News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. July 3, 2003 [2003-154-A]
European church assembly closes with call for worldwide sharing
(ENI) A major gathering of European churches has ended with a call from the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, for a sharing of resources between peoples of the northern and southern hemispheres.
"In the global economy, it is not enough for the prosperous world and its trading systems to say: 'We want to bring you into the market; we want to make life better for you,'" said Williams on July 2 in Trondheim, Norway, at the 12th assembly of the Conference of European Churches.
"There has to be some way of saying, 'We are hungry and thirsty for your welfare; we are not ourselves, not fully human, without you,'" said Williams, leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, in a sermon at the assembly's closing worship service in Trondheim, an ancient centre of Christianity in Norway.
At the open-air service near the banks of the River Nidelven, which divides Trondheim in two, the archbishop noted that people now commonly said that wars of the next generation would be fought over water supplies: "It is already a major political issue in parts of the Middle East."
Williams asked: "How does Israel find the freedom to say to the Palestinians, 'We need you for our life and health?' And, How do the other states of the region find the freedom to say, 'We need Israel'?
"When these things are said and known, who knows what can change?" referring to potential for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.
The eight-day church gathering in Trondheim attended by about 800 participants took place as the European Union was planning to expand its membership in 2004 from 15 to 25 European nations.
The assembly in a statement on July 1 described EU enlargement as a "source of hope for many people" and said that "in reducing barriers between countries and people, the EU has made a contribution to the peace of the continent."
But the gathering also warned that this contribution should not be "negated by the creation of new barriers between member and non-member states."
"As well as the economic disparities between countries, expectations of cultural assimilation across the continent cause resentment and the danger of new division," the statement said.
The assembly also welcomed a draft EU constitution drawn up after 15 months of discussion and intended to help the EU accommodate the influx of new member states.
"The draft text recognizes the special identity and contributions of churches and expresses the [European] Union's commitment to maintain a structured and transparent dialogue with them," the assembly said.
However, the assembly did not endorse the demand from some church leaders, including Pope John Paul II, for an explicit reference in the EU constitution to Europe's Christian heritage.
Archbishop of Canterbury affirms support for Anglican women bishops
(ENI) The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has reaffirmed his personal support for the consecration of women as bishops in the Church of England, but said the final decision rested with the church as a whole.
"I cannot find any theological objection myself to women becoming bishops if we accept women becoming priests, said Williams, the leader of the Anglican Communion, on July 1 at a European church gathering in Trondheim, Norway.
"The question is in what way and at what pace is that appropriate," he said. "Theologically, yes; but in practical terms I wait to see what is possible and listen to those on all sides."
The Church of England started ordaining women as priests in 1994 but does not accept women as bishops.
Anglican churches in the United States, Canada and New Zealand already have women bishops. The Scottish Episcopal Church voted in June to accept women as bishops.
The issue is being considered in the Church of England by an investigating body known as the Rochester Commission, which is due to report in 2004 or 2005.
Williams, enthroned as archbishop of Canterbury in February, was speaking at an informal gathering during the12th assembly of the Conference of European Churches, in Trondheim.
East African Anglican church leaders join in opposition to gay bishop
(ENI)Leaders of Anglican churches in East Africa have joined their Nigerian counterpart in denouncing the appointment of an openly homosexual priest as a bishop in the Church of England, asserting that it violated church law and went against Christian ethics.
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, head of the Anglican Church of Kenya, maintained that his province would not recognise the plan to consecrate Canon Jeffrey John as the assistant bishop of the Reading diocese in England, even if it meant losing the support of the worldwide Anglican Communion leadership in Canterbury.
"Our stand is very clear on the issue of homosexuality, and we are totally opposed to any consecration now and in future," Nzimbi told ENI in Nairobi on July 2.
His pronouncement came soon after a similar one by Archbishop Peter J. Akinola of Nigeria--the world's biggest Anglican province, with about 17 million members. Akinola said he considered the appointment of a gay man as bishop in Reading and election of another in New Hampshire in the United States counter to Anglican teaching and considered ungodly the move by a bishop in the Canadian province of British Colombia to issue a liturgy for the blessing of same-sex marriages.
Said Nzimbi: "We had talked to our leader, and he had assured us that he will abide to the church laws. We feel that those who accept to carry on will only kick themselves out of the Anglican Communion." But Nzimbi said he would not banish homosexuals and lesbians from Kenya's churches.
The leader of the Anglican Church of the Province of Uganda has also opposed the consecration of John.
