Anglican Peace Network Holds Annual Meeting
Episcopal News Service. June 5, 1986 [86123]
JERUSALEM (DPS, June 5) -- The Anglican Peace and Justice Network has concluded its annual consultation at St. George's College here and is concluding work on major study resources for the Communion.
The Network, which was called into being by the Anglican Consultative Council in 1983, represents the 28 provinces of the Church, and its members are nominated by the provincial primates. In particular, the Network acts as a resource group linking and informing members of the Anglican community.
Seventeen provinces are represented, with the Rev. Charles Cesaretti (USA), chairman, and Prebendary John Gladdin (England), secretary.
In his opening address to the Network, Cesaretti said: "Vital issues for peacemaking are surfacing in every province of the Anglican Church. The Peace and Justice Network, by identifying and clarifying these issues, can focus Anglican attention on matters which must be reflected in the peacemaking potential of the worldwide Anglican Communion."
Four study groups examined case studies from South Africa, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Wales, Ireland and the Middle East, following which reports and reflections were prepared under the headings of National Sovereignty and Identity, Human Rights, Economic Relationships and Peacemaking.
An editorial committee has prepared a report to the Anglican provinces, which will be circulated in November 1986 and will become the basis for worldwide study by laity and clergy. The report is broken into the same four headings and, according to Cesaretti, will serve two purposes.
"First, it will identify the peace and Justice issues common to us all and help each province to a broader understanding of those issues that may be peculiar only to one or some provinces. Secondly, we hope that it will be a major vehicle for use by the bishops in their efforts to 'bring their dioceses' with them to the Lambeth meeting, as the Archbishop of Canterbury has asked."