Council Takes New Directions at June Meeting
Diocesan Press Service. August 3, 1966 [45-1]
The fresh air which blew through the windows of Seabury House matched the fresh directions taken by the Executive Council at its June 21 - 23 meeting in Greenwich, Conn.
Increasing concern for the problems of modern urban society was evident in Council's overwhelming approval of involvement in low cost housing with Urban America, Inc. The spirit of ecumenism was furthered in a decision to support financially and in principle the Columbia (Maryland) Cooperative Ministry. The place of the lay professional was again recognized in the approval of the appointment of William Grant Moore, formerly Vice- President - International of Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, Inc., as director of Council's Department of Promotion.
The Council entered into an agreement with Urban America, Inc. in. order that the latter organization "may provide expert consultative assistance and enabling funds to local churches and other non-profit groups which desire to sponsor projects in the field of low- cost housing." Urban America, Inc., the result of a merger between the urban-design-and- housing organizations of the Taconic Foundation, and Action, Inc., the latter formed some 10 years ago by the Ford Foundation, is, under the terms of its grant, to provide such technical assistance to nonprofit groups as the agreement with Council anticipates. The Council also approved the payment of $25, 000 to Urban America, Inc. this year and committed itself to a similar grant in 1967. These funds will go toward the increased costs to the latter organization in providing such services. The Home Department, which originated this resolution, has had many requests from local and diocesan groups for information about the development of low-cost housing projects. It is because of the increasing numbers of such requests that the Home Department turned to Urban America, Inc. for the necessary expert help and recommended that the Council enter into an agreement with the organization. Four other national church bodies have already, or are about to enter into a similar agreement and will, along with the Episcopal Church, have representation on the Advisory Committee to Urban America's Division of Local Development Services.
The Council also pledged $200, 000 to purchase twelve year bonds and notes in support of the Columbia (Maryland) Cooperative Ministry to be drawn from the General Loan Fund and to be repaid with interest. This decision was made with the knowledge that such an investment in this ecumenical ministry in a newly built Maryland community will mean that fewer funds from this source will be available to build Episcopal churches during the period that the loan is outstanding. The churches participating in the Cooperative Ministry will share as much work, plant and ministry as possible and all church property will be held in common by the Columbia Religious Facilities Corporation.
Council's appointment of William Moore, effective July 15, reflected its continued concern with obtaining the most highly qualified persons to fill such positions. Mr. Moore has held positions with Gardner Advertising Co., J. Walter Thompson and Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, Inc. which he joined in 1963. In the latter organization he has been responsible for the company's New York international operations. He also holds office in several professional organizations.
A resolution on investments in South Africa was approved, in part, by the Council. The first half of the resolution, which was passed, asked the Council itself, all diocesan councils and all parish vestries "to consider the moral dilemma in which we are placed by our present investment policies whereby we profit from investments in South Africa" and asked members of the Episcopal Church, "including those who hold responsible positions in the financial and industrial world to consider what steps can be taken to deal with this complex situation." After heated debate, the second half of the resolution, which urged the Government of the United States "to apply firmness toward the Republic of South Africa, was tabled.
The Council approved the formation of a Committee to "protect the rights of members of our Church who hold the Christian pacifist position" to be appointed by Presiding Bishop Hines and responsible to the Executive Council. This action is in response to a resolution on this subject passed by the 1961 General Convention. Also authorized in principle by the Council was the publication of a pamphlet which would outline the theological bases of both the conscientious objector and the combatant positions. It will be subject to the approval of the Presiding Bishop and a draft mailed to all members of the Executive Council for their comments. This new pamphlet will be designed for the young churchman of draft age and will compliment the pamphlet on Counseling the Young Churchman of Draft Age which is designed for the clergy.
The Executive Council also voted to encourage all domestic missionary districts to apply for diocesan status at the 1967 General Convention. The resolution recognized that the concept of a domestic missionary district is obsolescent and that there is no reason for present domestic missionary districts to remain as such since the 1964 General Convention interpreted the requirements for support of the episcopacy in such a way that there is no longer the necessity for a $50,000 endowment.
New directions were also reflected in the report of the termination, after extended study, of two church agencies: Windham House and the national G. F. S. - Society for Girls. The Board of Windham House, a training center for women studying Christian Education, Social Work, or Education on the graduate level, announced that the present program will end in 1967 and stated that it hoped the premises, located in New York City near Columbia University, would be used for new, experimental work to be decided by the Executive Council at a future date. The report pointed to the increasing availability of training for women in seminaries and in experimental training institutes, and of the high cost of maintaining the premises as a residence as primary reasons for their decision. Responding to a request from the national GFS - Society for Girls, Council voted to receive the continuing income from the Society to incorporate the GFS concerns, weekday work among children and youth, into the program of the Department of Christian Education. The shift will take place in January.
On Thursday morning, at the request of the Presiding Bishop, there was a special order on communications presented by Stephen C. Shadegg, a member of the Council from Phoenix, Ariz. While the presentation, and the following discussion, did not result in any action, it did focus attention on the problems of good communications and may result in future proposals. That improved communications are needed was evident in a survey taken under the direction of Mr. Shadegg in three Phoenix, Ariz, churches. In one parish only two per cent of those answering the questionnaire (26 per cent of those present) knew who the Presiding Bishop was. The percentage was higher in the other two parishes: 16 per cent and 27 per cent of those answering identified Presiding Bishop Hines. The Council was informed of the appointment of 29 missionaries, 19 of whom will serve in overseas jurisdictions of the Episcopal Church and 10 in other Provinces of the Anglican Communion or in a church of the Wider Episcopal Fellowship.
In other action the Council:
----- Approved the procedure for allocating grants from the new Fund for Community Development and Neighborhood Organization.
----- Accepted the resignations of the Rev. D. Williams McClurken, executive secretary, Division of Radio and Television, Department of Promotion; the Rev. George Woodgates, associate secretary, Camps and Conferences, Department of Christian Education; Dr. Johanna Mott, director of Windham House; Miss Frances Sydnor, associate director of Windham House; and the Rev. W. R. Ellis, Provincial Secretary for College Work, Province Eight.
----- Approved the appointment of the Rev. John F. Stevens as associate coordinator in the Joint Urban Program, Home Department; the Rev. Bennett L. Owens as coordinator of Volunteer Services, Home Department; H. John Ratti as editor of adult materials, Department of Christian Education and the Rev. John Steidl as associate secretary in the training services area of the Department of Christian Education.
----- Extended the companion diocese relationships existing between the Diocese of Dallas and the Philippine Independent Church and between the Dioceses of Texas and Malawi until 1969.
----- Approved the establishment of companion diocese relationships between the Dioceses of Mississippi and Argentina, Easton and Antigua, Northwest Texas and Willochra, and South Florida and Jamaica.