Summary of Actions of the Executive Council
Episcopal News Service. June 25, 1981 [81180]
New York -- The Executive Council of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church held its regular meeting June 16-20 at the Seamen's Church Institute here.
The Council -- which sets policy and develops programs for the Church between the triennial meetings of the General Convention -- consists of 44 members: 24 elected by the Convention; 18 elected by the Church's nine internal provinces, and the Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, and the President of the House of Deputies, Dr. Charles R. Lawrence. The Rev. Canon James R. Gundrum is secretary.
Changes in the Church's laws in the fall of 1979 have doubled the number of provincial representatives -- provinces previously elected one each -- and pared back the representation elected directly by each Convention from 14 to 10.
Most resolutions for Council action come through six standing committees and occasionally a special committee or sub-committee.
The Council took the following actions:
Approved companion diocese relations for three years between the following jurisdictions: Rhode Island/Windward Islands; Southeast Florida/Guatemala; Central Florida/ Honduras; and Ohio/Jamaica.
Learned of the appointment of the following missionaries: The Rev. Milton F. Brown of West Texas to Costa Rica; the Rev. Thomas E. Dobson of Oregon to Micronesia; the Rev. Mortimer J. Downing of Long Island to Argentina and Eastern South America; the Rev. Benjamin P. Ford of Indianapolis to Belize; Marc Nikkel of Los Angeles to the Sudan; Kenneth Walsh of Maryland to Liberia; and the Rev. George R. Sumner, Jr., of Western Massachusetts to Central Tanganyika.
Heard that the following overseas missionaries have completed their terms: The Rev. Charles Colby from El Salvador; the Rev. Richard Menees from Bukavu; the Rev. Jack Tench from Honduras; and the Rev. Archie Stapleton from The Philippines.
Approved sending letters of appreciation to the new appointees and to those who have finished their terms.
Heard a brief report from the board of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief which met just prior to the Council meeting and approved grants totalling $527,919.
Approved a resolution of thanksgiving for the life and ministry of the Rev. Kenneth E. Heim, who died May 28, for his 28 years of service as a missionary from the Episcopal Church to the Nippon Sei Ko Kai in Japan.
Heard a report from the Coalition for Human Needs which said that 43 grants totalling $401,369 have been made to date this year.
Voted to join the Diocese of Rochester in protesting the "rude and authoritarian" refusal of the South African government to grant visas for a long prepared visit of an ecumenical and interracial group of American Church leaders, including several Episcopalians.
Referred back to the National Mission Committee for a report in November a request from Province VI that the office of the staff officer for Indian Work be relocated nearer "Indian territory."
Heard that the Standing Committee on the Church in Metropolitan Areas is planning a program for ministry to the poor called Jubilee Ministry.
Heard a report from Council member John K. Cannon of Detroit, chairman of the subcommittee on responsibility in investments, that Council-supported stockholder resolutions received the following percentage support at recent annual meetings: Dresser, 8.9 percent; resolutions at various companies regarding doing business with the Soviet Union, 2.77 percent, and South Africa, 2.59 percent; Mobil, 3.95 percent; and U.S. Steel, 4.8 percent.
Received with thanks a report from its Infant Formula Task Force, which acknowledged that some manufacturers have responded somewhat to consumer pressure, "deplored strident emotional rhetoric" in the debate, and challenged all groups involved to work for adequate nutritional measures for the safety of mother and child.
Expressed its dismay at the negative vote cast by the United States at the recent Geneva meeting of the World Health Organization General Assembly relating to voluntary infant formula marketing guidelines.
Accepted in principle an affirmative action program for the Episcopal Church Center.
Referred back to the special committee for revision a statement of policies regarding affirmative action for the whole Church.
Expressed its appreciation to the staff at the Episcopal Church Center for their cooperation in providing information to the Task Force on Affirmative Action.
Approved a report from the Task Force on the Arms Race which said that a resource brochure, containing study materials, a list of resource persons and groups, and an annotated bibliography, will be distributed soon to all congregations in the Church.
Learned that the Rev. James McNamee, higher education staff officer, is now the registrar for conscientious objectors.
Heard the committee report that it does not recommend action on a request from the Conference of Diocesan Liturgical and Music Commissions that a resource person for liturgy and worship be added to the staff at the Episcopal Church Center.
Learned that Mrs. Betty Gray of New York City has been appointed educational coordinator for women's ministries on the Episcopal Church Center staff.
Learned that Mrs. Judith Carlson has been employed in the Education for Mission and Ministry office for one year for the research and development of educational materials related to specific requests from the Church.
Received a report from Matthew Costigan, treasurer, which reflects "an extremely favorable financial position at this time."
Voted to retain the firm of John Deviny Carrico, Professional Association, to audit the financial records for the period Jan. 1, 1981 through Dec. 31, 1981.
Established the William Henry Josselyn Fund, containing approximately $40,000, the income from which is to be used for appropriate general purposes of the Church.
Established the Mary Adeline Cutter Fund, amounting to approximately $150,000, the interest from which is to be used for overseas work of the Church and not for current expenses.
Established the Bertha Richards Fund, containing approximately $87,000, the income from which is to be used by the Executive for National Mission in Church and Society in the area of work with racial minorities.
