News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. May 7, 2002 [2002-113-1]
'Protestant Hour' to become 'Day 1', launch TV version
(EMC) Just as it celebrates its 57th anniversary of weekly radio broadcasts, "The Protestant Hour" will experience momentous changes beginning July 7, when the Atlanta-based radio ministry launches a television version, adopts a new program name, and welcomes a fifth denomination--the United Church of Christ--to a production partnership that includes the Episcopal Media Center, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the United Methodist Church.
The new "Day 1" television program will air at 10 a.m. as a segment of "America at Worship," a morning of preaching, music, and worship from great congregations and ministries across the nation. "America at Worship" airs on Hallmark Channel Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon, ET/PT.
"Day 1" is the new name for the long-running radio series as well as the new television program, effective in July.
Produced in association with Faith & Values Media, "Day 1" will feature highlights from the sermon presented on the radio program and Web site each week, as well as a panel discussion by representatives from the five participating denominations examining the sermon's Scripture passages.
"'Day 1' will bring an exciting new source of high-quality preaching and discussion to 'America at Worship,'" said Edward J. Murray, president and CEO of Faith & Values Media. "Partnership with the 'Day 1' producers ensures that Faith & Values Media's Sunday worship presence will bring viewers the richest variety of inspiration, prayer, and preaching to be found anywhere on Sunday morning television."
The Protestant Hour, Inc., also recently launched a redesigned version of its popular Web site, available at www.protestanthour.com and www.day1.net.
CWS webcasts on interfaith disaster response
(CWS) In communities across America, in one of the continuing tragedies of the September 11 attacks, neighbors regard each other with heightened suspicion. A May 20 event sponsored by Church World Service will address these challenges, beginning with hearing American Muslims speak about their experiences after the attacks, then moving to consider next steps in building interfaith bridges. How does the Muslim community want to be understood? How can Christians work with Muslims in the U.S. to bridge what appears to be a growing divide? How can these faith groups work together in times of disaster to strengthen and build better communities?
The discussion will take place May 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. ET, in the studios of Detroit's WXYZ, Channel 7. It will be Webcast live on FaithandValues.com. Viewers may interact with the panel by email to webcast@faithandvalues.com. Additional support comes from the Christian Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Channel 7, FaithandValues.com and Pacific Media Ministries.
Panelists include: The Rev. Dr. Charles Mabee, author of Reading Sacred Texts through American Eyes and Reimagining America; Victor Begg, president of the Unity Center Mosque, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and vice-chair of the state's Council of Islamic Organizations; Imam Hassan Qazwini, religious leader of the Islamic Center of America in Detroit; and Dr. Abdul Hakim Jackson, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Broadcast journalist Arthur Cribbs Jr. moderates the panel.
Ecumenical CFL bulb project spares the atmosphere
(CWS) Question: How many people of faith does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: Only one, but the bulb should be a CFL (compact fluorescent light).
That line gets a chuckle from people involved in an ecumenical project to promote the use of energy-efficient and long-lasting CFL bulbs as an effective way to protect God's creation from pollutants in the atmosphere. Called "A Bright Idea," the project encourages youth groups in congregations to sell CFLs as a way to accomplish two goals at once: to do something for the environment and to raise funds for youth group activities. "A Bright Idea" is a project of the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Working Group in cooperation with several participating denominations and with Brethren Press, the publishing house of the Church of the Brethren, which is handling marketing and distribution.
Since its debut last summer, the program has enlisted youth groups in 62 congregations in 20 states, according to Russ Matteson of Brethren Press. Participants come from a dozen denominations. The groups have sold 5,000 CFLs to date, Matteson reports.
Over the life of these bulbs, more than 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide will be kept from polluting the atmosphere, illustrating the impact that CFL use can make on slowing the pace of climate change. The 5,000 bulbs also represent a reduction of 656 pounds of soot, 15,750 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 8,550 pounds of nitrogen oxide.
Among the many CFL-related anecdotes that Anne D. Burt, coordinator for Maine's Interfaith Climate Change Initiative, has collected during this effort is the story of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brunswick, Maine, whose social hall is lighted by wrought iron chandeliers. "St Paul's installed the twister-type CFL to beautiful effect; it actually enhanced the look of the chandeliers," she said. "But the light was so much brighter that it revealed dingy walls and they decided that they need to paint!"
For more information about "A Bright Idea," contact Russ Matteson at Youth CFL Project, 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120, or visit the project web site.
Budget cuts force reduction in Presbyterian staffing and missionary work
(ENI) The Presbyterian Church (USA) is cutting funding and personnel for overseas missions programs by 10 per cent as a result of a $5.3 million budget cut. A $130 million budget for 2003 eliminates the jobs of 43 national staff members and 34 long-term mission workers.
