World Church-In Brief
Diocesan Press Service. June 5, 1967 [55-11]
Relaxation of Mixed Marriage Rules Noted in Anglican Pamphlet - A member of another church who wishes to marry a Roman Catholic but cannot agree to all the children being brought up in the Roman faith can apply to Rome for a relaxation of the rules. A Roman Catholic whose marriage is solemnised before a non- Roman authority is no longer excommunicated, as a result of the Vatican instruction on Mixed Marriages issued in March 1966. These are two of the facts brought out in the pamphlet "Mixed Marriages between Anglican and Roman Catholics", published in London, May 26 by SPCK.
The Anglican, Baptist and Presbyterian churches in Rwanda have decided to erect a united theological school in Butare. Of the four churches in the Rwanda National Council of Churches, only the Free Methodists held aloof from the plan. The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands carry on mission work in Rwanda in cooperation with the Presbyterian church.
European Committee Outlines Pastoral Ministry to Migrants - The churches of Europe have three obligations with regard to migratory workers: to provide social services for these workers, to educate public opinion to accept migrants on an equal footing, and to defend them from all forms of exploitation. These were the conclusions reached by the Churches' Committee on Migrant Workers in Western Europe at its seventh meeting at Bossey, Switzerland. Delegates came from Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches in Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Holland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia.
United Presbyterians Adopt New Confession of Faith - The United Presbyterian Church's General Assembly approved by a standing vote the Confession of 1967. The first major change in the church's statement of faith in 300 years, it will not supersede but will stand with eight historic creeds.
The Confession of 1967 makes social action officially a part of basic church doctrine and rejects the idea that the Bible is "inerrant" and thus immune from criticism in the light of new knowledge.
British Roman Catholic See Will Give One Per Cent for Poverty Aid -- John Cardinal Heenan of Westminster has announced that his See intends to set aside one per cent of its income from now on to help in the war against poverty. "It may mean postponing building plans, but a time of peril calls for extraordinary sacrifices", he said.
The Rev. Philip T. Zabriskie, associate director of the Episcopal Executive Council's Home Department, was one of seven national figures to receive an honorary degree June 5 during the 139th annual commencement of Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. The degree conferred was that of Doctor in Divinity.
The national headquarters of the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry will be moved to Chicago as part of a stepped up program to train clergymen in counseling the emotionally troubled, it was announced May 18.
Dissenters should be given representation on the Anglican-United Church general commission on union, The Canadian Churchman states in an editorial in its May issue. The Churchman, the Anglican Church of Canada's national monthly newspaper, charges that "loyal members.... with a dedication and record of service second to none" and who now oppose union with the United Church, have been excluded from the commission.
Maryknoll Publications Joins NCC Mission Education Board - The Department of Education for Mission of the National Council of Churches has voted to make Maryknoll Publications of the Roman Catholic Maryknoll Missionary Society an official member of its Board of Managers. The Rev. David Bowman, S. J. is associate director of the National Council's Department of Faith and Order but this marks the first time that a Roman Catholic unit has been elected as a participating organization in a National Council unit.
More than 600 delegates will attend the United States Conference of Church and Society, Oct. 22 - 26. This conference, called by the General Board of the NCC, is a follow-up to the 1966 World Conference on Church and Society and will consider the issues and problems facing a world torn by rapid social and technical change, attempting to apply the insights of Christian faith to these dilemmas. The theme of the conference: "Christians in the Social and Technical Revolutions: Strategies for Action."
The first International Congress on Religion, Architecture and the Visual Arts will meet at the New York Hilton, NYC from Aug. 27 - Sept. 2. The Congress will involve the interrelated disciplines of theology, sociology, urban planning and design, architecture and visual arts and will consider such questions as the relationships between these disciplines, the role of architecture and art in expressing the religious need of contemporary man, the future needs of the community of believers and architectural and artistic responses to these needs. A Second, separate section of the Congress will include a trip to Montreal and Expo '67 Sept. 2 - 4. Registration forms can be obtained from the Congress at 287 Park Avenue South, New York, N. Y. 10010.
Theologians, ranging from evangelical Protestants to Roman Catholics, will meet June 11-16 at Notre Dame University for the second meeting of the National Faith and Order Colloquium. To be considered will be evangelistic practices of various churches and an assessment of the ecumenical movement as an instrument of evangelism.