Summary of Actions of Executive Council
Episcopal News Service. April 26, 1979 [79124]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The 41-member Executive Council of the Episcopal Church met here April 19-20, and transacted the following business:
Heard Matthew Costigan, Treasurer, report on the status of the 1979 budget income and expenditures, the apportionment, and various funds of the Church, and heard him observe that he does not anticipate a shortfall of income or an over-expenditure by the end of the year.
Heard the Rev. Robert M. Wainwright, Rochester, N.Y., report on a meeting at the Doral Inn in New York April 4-6 of the chairmen of the Council's standing committees and the Administrative Group of the staff on their examination of "the current roles and functions" of the Church "in order to discern appropriate adjustments necessary for the Church's mission in the 1980's. "
Heard the Rev. John Schultz, Statistical Officer at the Episcopal Church Center, talk with the aid of charts about the program and budget of the Church in terms of membership and income at the parish and diocesan levels.
Approved a resolution from the Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Suffragan Bishop of Chicago, which expressed the Council's appreciation to Father Wainwright for his report.
Heard the Rt. Rev. Philip A. Smith, Bishop of New Hampshire, report on planning for presentations of the proposed 1980-82 General Church Program and Budget to the provincial synods this spring and to the General Convention in joint session of the two houses on September 11 in Denver.
Gave approval to three (rather than four) meetings of the Executive Council in 1980, with the tentative dates as follows: February 13-15, June 4-6, and November 12-14.
Established the Julien T. Davies Fund of approximately $10,000 provided in the will of the late Mr. Davies, a partner in the Church's legal counsel firm, the income of which is to be used for the general purposes of the Church.
Amended the By-Laws of the Council to provide that one or more assistant secretaries may be appointed by the Presiding Bishop and confirmed by the Council.
Affirmed the Rt. Rev. Milton L. Wood, Executive for Administration, and Matthew Costigan, Treasurer of the Church, as members of the Committee on Trust Funds, and elected the following to serve on the committee: Elbridge T. Gerry, Sr., chairman; Thomas D. Cunningham, Jr., vice chairman; William C. Breed, III; John S. Buckley; Edward B. de Selding; Frank P. Foster, member of the Council; Mrs. Karen A. G. Loud; and Mr. Douglas T. Yates.
Approved a loan to the Episcopal Church in Micronesia, for St. John's School, Guam, in the amount of $98,000.37, at an interest rate of 6 percent to be repaid in monthly installments of $1,778, effective April 15, 1979.
Approved almost unanimously the "Manual of Accounting Principles and Reporting Practices for Episcopal Dioceses, Parishes and Missions," and received sample copies.
Received a report by Harrison Tillman, Valdosta, Ga., from the Audit Committee of the Council and of Venture in Mission.
Endorsed a proposed revision of Title I, Canon 6 so that it provides for a Certified Public Accountant to audit diocesan accounts, and that all congregational and institutional accounts be audited annually by a certified or independent agency with full information to be shared with the bishop or ecclesiastical authority of the diocese.
Approved a proposed program and budget for 1980 in the amount of $15,245,000, which reflects changes from the February draft of the budget in the reassessment of apportionment expectations from dioceses, an increase in the expected lapsed balance, and the restoration of $100,000 in the line item of expenditures for the three black colleges.
Approved an enabling resolution, providing for the setting of the quota apportioned to each diocese for each year of the next triennium (1980-82).
Established the Lorana G. Roger Fund of approximately $53,000, which came from the late Mrs. Roger of Jacksonville, Fla., with the provision that the income be used for the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief.
Voted to retain the auditing firm of John Deviny Carrico, Professional Association, to audit the financial records of the Church, Jan. 1, 1979 to Dec. 31, 1979.
Endorsed a proposed change in Title III, Canon 18, Section 8 (e), which would eliminate a fixed retirement compensation for overseas missionary bishops and allow the Executive Council to provide such supplements on an individual basis.
Adopted a resolution which urges all dioceses and church-related institutions which do not provide medical insurance for retired clergy, retired lay employees, and their surviving spouses, to do so.
Received with appreciation the report from the chairmen of the standing committees and Administrative Group, affirming the suggested positive steps, and asked this group to "continue to be responsible for the implementing of the short and long range planning process of this Council and report at each annual meeting."
Approved a resolution calling for the Executive Council members as well as committee chairmen and executive staff to be involved in planning and evaluation, with such time provided at least once each triennium.
Approved the development of an evaluation process for Council's budgeted programs by November 30, 1979, and that a progress report be shared with the Council at its September 8 meeting.
Heard the Rev. Robert M. Wainwright, Rochester, N.Y., report that an offer has been made to the Diocese of Costa Rica for the hotel property it is seeking to sell, though the transaction has not been completed.
Heard Marcus A. Cummings, Cincinnati, Ohio, report on the on-going work of the Compensation Committee.
Received from the Rev. Canon James R. Gundrum, Secretary, a summary of various communications received, with notations about responses or referrals as appropriate.
