Episcopal Press and News

Search the Episcopal Press and News

Year

All 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962

Enter search query

Bush and Browning Meet in Oval Office

Episcopal News Service. May 25, 1989 [89097]

WASHINGTON, D.C. (DPS, May 25) -- On Thursday, May 11, Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning, in the midst of a busy In-House week at the Episcopal Church Center in New York, flew to Washington, D.C., to meet with a fellow Episcopalian with an even busier schedule -- George Bush, the president of the United States. The meeting took place on a day when the president was coping with the election crisis in Panama. That world event changed the agenda of the conversation between the two leaders.

The Presiding Bishop, who is conscious of his pastoral role as head of the Church of which President Bush is a lifelong communicant, was anxious to establish lines of communication with the president. The two men were able to take the first steps in that direction on May 11.

Although both men were deeply concerned with the political crisis in Panama, the meeting got off to cordial start with the Presiding Bishop's presentation to the president of some official gifts. There was an inscribed copy of the Book of Common Prayer, with ribbons marking sections the Presiding Bishop thought the president might find helpful in his ministry to the nation and the world; an official Episcopal Church cap; and a letter. As the Presiding Bishop was leaving the Episcopal Church Center to catch his plane to Washington, Luis Nazario, who presides at the reception desk, handed the Presiding Bishop a letter he wanted to send the president. Nazario wanted to tell the president how much he admired him and to send his best wishes. The Presiding Bishop delivered the letter, which the president read with considerable pleasure -- and has already answered.

In addition to expressing to the president his desire to be in touch with him on issues of mutual concern, the Presiding Bishop also assured the president that he was prayed for by all the Primates of the Anglican Communion, his Church assembled, as he faced the great issues of his office. Browning was able to report this message from the assembled Primates who had met recently in Cyprus.

The Presiding Bishop and members of his staff who accompanied him to Washington -- Diane Porter, Public Ministries Officer at the Episcopal Church Center, and the Rev. Robert J. Brooks, Staff Officer of the Washington Office of the Episcopal Church -- were able to share with the president insights they had gained on the Panama crisis from recent conversations with the Episcopal Bishop of Panama, the Rt. Rev. James H. Ottley, and with the Papal Nuncio to Panama. Douglas Wead, the president's deputy for public liaison, was also present during the Presiding Bishop's visit.

Browning had visited Panama in March with three other Anglican Primates -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu of Southern Africa, Archbishop Michael Peers of the Anglican Church in Canada, and Archbishop Orland Lindsay of the Anglican Church in the Province of the West Indies -- and had gained considerable insight into the problems of that Central American country.

In the course of their short time together, the Presiding Bishop and the president were able to establish ways and means for staying in touch. Browning expressed his intention of keeping Bush informed about his concerns. Bush suggested that he and Browning continue their dialogue at some point in the summer at the White House in Kennebunkport, Maine.

As things developed, Browning acted on his new relationship with the president sooner than he might have imagined. On hearing that the president had initially stated he was unable to see Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Tutu's planned visit to Washington with other South African religious leaders during the week of May 17, Browning telegraphed the president urging him to change his mind and see his brother bishop. The president did indeed change his mind and saw Tutu during his visit to Washington. Although Browning cannot be certain that it was his voice that changed the president's mind -- others did indeed speak up -- Browning has every intention of staying in touch with his president just as the president intends to stay in touch with his chief pastor.