Report on Meeting of the National Council of the American Church Union
Diocesan Press Service. October 14, 1968 [70-23]
RALEIGH, N. C. -- The National Council of the American Church Union today heard from the ACU's Executive Director, the Rev. Canon Albert J. DuBois, that the circulation of the monthly "American Church News" has zoomed to an all-time high. A professional journalist is to be added to the staff as managing editor in the near future, it was announced, with Canon DuBois continuing as editor. Council members also voted a sharp reduction in annual dues. Current strength of the group is estimated at ten thousand.
Council members took time out from a busy schedule to be guests at a reception honoring the Bishop of North Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Fraser; the Bishop of Wangarratta (Australia), the Rt. Rev. Theodore B. McCall, and the president of the American Church Union, the Rt. Rev. Chandler W. Sterling. Among the guests was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Raleigh.
Following A.C.U. tradition, Keble Awards were presented to Dr. and Mrs. Urban T. Holmes of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Mr. Washington Irving III, of Providence, Rhode Island, and the Rt. Rev. Robert Mize, former Bishop of Damaraland, Africa.
Speaking at the Annual Banquet, Bishop McCall urged increased encouragement of sound Catholic theological learning. He also called for Anglo-Catholics to take the lead in promoting truly ecumenical endeavors while opposing all schemes for unions of Churches which would be based on anything but agreement in Catholic truth.
Among the significant actions taken by the Council was the approval of the re-establishment of a Theological Quarterly to provide theologians with a sounding board for scholarly articles.
Elected to national offices of the American Church Union were the Rt. Rev. Albert Chambers, Bishop of Springfield, President; Mr. Edward Darrach, the Rev. James A. Edden, the Hon. Walter Underwood, Miss Mary Moore, Lt. Gen. Milton G. Blake, U.S.A. (ret), Vice Admiral Ephraim R. McLean, U.S.N. (ret), and Mr. Washington Irving III, as Vice-Presidents, the Rev. Canon Albert J. DuBois, General Secretary and Mr. Stuart Casper, Treasurer.