General Convention Addresses International Issues
Episcopal News Service. July 19, 2000 [GC2000-089]
Genie Carr, Freelance Writer
(ENS) Ever mindful of belonging to a worldwide Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church's 73rd General Convention dealt with a number of international issues as bishops and deputies heeded calls for solidarity -- both in faith and in economics -- with the peoples of the world.
In particular, the convention looked close to home at Cuba and Canada, and farther away at Sudan, other parts of Africa, and the Middle East.
Bishop Simon Chiwanga of the Diocese of Mpwapwa in the Anglican Church of Tanzania, Africa, preached at the Convention Eucharist on July 9. Addressing a congregation of some 8,000 people, he spoke of Sudan, where people are tortured for their faith; of other nations in Africa, where one hears "a litany of devastation"; and of the church's being "genuine partners in mission as Anglicans and with our ecumenical sisters and brothers."
Noting "our worship of materialism," Chiwanga reminded the congregation of Jesus' command to his disciples to go out two-by-two, with few possessions but with a sense of urgency for spreading the gospel. In proclaiming the reign of God, he said, we need to go in humility and weakness so that we can be in power "with" (not have "power over") other people. Those "other people" were the focus of concern of many of the resolutions, activities and conversations offered over the two weeks of the convention.
Addressing the House of Bishops, Archbishop Michael Peers of Canada said that in his country aboriginal rights comprise "the most explosive social and political issue of this decade." More than half the $7 million (U.S.) in assets of the Canadian church's general synod has been spent for litigation over charges of past sexual and physical abuse of indigenous students at church- and government-run board schools. Peers said he was grateful that many Episcopal bishops had expressed concern and offered support.
Sudan, a North African country between Egypt and Uganda that is one third the size of the United States, received much attention. Bishops and others from Sudan told of severe persecution of Sudanese in the south of the country. They are bombed out of their homes, and killed by soldiers and gunships by the Muslim government based in the north. Many people in the southern region are Christians or follow African traditional beliefs.
Bishop Peter Munde of the Diocese of Yambio of the Episcopal Church of Sudan told the Committee on International and National Concerns that the government uses money from oil recently discovered in the south to buy weapons -- spending $1 million a day -- to attack the southern Sudanese.
In addition to speeches, a candlelight vigil on July 6 highlighted the plight of the Sudanese. Participants urged companies and investment funds to divest from oil companies that do business with the Sudanese government. At a committee hearing on July 10, Faith McDonnell of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C., said that such organizations as the California pension system, the Texas Teachers Fund and the state of New Jersey have pledged not to invest in such companies.
In legislation, convention deputies and bishops voted to express solidarity with persecuted Sudanese Christians (A130) and to encouraging divestment in the Sudanese oil industry.
After some differences in wording between the deputies and bishops, the convention approved a resolution (C045) that asks the U.S. government to restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba, while considering "issues of human rights, freedom of speech and movement" along with freedom for political prisoners.
In appreciation of progress in South Africa, the convention urged the U.S. government to increase aid and private investment in that country, targeting improvements in education and other programs for the poor (A003); commended South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (A004); and calling on our government to apologize for U.S. complicity in supporting the apartheid government (A005).
The convention directed dioceses to cooperate with other people of faith in programs of education and advocacy to help raise public awareness of vital economic issues that affect the poor (A001, A002).
They also urged acceptance of the 1998 Lambeth Conference challenge to fund international development programs with 0.7 percent of net disposable budgeted diocesan income (A001). And they called on the church to adopt and implement specific ethical principles for international economic development (A002), such as making sure that the government, commercial leadership, labor and civil institutions of developing nations "are engaged fully" in decisions about their own economies.
All dioceses were also challenged to support micro-credit initiatives (D033) for international development.
While urging retention of a strict embargo against military-related items for Iraq, the convention also asked the church to urge the Security Council of the United Nations and the President of the United States to take immediate action to lift sanctions against normal trade in civilian goods for the people of Iraq. That trade would include such items as food, medicine and medical supplies and materials needed to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure for effective sanitation, electric power and safe drinking water. (C027)
The U.S. government will be asked to put pressure on the Indian government, through the United Nations, to recognize "untouchability" as a crime against humanity (D024). The church was asked to support the Okinawan people's effort to have U.S. military bases and personnel removed from Okinawa (D028).
Support was also expressed for ending persecution in Indonesia and Pakistan (B053, B047). At a hearing of the Committee on International and National Concerns, Elizabeth Vice, a young woman who had spent a year in Pakistan, told of Molotov cocktails being thrown into Christians' homes and of Christians' testimony in court being virtually worthless.
The convention also supported the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination (B016). Speaking at a hearing of the Committee on International and National Concerns, Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal of Jerusalem, a Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen, said that he likes to tell the mayor of Jerusalem, a Jew, "We have been in Palestine since before Joshua was in Jericho."
In addition, the U.S. government will be asked to request, through diplomatic channels and in the spirit of Jubilee, Israel's immediate release of Mordechai Vanunu from prison, while recognizing that he violated an oath of confidentiality in the name of conscience. Twelve years ago, Venunu was imprisoned for revealing secrets of Israel's nuclear program.
In honor of the centennial of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, an endowment fund was created for that church (B012). At home, redress was urged for surviving Latin Japanese Americans who were abducted and incarcerated during World War II (D032).
A rally and "human chain" of about 200 people, sponsored by Jubilee 2000 Colorado, focused attention on the burden of international debt on poor countries of world. The keynote speaker, Bishop Enock Lee Drati of the Diocese of Madi, West Nile, Uganda, said the modest debt relief Uganda has received has helped increase the number of young people enrolled in school from 53 to 90 percent.
The event also included speakers from the United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Roman Catholic Church, United Church of Christ, and the Presbyterian Church USA.
Debt reduction for poor nations was particularly noted when the convention agreed to request that the President of the United States and other representatives to the G8 Summit meeting in Okinawa convey an urgent appeal to cancel the debts of highly indebted poor countries.
Congress has already progressed toward such debt reduction for some parts of the world and during convention set aside funds for that purpose. The resolution at the convention sought to extend debt cancellation in response to the worldwide, interfaith campaign of Jubilee 2000 (B040).
The convention adopted "The Episcopal Church in Service to Refugees and Immigrants" as a mission statement (A053, amended), to address the needs of countries beleaguered by migrants and refugees escaping conditions in their own lands.
The statement, which was seven pages long in the General Convention "Blue Book" of reports and resolutions, notes that "as people of Christ (we) are called to extend hospitality to strangers as a central principle of our faith." Episcopal Migration Ministries resettles more than 3,000 refugees each year and presses the U.S. government to make immigration more accessible for those who seek to join their families in this country.