"A lot of people are jumping to the conclusion we are doing this because church members are withholding money," the PCUSA's associate director for communication, Gary Luhr, told ENI. "That simply is not true." Luhr gave two main reasons for the cuts: a shortfall in revenues due to a loss on endowment funds and investments, and a vote to establish two new mission initiatives which required shifting funds away from current mission programs.
The two new mission initiatives are a $500,000 denomination-wide educational program on the Bible, the sacraments and the meaning of being Presbyterian, and a $1 million effort to support a $40 million fund-raising drive for new church development, racial-ethnic church growth and more postings for mission personnel.
Officials distributed termination notices on April 29, with staff required to vacate their offices by May 3. Two additional positions will be eliminated by the end of the year. Twenty-one vacant positions were also cut.
Court finds church autonomy doctrine permits firing of Colorado youth minister
(ENS) The church autonomy doctrine prevents a Colorado youth minister, terminated because she is a lesbian, from bringing claims of sexual harassment and violations of civil rights against the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled April 30 in Bryce v. Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Colorado (10th Cir., No. 00-1515, 4/30/02) rejecting the claims of youth minister Lee Ann Bryce and her partner, the Rev. Sara D. Smith, against the Colorado diocese and St. Aidan's Episcopal Church on the grounds that religious institutions are protected under the church autonomy doctrine that allows churches and religious organizations to make decisions about their own internal affairs.
Neither Bryce nor Smith are members of the Episcopal Church. Smith is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC). Bryce and Smith had a civil commitment ceremony in November 1998. In January 1999, St. Aidan's priest and lay leaders learned about the commitment ceremony and informed her that she would be terminated as youth minister because she violated Episcopal doctrine that opposed sexual relationships outside of marriages. She was offered an adult education position until the end of 1999.
"The plaintiffs ask this court to insert itself into a theological discussion about the church's doctrine and policy towards homosexuals[,] one of the most important ongoing dialogues in many churches today," Judge Deanell Reece Tacha wrote for the court. "We decline to do so." The court found that the church autonomy doctrine "prohibits civil court review of internal church disputes involving matters of faith, doctrine, church governance, and polity" and that as long as the hiring decisions were made for "ecclesiastical" and not secular reasons, the courts should not interfere with the decisions of a church. In rejecting the appeal, the Tenth Circuit found that, although some comments by church leaders could be viewed as "offensive" and incorrect, the statements "fall squarely" into church governance and First Amendment rights.
General Seminary chapel featured on prime time television
(GTS) For the first time in its history the General Theological Seminary (GTS) has permitted commercial film production in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, a landmarked space where seminarians have worshiped faithfully each day for the last 114 years. Personnel from "Third Watch," a drama series now its third season, spent an entire day filming in the chapel in mid-April. The prime time series centers around the daily life of New York City police, paramedics and firefighters on the "third watch," the shift from 311pm and is the work of the award-winning producers of "ER" and "The West Wing." The episode featuring the GTS Chapel aired on NBC May 6.
Although many locations at the seminary have been used for film production in recent years, filming in the chapel has always been off-limits. The "Third Watch" story line and its connection with the death of a firefighter on September 11 persuaded the seminary's dean, the Rev. Ward B. Ewing, to make an exception.
"So many of our students, faculty, and staff members helped with the relief effort in the weeks following 9/11 -- and continue to serve as chaplains and volunteers -- that we felt helping with the production of this tribute to those who had died was a worthy enterprise," Ewing said.
The dean also based his decision on the critical acclaim the program has received as well as an agreement reached with the producers that the ceremonies portrayed in the episode would be those of the Episcopal Church. GTS doctoral student the Rev. J. Barrington Bates was asked by the producers to appear as the on-camera officiant and four current GTS students, Jay Rozendaal (Olympia), Heather Patton-Graham (Delaware), the Rev. Iris Peterson (Bethlehem), and Laurie Brock (Central Gulf Coast) appear in the episode as acolytes and assisting ministers. A number of GTS students also served as "extras" in the scenes taking place outside the chapel.
"I knew we had found the right space as soon as I walked in," said "Third Watch" producer Brooke Kennedy, who also directed the episode. "There's an unmistakable sense of holiness here -- a hallowed ambience that I hope we can capture on film."
CSW says women still struggling for parity in the church
(ENS) "There has been some improvement" in the status of women in the Episcopal Church in the last 15 years, but a survey sponsored by the Executive Council's Committee on the Status of Women indicates that full parity for women is still in the future.