Established a trust fund on Ministry and Mission in Changing Communities, U.S.A., with funds contributed to Venture in Mission Project #369, the income from which will be appropriated by Council for such ministries upon recommendation of the National Mission in Church and Society and Education for Mission and Ministry units.
Established an Education for Mission Trust Fund, the income from which is to be used to support the work of the Seminary Consultation on Mission and remitted through the Council of Deans, Inc.
Approved the designation of up to 40 percent of the salary of any clergy employee of the Church Center as income-tax-free housing and utility allowance, with actual expenditures only to be allowed, effective July 1, 1981.
Made appropriate adjustments to supplement allowances for overseas missionaries and former employees who retired prior to 1960.
Authorized the treasurer to execute the necessary document in order to terminate the Pension Trust Agreement of Jan. 1, 1961, which was never activated.
Heard a report of the Audit Committee and received printed financial statements for 1980 prepared by John Deviny Carrico and Associates, auditors.
Heard that the Roanridge Property, Kansas City, Mo., is expected to be sold for $1.236 million and that the income from the new trust fund will be used for the training of town and country ministry and rural Christian workers as approved by Council in February.
Appropriated up to $25,000 from the Constable Fund to provide funds for the communication office to purchase monthly time for educational programs on cable television beginning in September.
Commended the independent Episcopal Television Network for its new two-hour Sunday program on cable television and extended its best wishes and prayers for this ministry which is now available for viewing in at least 26 dioceses.
Offered thanks for the life and ministry of Hiram W. Neuwoehner, Jr., who died May 18, on behalf of his years of service in national and local communication work for the Episcopal Church.
Elected Daniel N. Adams, Jr., of Wilton, Conn., founder and president of the Learning Pyramid, Inc., to fill a one-year unexpired term on the board of trustees of The Seabury Press.
Heard that "The Great Vigil of Easter," an hour-long television special produced by the communication office at the Episcopal Church Center, was telecast by 469 of the 486 cable television networks served by Modern Talking Picture Service, Inc., with a potential of reaching 3.5 million homes.
Saw a nine-minute presentation of excerpts from the first two programs of the Episcopal Television Network series.
Heard a report on Venture in Mission which indicated that 61 of 95 dioceses have completed their campaigns, with 24 exceeding their goals; that eight dioceses are in modified campaigns; that 22 dioceses have indicated their intention to participate; that four dioceses have no plans to participate; and that the grand total in all campaigns amounts to $133,106,215.
Released funds (and subsequent money as received) in support of the following Venture in Mission projects: $31,241.70 for Self-Support of the Church in Micronesia; $38,358 for Partnership Projects in the South Pacific Anglican Council; $62,374.35 for Extension of Missionary Work and Toward Self-Support in the Diocese of Western Mexico; as received for Ministry and Mission in Changing Urban Communities; $43,790 for Black Clergy, Recruiting, Education, Internship; as received for Education for Mission.
Heard the Venture Process and Funding Committee report that it expects to present recommended guidelines for allocating undesigned Venture receipts to the Council in November.
Heard addresses by John Naisbett of the Trend Organization, Washington, D. C.; by Dean Herbert O'Driscoll of the Cathedral of the Diocese of New Westminster, Vancouver; and by Council members and staff.
Approved a resolution which calls for Council members and the administrative group of the Episcopal Church Center to devote some time at the November Council meeting to reflect on the findings of the June meeting and to propose the long-range policy plan as requested by the General Convention in 1979.
Adopted the minutes of the Feb. 25-26 meeting as circulated to members.
Referred correspondence to standing committees as appropriate.
Presented summaries of minutes of various interim bodies of the General Convention for the information of Council members.
Introduced the Rev. Frederick H. Borsch of Princeton University who was elected to membership on the Council in February, to serve until the General Convention in 1982.
Heard the Rt. Rev. C. Judson Child, Jr., Suffragan Bishop of Atlanta, tell of the continuing violence and distress in the city of Atlanta and of various responses, such as the ecumenical Help A Child Program in the city.
Approved a resolution expressing appreciation to Bishop Child for giving a first hand report on the situation in Atlanta.
Endorsed a collect which Bishop Bennett Sims has written for Atlanta and suggested its circulation throughout the Church. The prayer is as follows: "Almighty God, surround us with your presence. Grant us a vision of our city: a city of justice where none shall prey on others; a city of generosity, where vice and poverty shall cease to exist; a city of companionship, a city of peace, a city of love. Hear Thou, O Lord, the silent prayer of our hearts, for the capture of the person or persons responsible for the deaths of our children and for those who are missing. Hear our prayer, O Lord, in the name of thy Son Jesus. Amen."
Heard the Rev. James R. Whittemore, director of the Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, offer words of welcome and a brief account of the ministry of the institute.
Approved a resolution by a vote of 13 to 10 which requested that a letter be sent to Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie expressing appreciation for his meeting with women priests in the Episcopal Church, and asking him to request the General Synod of the Church of England to recognize the validity of all orders in the Anglican Communion so that all may exercise their sacramental ministries in England when properly asked, and that Presiding Bishop John M. Allin transmit Council's action to the Archbishop.
Tabled until a time certain at the Nov. 18-20 Council meeting consideration of a resolution proposed by Matthew Chew of Scottsdale, Ariz., calling for a study of the location of the Episcopal Church Center.