"We have always made our stand clear. We definitely don't agree with it," Ugandan Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo told the Monitor, an independent daily newspaper, on June 23. "We totally don't agree and we have tried our best to oppose it. But it's still too early. Let's wait and see. We shall [make] the next move when the right time comes."
Supreme Court decision in Texas case praised by Presiding Bishop
(ENS) Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold issued a statement July 2 praising the US Supreme Court for its 6-3 decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which overturned the state's sodomy law and reversed the high court's 1986 decision in Bowers v. Hardwick.
"I add my voice to those who are heartened by the Supreme Court ruling on the Lawrence vs. Texas case," the statement said. "The ruling invalidated a Texas law that criminalized sexual conduct between adults of the same sex. Earlier this year I signed an amicus brief in support of ending this law. This action reminds us that all people have the right to privacy and should not be subjected to laws that deny that right.
"The Episcopal Church has been on record in support of the civil rights of gay and lesbian persons since 1976 and this decision by the Supreme Court is consistent with our Church's established policy," Griswold said.
The Episcopal Church was joined in filing an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs by the United Church of Christ, the American Friends Service Committee, the Methodist Federation for Social Action, the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, Hadassah/Women's Zionist Organization of America, and the Unitarian Universalist Association. Also filing amicus briefs were lesbian and gay affinity groups for the American Baptists, Church of the Brethren/Mennonites, Disciples of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Greek Orthodox, Latter-day Saints, Presbyterian Church USA, the Roman Catholic Church, Pentecostal denominations, Seventh-day Adventists, United Methodists, and groups representing lesbian and gay Jews and Muslims.
No major US Christian denomination supported Texas in its appeal of the decision.
Integrity, the lesbian and gay affinity group for Episcopalians, also joined in the amicus brief supporting the appeal by John Lawrence and Tyron Garner. "The days of Christian-supported legal discrimination against gay and lesbian people in the United States seem to be waning, and for this we give thanks to God," said a statement released by the Rev. Michael Hopkins, president of Integrity. "We also give thanks that no longer can opponents of the public celebration of same-sex unions in our Church use the argument that such unions are illegal in many states. The Supreme Court today put an end to that reality.
Sodomy laws were frequently invoked to deny employment or housing to gay men or lesbians and by courts in refusing custody or visitation for gay or lesbian parents. Last year an Episcopal priest in Northern Virginia, the Rev. Linda Kaufman, was initially denied the right to adopt a foster child from the District of Columbia because of Virginia's prohibition against sodomy among homosexual and heterosexual partners. Kaufman sued and won the right to adopt, but the state has repeatedly dismissed appeals of the sodomy law.
Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission meets to articulate 'a common vision'
(ACNS) Members of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) gathered in Northern Ireland June 10-14, for their third meeting, continuing the work arising from the conference of Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops held at Mississauga in 2000. The commission is responsible to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Anglican Communion for finding practical ways to express the fruits of the dialogue between Anglicans and Roman Catholics over the last thirty-five years.
The chief business of the commission was to work on the text of a Common Declaration to be submitted to the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, intended to identify a sufficient degree of agreement in faith to enable a new level of common life and mission together. The commission is also promoting video and web resources to communicate the extent of what has already been achieved in the dialogue between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the work of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), and to nurture new ways of working together.
Participants welcomed news of the work of the Anglican Roman Catholic Canon Lawyers Colloquium, established by academics from the Angelicum and Gregorian Universities in Rome and from the Centre of Law and Religion of Cardiff University in Wales. This colloquium, which meets annually, will explore the canon law of the two churches in relation to sacramental sharing at their next meeting in 2004.
Members traveled to Belfast in order to pray together at the Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals in that city, and to reflect on the progress of the peace process in Northern Ireland. They welcomed the Anglican and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Armagh and local diocesan bishops at their meeting, and joined with them in praying for reconciliation and the work of Christian witness in Northern Ireland.
The commission will meet next in Seattle in February 2004.
Episcopal Church resumes dialogue with Polish National Catholics
(ENS) After a hiatus of over four years, the Episcopal Church and the Polish National Catholic Church in the United States resumed a formal dialogue June 25-26, 2003 at the Trinity Conference Center in West Cornwall, Connecticut. Formerly the two churches shared a full communion relationship inaugurated in 1940 with the Episcopal Church approving such a relationship with the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht, which includes the PNCC. The PNCC accepted what was then called "intercommunion" in 1946. However, the 1978 Synod of the PNCC voted to "terminate intercommunion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the Anglican Church of Canada" over the ordination of women.
