Council Takes 3 Major Actions at Annual Meeting
Diocesan Press Service. March 3, 1967 [52-1]
The Executive Council at its annual meeting in Greenwich, Conn., Feb. 15 - 16 took three major actions. It adopted a position paper on "The Negro American and MRI; voted to submit a national program and its supporting budget to the General Convention in September; and adopted a budget for 1967.
In pledging itself to the removal of conditions which create second-class citizenship, the Council voted to support a national housing policy which would prohibit all forms of discrimination in the purchase, sale and rental of residential property and called for "constructive" efforts to assure that Negro churchmen attain positions of leadership within the church.
It called upon all communicants of the Episcopal Church, especially leaders in finance, industry, education and labor to "use their talents and best efforts to create employment opportunities for Negroes, as well as provide special training programs...."
The Executive Council document examined various current definitions of the term "black power" and agreed that, since this phrase is subject to such differing interpretations, "it is not for the Church to affirm or condemn this phrase."
In other supporting resolutions, the Council asked churchmen to aid, and if necessary, initiate efforts to upgrade schools, particularly those attended by the Negro poor; called for increased investment in low-cost housing, and for church participation in the sponsorship of such; and urged dioceses and parishes to include funds for community organizations of the indigenous poor in their budgets.
Finally, the Council urged the 90th Congress to make available substantial appropriations for the war on poverty.
To carry out the above program, the Council directed the Departments of Christian Education and Christian Social Relations to prepare a study-action program for use in parishes and called for study of social welfare legislation which would guarantee a decent standard of living to those who cannot be employed or which would allowances for the underemployed.
Triennium Program
In a second major action, the Council considered a proposed national program for the Triennium 1968-70, with its supporting budget, and voted to submit it to the General Convention, which will meet in Seattle, Wash., Sept. 17 - 27.
The program and budget considered was the result of a year's effort on the part of Council members and staff. In early 1966 a series of statements about the work of the Church today were adopted and became the basis for determining goals for the national church program during the next three years.
Methods for attaining each goal were determined, and an estimate of costs computed. Finally the priority of each goal was established, resulting in a unified Executive Council program.
This planning process, essentially one of management by objective, is a new one for the Executive Council, for past budgets have been traditional line-by-line budgets.
The supporting budget which Council voted to submit to the General Convention calls for $16,897,725 in 1968; for $18,587,498 in 1969 and for $19,516,873 in 1970. These figures are, however, subject to adjustment by the Presiding Bishop.
1967 Budget Approved
The Council, in its third major action, approved a $13,656,963 budget for 1967. This represents an increase of almost $200, 000 over 1966, but is approximately $270, 000 below the budget recommended by the last General Convention for this year. The reduction was made necessary because some dioceses and districts were unable to accept their quotas in full.
Although there was concern among Council members that a trend was developing, the second vice-president, Warren H. Turner, Jr. reported that there were only seven more dioceses than last year which did not accept their full quotas. He said that 94 per cent of quotas asked had been accepted this year. Last year the response was 96 percent.
In order to fill in part of the gap, the lapsed balances for 1966 and the entire balance in the account entitled "Future Program Needs" was made available for the 1967 program.
In other action, the Council called for the development of a program "for the securing of special financial resources for the Church's program, other than new general fund requests to people of the Church," and pledged itself "to support fully and effectively whatever program is adopted by the General Convention for the Triennium 1968-1970 by making known to the Church the content and objectives of such program...."
The Council also heard:
---- of the appointment of the Rev. Robert M. G. Libby as executive secretary, division of radio and television, Department of Communications and of the Rev. Charles L. Glenn, Jr. as associate secretary for the poverty programs, Department of Christian Social Relations. Father Libby will supervise all broadcast operations of the national church. Mr. Glenn is charged with becoming familiar with federal and regional anti-poverty programs and assisting parishes, dioceses and agencies in becoming involved in this work.
---- a report from the Rt. Rev. Stephen F. Bayne, Jr., director of the Overseas Department on the response of Episcopalians to the goal of $2 million for 1966, over and above the general church budget, set by the last General Convention for this church's response to the Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence document. The total, contributed in seven related categories, came to $1, 841,246. Some 147 overseas projects have now been promised or given support by 86 dioceses.
---- that the Department of Communication is planning a research project on the Clergy Newsletter in order to make this communications channel more effective.
---- a report .of the General Division of Research and Field Study on clergy salaries. This was a preliminary report of a study to be presented to General Convention.
---- that allocations of $230, 000 have been made from the United Thank Offering. Projects which received support were chosen in consultation with various departments of the Council, from requests totalling $800,000.
---- that the theme of the Triennial Meeting of the women of the Church, to be held in Seattle, Sept. 17-23, will be: "In the light of demands made upon us as Christians in a world torn by hate, separateness and struggle for new life and meaning, what is 'women's work'? What are our goals and objectives? What structures do we need?"
---- that three more dioceses in this country had entered into companion relationships with overseas jurisdictions. The new companions are Georgia and Guyana (Church in the Province of the West Indies); Alabama and Chile, Bolivia and Peru; and West Texas and Kyushu (Nippon Seikokai, the Holy Catholic Church in Japan).
The Council also approved an increase in the goal for the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and Interchurch Aid. The goal for this year will be $500, 000, as compared with $350, 000 in 1966. This amounts to about 20 cents for each communicant.
The Council received a communication asking that effective action be taken in the area of clergy placement for Negro priests. This was referred to bishops on the Executive Council, who reported that a pastoral letter from the Rt. Rev. Gerald F. Burrill, Bishop of Chicago, would be circulated to all bishops, and that the Presiding Bishop would assemble a group of representatives bishops to give further consideration to the petition.