of Latinos identify themselves as Christian and 45 percent said they attend religious services once a week or more.
Delbecq challenges church leaders to conversation on spirituality of organizations
(ECF) The decentralized business world of the future highlights the need for leaders who are not just trained in business techniques, but spiritually formed as well.
That's what Dr. Andre Delbecq told trustees and friends of the Episcopal Church Foundation at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California on May 2. Delbecq, professor at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, is also a member of the advisory board of the Business Leadership and Spirituality Network (BLSN).
"My experience with senior business leaders has taught me they are both salt and light in their organizations," Delbecq said. "They have accepted the Great Commission and are fulfilling it where they work."
Delbecq described the business environment of the new global economy as one where creativity and authority exists, not at the center of a command and control hierarchy, but in the edges--on the production line and at the junction of customer and customer service. For the first time since the beginning of the Industrial Age, he said, employers need employees who bring "whole selves" to work--employees who are creative, who take responsibility for the quality of products, and who care about the mission of their organizations as much as they do.
Delbecq observed that 88% of the adult population spends the majority of their time at work. "The contemporary workplace is where one finds the neighbor Christ calls us to love," he said. "It is the new neighborhood. People do not leave their faith at home when they go to work."
Delbecq challenged the Episcopal Church Foundation to confront the question of how the Church may enter into more meaningful and constructive dialogue with business leaders who are seeking guidance as they address the challenge of spirituality and business leadership.
Congregational survey profiles US worshipers
(ENS) The results of a survey of 300,000 worshipers in over 2,000 congregations in the United States show that two out of every 100 people sitting in worship services are attending that congregation for the first time.
The U.S. Congregational Life Survey, released in April, showed that 10% of U.S. congregations draw 50% of all worshipers each week, while another 40% of congregations have 39% of worshipers attending services each week. The remaining 50% of all congregations have only 11% of the total number of worshipers in any given week. The average Roman Catholic parish has 375 attending Mass each week; other denominations and faith traditions average only 84 in worship each week.
The typical worshiper is female, 50 years old, employed, well educated, and married. Average worshipers are well educated, tend to be "good neighbors" and "good citizens." About 83% of those in the pews attend almost every week, and most worshipers connect with their congregation primarily during worship services. Fewer men attend worship than women. Large percentages of worshipers are not currently living in a traditional 2-parent household and most (53%) do not have children living at home. Married couples with children are the "minority profile" in congregations, as they are in the general U.S. population.
The majority of worshipers (63%) spend at least a few times a week in private devotional activities things like reading the Bible or other devotional materials, praying, or meditating. Half of all worshipers (55%) say they have experienced much growth in their faith in the last year, and the number one reason worshipers give for their growth in faith is their participation in the congregation.
The turnover rate in the average congregation is fairly high: 7% of all new people are participating in a congregation for the first time; 18% formerly participated and are returning to worship attendance. Another 18% switched their religious affiliation from one denomination or faith group to another, and 57% of move membership from one congregation to another of the same faith group. Transfers and switchers together make up 75% of new people and 21% of all worshipers. This means that 21% of worshipers changed congregations in the last five years.
Newcomers are less likely to be involved in small groups, serving in a leadership role, or taking part in outreach, evangelism, community service, or advocacy activities. They are just as likely as long-term participants to give 10% or more, but more likely to give small amounts of money whenever they attend. They are younger than the average worshiper by eight years, and working full- or part-time is more common. About 40% hold college degrees or more advanced degrees. They are more likely than long-time worshipers to have never married or to be remarried after divorce.
U.S. participants completed the U.S. Congregational Life Survey during worship services in April 2001. The survey was conducted by U.S. Congregations, a religious research group housed in the offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Louisville, Kentucky. Participating congregations came from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist Church, Southern Baptist Convention, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, Roman Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist, and Church of the Nazarene.