However, according to the Most Rev. John F. Swantek (until recently the Prime Bishop of the PNCC), this was never intended to break off all dialogue or ongoing relations between the two churches. The Episcopal Church has never taken official action in response to the 1978 decision and therefore, from the Episcopal side, the situation is as it was between 1940 and the PNCC acceptance of intercommunion in 1946. The invitation to resume a full communion relationship is still open. "Our resumption of this dialogue is long overdue," commented Bishop Christopher Epting, the Presiding Bishop's deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations. "The Polish National Catholic Church is the only official Old Catholic presence in the United States. If we are in communion with the Union of Utrecht we must find a way to move closer to the PNCC here at home."
After brief updates on the various ecumenical dialogues engaged in by the two churches, members of this resumed conversation rehearsed the history of the relationship and began planning for the future.
A draft mission statement was adopted for the ECUSA-PNCC Dialogue, which reads: "In response to the Great Commission, we seek to foster deeper understanding, cooperation, and mutual affection between our two churches in order to move toward the unity for which Christ prayed."
Specific steps toward that goal include the scheduling of the next two meetings for January 12-14, 2004 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and June 15-17, 2004 back at the Trinity Conference Center. Initial plans were made for a joint clergy conference on "Catholic Evangelism" slated for the fall of 2004 near Cleveland. In addition to a keynote speaker, it was suggested that it include a panel of persons from both PNCC and Episcopal parishes who have successful evangelization programs. Bishop Thomas Gnat, the Rev. Leslie Hague, and Bishop David Joslin agreed to serve on a committee for the conference.
Participants in the meeting included, from the PNCC, Bishop Gnat, the Rev. Jacek Soroka, and the Most Rev. John F. Swantek. From the Episcopal Church, participants included Bishops Epting and Joslin and the Revs. Robert W. Anthony, Leslie Hague, Richard Hamlin, and Warren Platt.
European church bodies plan to join forces for migrants' rights
(ENI) Two European church organizations are planning to join forces to mobilize churches in Europe against racism and xenophobia and in support of the rights of migrants and refugees.
The 12th assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), meeting in Trondheim, Norway, voted on July 1 to strengthen cooperation with the Brussels-based Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME). Under the plan, the current work of the migrants commission would come under the CEC umbrella.
"As migration and, more particularly, the concern for refugees and ethnic minorities is on the agenda of many of our member churches, we wish to encourage increased ecumenical cooperation in these fields," noted the Rev. Keith Clements, CEC's general secretary.
"Migration and all related issues are becoming a major theme for all European countries, and the need for churches to be the church of the stranger, of the weak, of those whose rights are at risk is evident," said Clements.
CEC, which has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg, was founded in 1959 and has more than 120 member churches throughout Europe. CCME was founded in 1964 and has members from 16 countries.
"All member churches of CEC will join step-by-step into the coordinated work of the commission on combating racism and on minorities," said the CCME's moderator, Annemarie Dupre, from Italy, welcoming the decision by the CEC assembly at a press conference.
In recent years, CCME has focused on issues such as asylum, trafficking of human beings, racism and xenophobia. Together with other Christian organizations, CCME monitors the development of European Union legislation on migration and asylum.
The CEC assembly on Tuesday also called on all European governments to ratify a United Nations treaty on the rights of migrant workers and their families, which came into force on July 1 and is legally binding for the 22 states that have ratified it. However, no major industrialized country has signed the convention, Human Rights Watch reported.
"Migration has shaped European society and continues to contribute to its cultural richness as well as its economic prosperity," the assembly said in a statement. "Yet migration has been treated primarily as a security problem, and responses to it have been demeaning of the rights and the dignity of those who come to us as strangers and as neighbors."
The United Nations Population Division estimates that 175 million people are international immigrants.
Locally grown organic meal featured at General Convention
(ENS) Think globally -- but eat locally.
That's what the Episcopal Ecological Network (EEN) is hoping participants in the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis will do this summer, as they partake of a locally grown organic meal being offered at General Convention.
The meal is set for Monday, August 4th at 5:30, at Gethsemane Episcopal Church in downtown Minneapolis. Because only 200 people can be served, the family-style meal will be "first come, first served." Keynote speaker for the event will be Bishop Mark MacDonald of Alaska.
The cost for the meal is $25. Advance reservations can be made by completing a form on the EEN website (www.EENonline.org) or calling (763) 441-5482. Payment must be by cash or check--no credit cards. There will be a 'menu' identifying the food producers at each table. Latecomers can make reservations at the EEN booth in the exhibit hall during the convention.