Heard the Secretary announce that the next meeting of the Executive Council will be Saturday, September 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the Ballroom at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver.
Heard the Rev. Canon James R. Gundrum, Executive Officer of General Convention, report on continuing plans for General Convention, including a proposed schedule which has been prepared by the Committee on Planning and Arrangements.
Received from the Executive Officer of Convention a summary of recent minutes of a number of the joint commissions and committees, boards and agencies of the Convention.
Approved a grant for an amount up to $10,000 from the Constable Fund for an Hispanic Christian Education Consultation in Denver, Colo., June 14-16.
Reaffirmed its covenanted relationship with the eight other churches constituting United Ministries in Higher Education and welcomed the merger of that group with Ministries in Public Education.
Approved the appointment of the Youth and College Ministries Coordinator -- currently Elizabeth L. Crawford -- as Registrar for Conscientious Objectors and asked Presiding Bishop John M. Allin to appoint a task force, upon recommendation of the Youth and College Ministries Office, "to monitor congressional proceedings concerning Selective Service registration and prepare appropriate materials for persons inquiring about Conscientious Objector registration."
Heard of the publication of the first of seven volumes, The Church in History, by John E. Booty, in the Church's Teaching Series, a joint effort by the Executive Council and the Seabury Press, and heard that the remaining volumes will all be published before General Convention meets in September.
Heard the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop, announce his appointment of the Rev. William Weiler -- now director of the National Council of Churches' Office for Christian-Jewish Relations -- to be Officer for Washington Affairs, effective June 1.
Learned of the appointment by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin of the Rev. Thomas Carson, rector of Christ Church, Greenville, S. C., to be Executive for Stewardship/ Development, effective July 1.
Heard Presiding Bishop Allin in his address speak of "more effectively engaging, educating and deploying each member of the Church" so that ministry may be increased "in many more areas of acute human needs than has thus far been realized."
Heard Presiding Bishop Allin introduce the members of the press who were present: The Rev. Jean Dementi of the Diocese of Alaska, guest diocesan editor; the Rev. David Pritchard of the Diocese of Connecticut, and convenor of the Episcopal Communicators; Sandra Anderson for The Living Church; Janette Pierce and Patricia Batta of The Episcopalian; and Christopher Walters-Bugbee of the Diocese of North Carolina.
Adopted a resolution, read by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin, which had been called for while the Council was in executive session, which expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Episcopal Church Center staff and which asked the Secretary to transmit a copy of the resolution to present and appropriate past members of the staff. (Text attached).
Heard Presiding Bishop Allin announce that Peter Day, Ecumenical Officer on the Episcopal Church Center staff since February, 1964, will retire after the General Convention meeting in Denver in September, and heard Bishop Allin speak with appreciation of the work of Mr. Day for the past 15 years.
Expressed appreciation to congregations, families and individuals who have sponsored Indochinese refugees, approved the extension of the services of the Rev. John Huston, consultant for refugee matters, until September 30, and pledged to continue its sponsorship and resettlement work with refugees.
Endorsed the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief's continued support of the Consultation on Immigration and Refugee Concerns; requested the Administrative Group to prepare a report on ministries available to immigrants, refugees and undocumented persons; and requested the Presiding Bishop's Fund board to continue the present emergency refugee program until the Council has received the Administrative Group's report.
Voted to support in principle the Refugee Act of 1979 currently before the U. S. Congress, urged Episcopalians to encourage its enactment, and recommended the amendment of the act to provide for review by the Congress of any authorization by the President of an annual admission over the statutory 50,000 refugees.
Approved a proposal on the Structure and Function of the United Thank Offering Committee for 1979-1982.
Voted to ask Presiding Bishop John M. Allin and the Executive for World Mission, the Rev. Samuel Van Culin, to share with the Council and the Administrative Group all information received by the Church from the Anglican Consultative Council.
Approved two items as minimum criteria for the autonomy of overseas dioceses: (1) such a diocese should be prepared to unite with an existing Anglican Province or Regional Council having metropolitical authority, or (2) such a diocese should be prepared to unite with no less than three other viable dioceses in the same region for the purpose of forming a new Province or Regional Council having metropolitcal authority.
Voted to recommend that the relevant resolutions from the ecumenical consultation last fall, contained in the Detroit Report, which was approved by the Council in February, 1979, be forwarded to the Standing Committee for World Mission for the next triennium.
Voted to urge that persons representing the Church's ecumenical partners and the Wider Episcopal Fellowship be included in the planning of the agenda and program of the Episcopal Church's second Partners in Mission Consultation, which is expected to take place in 1981.
Received a resolution of commendation from the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations which notes and encourages the continued relationship between the Council and both the World and National Council of Churches.
Voted to send to both the World and National Council of Churches its Ecumenical Report, approved following the Exumenical Committee of Conference last September, with the request that those bodies study and respond to the appropriate suggestions and resolutions.
Voted to notify Dr. Philip Potter, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, of the February action of the Council endorsing the Lambeth Conference resolution on Human Rights, in response to his request that member-churches give attention and appropriate action to a statement on "The Church and Southern Africa."
