News Brief
Episcopal News Service. February 9, 1984 [84028]
The Diocese of Central New York, which has had a companion relationship with Egypt since 1981, has just published a 41-page book entitled "The Diocese of Central New York and the Diocese of Egypt." While intended primarily as a study guide for persons in the diocese, it would also be of interest to anyone seeking information about Egyptian history and culture and about ways in which people can engage in cross-cultural sharing and mutual enrichment. The book is available for $2.00 a copy from the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Central New York, 310 Montgomery Street, Syracuse N.Y. 13202, or call (315) 474-6596.
The Episcopal Church's first Alcohol Awareness Sunday will take place on Nov. 18, 1984. A resolution sponsored by the National Episcopal Coalition on Alcohol and backed by the Presiding Bishop was passed unanimously by the Executive Council. This established the Sunday before Thanksgiving as a time to promote awareness of the harm done by alcohol and other potentially addictive mood-altering substances. Information will be mailed to all parishes in Lent, with a follow-up mailing in the fall. For more information, contact: NECA, P.O. Box 50489, Washington, D.C. 20004.
Raising the drinking age "is a simplistic answer to terribly complicated questions" says the Rev. David A. Works, an Episcopal priest and president of the North Conway Institute, an Boston agency which encourages groups to deal with a full range of alcohol-related issues. While citing indications that progress has been made in the fight against alcoholism, Works noted that none of the proposals for raising the drinking age would affect those aged 21 to 24, who have the worst record on drunk driving. He feels that the emphasis on alcohol-abuse legislation is likely to distract attention from broad-based approaches which have greater long-term effectiveness.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie, flew to Uganda to preach at the enthronement of the new archbishop there, the Rt. Rev. Yona Okoth. The enthronement occurred on Jan. 29 in the cathedral of Namirembe in Kampala, Uganda, before 24 Ugandan Anglican bishops and a group of visitors which included clergy and bishops from throughout the Anglican Communion. Despite eight years of oppression under dictator Idi Amin -- during which Okoth himself was arrested and later had to flee for his life -- the Christian church in Uganda is among the strongest in Africa, with more than 25 percent of the population of 12 million baptized Anglicans.
There will be a hands-on video workshop April 1 and 2 in conjunction with the Episcopal Communicators' conference scheduled for April 2-5 at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, N.C. An additional session on the 3rd will be part of the conference. Room and meals for the extra day costs $32.50. The video program, which is not intended for those already experienced in this communication medium, will begin on the afternoon of the 1st and end at 4:30 p.m. on the 2nd. Among the leaders will be the Rev. Leonard Freeman, Trinity Church communication officer, and Whitney Smith, Church Center staff producer. Workshop space is limited to 15 participants and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information or to register, contact: The Rev. Canon James Bingham, Diocese of Maryland, 105 West Monument, Baltimore, Md. 21201.
The Nestle boycott ended here on Jan. 26 with the announcement of an accord signed the day before between Nestle and the church groups which had opposed its third world marketing practices. Good will and symbolism combined as boycott leaders bit into candy bars offered by a Nestle official. The seven-year-old boycott was halted after negotiations in which both sides made some concessions. A spokesman for the Infant Formula Action Coalition which organized the boycott, praised Nestle for "moving forward to become a model for the entire infant formula industry" and warned Nestle's competitors that attention will now focus on their practices. Although the Episcopal Church never endorsed the boycott, a number of Episcopalians had taken part in it.