News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. August 6, 1987 [87166]
The first meeting of the expanded Joint Committee on Dialogue between the Episcopal Church and the American Episcopal Church was held here, June 20-30, to discuss problems and possibilities confronting these bodies in their relations with each other. Chairing the meeting were the Rt. Rev. William C. Wantland, bishop of Eau Claire of the Episcopal Church, and the Most Rev. Anthony Clavier, Primus of the American Episcopal Church. Nine representatives of each church were appointed by their primates. Topics included pastoral care, especially in emergency situations; the meaning of mutual recognition as churches; the problems of expressing differences without prejudice or animosities; and the meaning of the term "Anglican" with regard to the question of what constitutes an ecclesial body as part of the Anglican Communion. The meeting closed with assignment of study papers to provide a basis for consideration at the next meeting.
Louis C. Schueddig, executive director of the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation, announced recently the availability of one of the Foundation's recent TV productions, "Music: A Revolution in the African Church." Narrated by Schueddig and filmed in Kenya by Foundation production chief, Arden D. Moser, the film details in words and song the emergence of African tribal music as a liturgical music form in the Anglican church in East Africa. The "quiet revolution," as Schueddig calls it, is described in the film by Anglican Archbishop Manasses Kuria of Kenya as a natural development of a Christian people, seeking to express their worship in musical forms familiar and comfortable to them. Some of the 44 Kenyan choirs contributing to the video shown in Kenyan "choir marches" through the countryside and in Kenyan churches, graphically and audibly tell the story of the new church music in the growing Christian community in Africa. The 27-minute video cassette is available for purchase at $49.95 from the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation, 3379 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30326. Phone 1-800-552-1313. Wait for tone. Press 7721. Mastercard and Visa accepted.
The Rev. Richard L. May, vicar of the Parish of Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel here, has accepted a call to be the 33rd rector of historic Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, Va., effective Aug. 1. Bruton Parish welcomes over a million visitors a year, ministers to a large resident congregation and has an active ministry to students and faculty at the College of William and Mary. May joined the staff of Trinity as executive assistant to the rector in 1977 and became vicar in 1979. He was also the announcer on the "Trinity Church Hour" radio program. Prior to coming to Trinity, May was rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Jacksonville, Fla., and president of St. Mary's Springfield Day Care Center and Brentwood Day Care Center. Formerly, he was a practicing attorney. Born and educated in Omaha, Neb., May holds degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha; Creighton University Law School; Bexley Hall, Kenyon College; the New York Theological Seminary; and the General Theological Seminary, New York City. He was ordained deacon in June 1967 and priest in December of the same year. He and his wife have two children.
The House Appropriations Committee has indefinitely postponed a vote on a budget measure which would have eliminated the federal subsidy that gives lower postal rates to religious and other non-profit publications. The postponement occurred, according to Jim Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Press Association, after the committee received "tens of thousands of communications complaining about that decision." He said the amount required in the next fiscal year to maintain the current level of subsidy would be about $550 million. Last year, the U.S. Postal Rate Commission urged Congress to eliminate the current across-the-board subsidy for non-profit mailers and instead provide separate sub-classes that would receive subsidies of varying amounts. Any changes in the system must be enacted by May 7, 1988, according to Doyle. Religious non-profits will have opportunities to testify on the matter at several hearings later this year.
Katherine Poulton was ordained the first woman deacon in the Church of Ireland on June 21 at St. Patrick's Church, here. Prior to her ordination, Poulton, 25, took a degree in theology at Manchester University in England before returning to work at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for two years. She will be serving at St. Comgals in Bangor, near the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, where, in addition to pastoral work, she will assist at Sunday services, teach in a local primary school and direct a youth fellowship. Her husband, Ian, serves as a curate at St. Mark's Church in nearby Newtownards.
University of the South vice-chancellor and president Robert M. Ayres, Jr., has announced his retirement, and provost Dr. Arthur M. Schaefer has announced his resignation, both effective Sept. 1, 1988. Ayres was elected in 1978 after serving one year as acting vice-chancellor and president. A 1949 graduate of the University, Ayres has also served as president of the university's Associated Alumni, a member of its Board of Trustees and a member of its Board of Regents, serving twice as its chairman. In each year since 1978, the university has recorded budget surpluses. It has retired an accumulated debt of $1.2 million and has increased its endowment from $20 million to more than $90 million. In announcing his resignation, Schaeffer, who was named provost by Ayres in 1977, noted, "I agreed to serve as long as I was needed, or until he left." As provost, Schaeffer served as chief academic and chief financial officer of the university and as vice-chancellor pro tem, working closely with Ayres in developing the plan to alleviate the institution's difficulties and playing a key role in carrying out that plan. The University of the South is governed by 28 dioceses of the Episcopal Church in 12 states and has a College of Arts and Sciences and a School of Theology.
The National Council of the Evangelical and Catholic Mission (ECM) held its semi-annual meeting here in mid-May. The Rt. Rev. William Stevens, chairman, gave a report of meetings with the committee appointed by Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning to seek a position of mutual understanding between opponents and supporters of the election of a woman as bishop. The Council called a draft of a response by the committee "not acceptable," expressed concern that the committee "represented only one view" and asked the Presiding Bishop to include those with divergent views "... so that worthwhile dialogue may get under way and God's Church may be properly nurtured and supported for all and not only for some." Several members of the Council were appointed to investigate future cooperation with other groups in the church with whom they share concerns. 4 series of resolutions on ECM positions were passed. Plans were discussed for the group's annual conference in Denver, Oct. 23-24, the theme for which is "Looking Toward Lambeth." There will be papers on ecumenism, dogmatic theology, mission and ministry and social issues. Speakers will include: the Rt. Rev. Stanley Atkins, first chairman of ECM and retired bishop of Eau Claire; Dr. Margaret Hewitt, professor at Exeter University, member of General Synod of the Church of England and moderator of WAOW; Dr. William Oddie, formerly of Pusey House, Oxford; and the Rev. Herbert A. Ward, director of St. Jude's Ranch for Children and a member of ECM's Council. Dorothy Spaulding of McLean, Va., was appointed executive secretary of ECM.
Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning's April 3 letter to bishops seeking to create a constructive context for the Church's debate on human sexuality (Eds.: See DPS 87083) has been translated into Spanish and mailed to hispanic clergy. Copies of the translated letter are available from the Rev. Herbert A. Arrunategui, national Hispanic officer, Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.