Anglican Fellowship of Prayer Holds Annual Conference
Episcopal News Service. May 19, 1976 [76175]
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- With the Bicentennial theme as a backdrop, speakers at the Annual Conference of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer called the participants to a deeper commitment to prayer and to the outreach which should result.
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, was conference leader. Senator Mark O. Hatfield of Oregon gave the opening address. Host Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Lyman C. Ogilby of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, welcomed the participants to the May 6-8 meeting.
"Bicentennial Fellowships of Prayer" was the stated theme of the Conference which was held in the "Bicentennial City" of Philadelphia. Activities were held at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel and at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church two blocks away.
Bishop Ogilby set the stage for Senator Hatfield by speaking of prayer and evangelism. Reminding Episcopalians that they are a part of The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church (its official name), the bishop called them to bring the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the world. He stressed the need for Christian responsibility in the world.
Senator Hatfield reminded his listeners of their recent Lenten experiences of prayer and fasting. Emphasizing that Christian sacrifice must meet the world hunger situation, Hatfield cited figures showing the desperate circumstances faced by millions of people.
"Our worship and our prayer, "he said, "must move us to action, which is stewardship of the resources of the world."
The Presiding Bishop also pointed out that prayer must lead to action. However, his primary point was our need to listen to God. We must, he said, prayerfully listen to God in order to learn what He is calling us to do.
With humor sprinkled throughout his several presentations, Bishop Allin illustrated his points: "O God, I haven't time to talk to you now; I have to read this book on prayer."
Episcopalians formed the majority of those attending the ecumenical conference, and Bishop Allin did not avoid the controversial issues now troubling their communion. He called the conferees to prayer on the proposed changes to the Book of Common Prayer and on the issue of ordaining women to the priesthood.
"The task of the Presiding Bishop," he said, "is not to tell Episcopalians how to think and how to vote on such issues. My job is to try to keep us communicating so that we may hear the answers which God gives to our questions."
Some 500 people representing 59 dioceses of the Episcopal Church in North America and abroad attended the Conference.
The Rev. Donald M. Hultstrand, Executive Director of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, presided at the Saturday night banquet. The Co-Chairmen of the Conference were Miss Hattie Bunting, National President of the Order of the Daughters of the King, and the Rev. Roy Hendricks, rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.