Requested the Episcopal Church Center staff to call to the attention of the Church the availability of the World Council of Churches Document #17, "Background Paper on Southern Africa," and the Adult/Youth Guide on "Nations of Southern Africa" by John S. Kerr, published by Friendship Press, "in order to insure maximum awareness of the problems" facing persons of that region.
Received a report of the Partners in Mission Consultation of the Church in the Province of the West Indies, reaffirmed its partnership relationship with the province, and heard Marcus A. Cummings of Cincinnati give a personal report on the consultation.
Approved a Companion Diocese Relationship between the Diocese of Tennessee and the Church in Costa Rica, to be in effect until April, 1982, with the suggestion that the two partners consult with the Episcopal Church Center staff about previous learnings and guidelines, and that they in turn share their experiences and learnings with others.
Received a report on the state of the Anglican Church in Mozambique and asked the Executive for Communication to distribute this information to the Episcopal Church.
Received as information a written report from the Rev. Richard Gary, Staff Officer for National Mission, on the National Mission Consultation held April 1-3 in Denver.
Received copies of the Companion Diocese Handbook which has just been prepared by the National and World Mission Office.
Re-elected the following to serve on the board of trustees of the Seabury Press until 1982: Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., Noroton, Conn.; John C. Goodbody, Executive for Communication, New York; Dr. D. Bruce Merrifield, New York; George A. Murphy, Washington, Conn.; Avery Rockefeller, Jr., New York; and Thomas H. Wright, Jr., Princeton, N.J.
Learned that the consolidation of the Seabury Press and the Church Hymnal Corporation is expected to become a reality in 1979 -- though the details of the structure have not been agreed upon -- and that Werner Mark Linz, President of Seabury, will report the details to members of the Council as soon as they are known.
Heard that the present interest-bearing loan of $350,000 from the Council to the Seabury Press will be repaid within the next three months, following the sale of one of Seabury's assets.
Heard the Communication Committee urge members of the Council to help in the promotion of subscriptions to The Convention Daily which will be published in Denver this fall, and asked the Secretary to include a notice in a mailing to deputies about the 96-page book, Denver Crossroads -- to be published May 1 -- on issues currently confronting the Church.
Heard a progress report on the promotional film for the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and of the availability from the Communication Office at the Episcopal Church Center of several television spots which have been produced by the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
Heard the Standing Committee on Communication report on its discussions on videotape, television, and emerging communication technology, led by Council member Bruce Merrifield, Broadcast Officer Sonia Francis, and the Rev. Charles A. Sumners of St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City.
Heard the Standing Committee on Stewardship/Development report on the status of the Venture in Mission program.
Endorsed a paper, "A Stewardship Statement," and called for general distribution of it to the Church.
Referred to the Stewardship/Development committee a resolution that would have said that it was the mind of the Council that the standard of giving is the Biblical tithe.
Heard that the Cabinet of Venture in Mission and the Standing Committee on Stewardship/Development will consolidate following the General Convention in Denver this fall.
Heard the Stewardship/Development committee report that it rejoices in the appointment of the Rev. Thomas Carson to be Executive for that office.
Voted to propose a substitute resolution for one to be submitted by the Joint Commission on the Church in Metropolitan Areas which asks the General Convention to call for the Church to set as one of its highest priorities ministry within urban areas.
Voted to support continued U.S. efforts to win an equitable Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II (SALT II), approved a set of principles upon which it hopes the treaty will be based, and urged Senate ratification of any treaty proposed which embodies those principles.
Adopted by a vote of 16 to 5 a resolution which urges the states which have not ratified the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution -- which says that "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex" -- to do so.
Voted to table a resolution that would have asked that any statement from management concerning stockholder resolutions to be proposed to the Council be shared with the Council in advance of any request for action.
Referred back to the Standing Committee on Church in Society a proposed resolution to General Convention which would request the Council to continue its Task Force on Energy.
Heard that the Rev. Alfred Johnson, Staff Officer for Public Affairs, will go to Switzerland soon to discuss corporate policies with the Nestle Company.
From: The Executive Council
Whereas, in the process of trying to accomplish the goals and objectives of this Church, the Executive Council has relied implicitly upon the loyalty, quiet competence and tireless support of the Church Center Staff and has never found wanting their help, skill and encouragement; and
Whereas, the Council members' frequent thoughts of both specific and general appreciation have been too infrequently expressed either to the staff or to the Church; and
Whereas, this Council desires to acknowledge the purposeful and thoughtful daily contributions of the staff to the improvement of our mission, therefore be it
Resolved, that the Executive Council express its gratitude to and its appreciation of the staff, both present and absent, who have served this Church with such devotion during the last nine years, the period of service of members of this Council; and be it further
Resolved, that the Secretary of the Council transmit a copy of this resolution to each present staff member and to those appropriate staff members who are no longer employed at the Church Center; and be it further
Resolved, that this resolution be reproduced and distributed through the Diocesan Press Service.