"Historically, religion has provided the theological and ethical ballast for sexual inequality and continues to do so to the degree that its present theology, structures and practices reinforce belief in male dominance--whether the issue is hold elected or appointed office, equal pay for equal work or serving as a priest or bishop," said committee chair Sally Bucklee of the Diocese of Washington. "So, the two surveys (1987 and 2002) measure how the Episcopal Church is progressing in assuring the full participation of women in Christ's ministry and mission."
Dr. Adair Lummis of the Hartford Seminary distributed the results of the survey Reaching Toward Wholeness II to the chairs of the 18 dioceses which participated in updating information from the committee's report to the 1988 General Convention. Diocesan chairs had an opportunity to compare data from their individual dioceses as well as to examine it through the lens of the national totals. They had randomly distributed surveys to 300 women and100 men in each of their dioceses and distributed an additional 50 questionnaires to local leaders.
"The diocesan chairs got onboard quickly with each other, comparing data, asking questions, probing beneath the percentages in order to make informed statements about what is going on in their dioceses regarding women's participation and acceptance," said Marjorie Burke of the Diocese of New Hampshire, project manager for the survey." While initial reading of the statistics show some improvement since 1987, a more in-depth look indicates there is still much work to be done."
While the numbers seem to indicate a greater acceptance of women in leadership roles, some of the discrepancies merit further study, according to the committee. Among the issues identified for closer examination was the disparity in salaries between ordained women and men. There were also differences between the responders' points of view and those they perceived to be the opinions of other members of their congregations. The general lack of interest in areas which fall into the categories of adult education and outreach ministry also beg for a closer look.
The 18 dioceses participating in the survey were a representative cross-section of the church
* rural and urban, small and large, traditional and progressive, and from every province. The Rev. Virginia Brown-Nolan of the Diocese of Washington will be the writer of the report sent to all bishops, deputies and Triennial delegates prior to the Minneapolis General Convention.
Associated Parishes issues challenge to reclaim Jesus' ministry
(ENS) Out of the experiences of September 11 and its aftermath, as well as an encounter with First Nations people, the Council of Associated Parishes for Liturgy & Mission concluded its meeting at the Sorrento Conference Center of the Anglican Church of Canada, near Kamloops, British Columbia with a statement challenging the church to reclaim the mission of Jesus.
Council members responded to an invitation to speak of their own reactions to the events of September 11. AP's president, the Rev. Clayton Crawley, Sr., vice president of the Church Pension Group, told of his moving experiences as a volunteer chaplain.
The Most Rev. David P. Crawley, metropolitan of the Province of British Columbia and Yukon and archbishop of Kootenay, gave a frank talk about the continuing controversy over residential schools, which resulted in the dissolution of the Diocese of Cariboo and the resignation of its bishop. Churches in the former diocese are continuing to function, but without the normal infrastructure. Overall responsibility rests in the hands of Archbishop Crawley as metropolitan.
Council members attended Eucharist at a small First Nations parish church on the outskirts of Merritt and were invited to lunch by parishioners in the adjacent parish hall. A visit was then paid to Lytton, site of some of the more egregious offenses against residential school students. Most of the buildings of the residential school were burned some years ago in a fire; the old stone chapel, scene of the some of the acts of abuse inflicted upon the students, is still standing deserted. It has since been deconsecrated.
In token of its increased concern with mission, the council agreed to use the initials APLM (Associated Parishes for Liturgy & Mission) in future instead of the familiar "AP."
Michigan priest returns to parish
(ENS) A "negotiated conclusion" has been reached by the Rev. Edward L. Mullins, Michigan bishop Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr. and the wardens and vestry of Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Mullins returned to the pulpit on April 28.
Mullins was inhibited in February while the diocese investigated complaints that he had plagiarized sermons and violated parishioners' confidentiality. A group of 13 church staff members notified Mullins that they were unable to work with him, and a group of eight parishioners filed a formal complaint with the bishop.
The resolution between the church's leadership, the bishop and Mullins includes agreements that a written apology will be sent to each person who sent a letter to the diocesan review committee alleging plagiarism, as well as to each person who alleged that there had been a breach of confidentiality, indicating that Mullins did not believe there was any breach of confidentiality. In addition, Mullins must acknowledge sources of materials used in sermons and other published works; continue to work with an action planning committee to implement its recommendations as approved by the vestry; and must make clear which situations involve confidential communication and what limits exist on any confidentiality promised.
"It is now time for all concerned to turn to healing the divisions that exist both inside and outside Christ Church Cranbrook so that Christ's mission through the Church will not be obscured by continued controversy," the statement concluded.