Dr. Lawrence on Fact-finding Visit to Cuba
Episcopal News Service. March 24, 1977 [77109]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Dr. Charles R. Lawrence, President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, returned in mid-March from a 10-day visit to Cuba with an ecumenical fact-finding deputation.
A joint post-visit statement issued by the group of American Church people -- including representatives of the United Methodist, United Presbyterian, and Episcopal Churches -- urges that the United States government "take initiatives to normalize relations with Cuba" and end the present "isolation" of Cubans from North Americans.
The visit was arranged by the National Council of Churches and was staffed by the Rev. William L. Wipfler, an Episcopal clergyman who is director of the Caribbean and Latin America Department in the Council's Division of Overseas Ministries.
Dr. Lawrence, who spoke at both English and Spanish services at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Havana, discussed the present situation of the Episcopal Church of Cuba with the Rt. Rev. Jose Gonzalez, Bishop of Cuba since 1967.
At the 1966 meeting of the House of Bishops of the U.S. Episcopal Church, Cuba was established as an autonomous diocese within the Anglican Communion "under the care and direction of the Metropolitan Council. " It was formerly a missionary district of the Episcopal Church in the U.S.
Dr. Lawrence also met with Dean Manuel Chavez of the cathedral and visited the Union Seminary at Matanzas, where three Episcopal clergy are members of the faculty.
The group, which was jointly hosted by the Cuban Institute for Friendship Among People and the Cuban Ecumenical Council, visited day care centers and schools and met with religious and political leaders during their stay.
They also participated in an evening meeting arranged by the Student Christian Movement for a wide-ranging discussion of Christianity, Revolution and Marxism.
Dr. Lawrence, who retires this fall as professor of sociology at Brooklyn College, was particularly impressed by the intensive efforts being made by Cuban authorities and educators to eliminate illiteracy by 1980. He believes that this is "a realizable goal."
Churches in Cuba are admittedly in a transitional state, Dr. Lawrence believes, but he saw no evidence of state expropriation of church property or any restriction on freedom of worship.
All churches, however, continue to depend on voluntary contributions for survival, and these are limited, he said. Many Christian clergy are working in secular jobs. Bishop Gonzales is asking for temporary additional funds from the United States and Canada.
The Episcopal Church of Cuba has 15 clergy at this time, serving nearly 50 congregations.