World Church - In Brief
Diocesan Press Service. November 1, 1968 [70-24]
Ecumenically Speaking
Many Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit wish to share the eucharist with those of other communions on special occasions, a report from the Archdiocesan Ecumenical Commission, 18 months in preparation, has shown. The report has been forwarded to Archbishop John F. Dearden.
A new schedule for a final vote on a merger of the Church of England and the Methodist Church has been presented to the Convocation of Canterbury and the Convocation of York. The final vote, under the new schedule, would be delayed from May of 1969 until July of 1969, and would coincide with the meeting of the Church Assembly. This will allow Anglicans to hear the results of a clergy referendum on the question of participation in the proposed Service of Reconciliation. The Service is designed to integrate the ministries of the two Churches.
In a letter sent to The Times, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Fisher of Lambeth, stated that the present plan for union between the Church of England and the Methodist Church "is giving rise to some very dangerous and disturbing disunities." For doctrinal reasons, he added, it would be "very wrong for anyone to vote for the scheme in its present form. "
Vatican authority has recently stated that "Protestants and Anglicans" may not be received at Holy Communion. Public cases of such inter-communion have taken place recently in Paris, Uppsala and at Medellin, Colombia. The statement was issued by Cardinal Bea, president of the Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity. Before such inter-communion can take place, the statement said, the persons must have toward the Eucharist the same faith professed by the Roman Catholic Church and be unable to secure the ministrations of their own confession.
OVERSEAS
Church World Service recently sent five tons of winter clothing and $4, 000 in cash to aid Czechoslovakian refugees now in Austria.
Two former missionaries, both of whom served in Asia, have died. The Rev. Fredrick Crawford-Brown, who served from 1924 until 1951 in China, died in Dorchester, Mass., October 24. The Rev. Mr. Crawford-Brown had served as rector of St. Mary's, Dorchester from 1951 until 1964 when he retired. Miss Elizabeth Griffin, who served in the Philippines from 1931 until 1955, died September 25 at her home in North Carolina.
The Very Rev. Colin O'Brien Winter, Dean of St. George's Cathedral, Windhoek, has been elected to succeed the Rt. Rev. Robert Mize as Bishop of Damaraland.
The Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church, a member of the Wider Episcopal Fellowship, is among those non-Roman Catholic churches which have agreed not to register as "confessional associations" as prescribed by Spain's new religious liberty law. At the same time, these Churches have stated their readiness to unite in efforts to promote religious liberty. To date, those Churches that have not registered have met no difficulties.
Two missionaries in Biafra, the Rev. and Mrs. Tarka Savoy, were killed when Nigerian Federal troops overran the town of Okigwi. The couple were members of the Church Missionary Society of Britain. C. M. S. is one of the independent missionary societies of the Church of England.
Guidance on organ transplants and body disposal from the Bishops of the Church of England has been asked for by the Convocation of Canterbury's Lower House (Clergy). This was the first time that the moral and spiritual problems raised by transplant surgery has been debated in a British religious assembly.
AT HOME
The Rt. Rev. Walter M. Higley, Bishop of Central New York, announced his retirement as of February 1, 1969, to the Diocesan convention. He will be succeeded by the Rt. Rev. Ned Cole, the Bishop Coadjutor.
The Rev. Dana A. Kennedy of Westport, Conn., and moderator of the Episcopal radio series, VIEWPOINT, and the Rev. Frederick Long, producer of the Episcopal radio series, THE CATHEDRAL HOUR,, were among those honored with Public Service Awards from the Council on Family Health. The awards, which were presented at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, N.J., were given for the radio record album, HOME SAFETY TIPS FROM THE STARS. Also honored at the same time were Connie Francis, Greta Thyssen and Emelia Conde. The three performers were among those stars who participated in the album.
Florida Episcopal College, to function as a "cluster-type college" with the Southern Baptist Stetson University, expects to open in the fall of 1971 with 450 students and 30 faculty members. As a cluster-type college, Florida Episcopal will be built adjacent to the Stetson campus in Deland, Fla., and will use all of Stetson's facilities while maintaining its own identity. Such a cluster arrangement is already in operation at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif.
"Music for the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper, " a guide in the selection of music for the Trial Use Liturgy, is now available for $1 from Associated Parishes, Inc., 116 W. Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53703. The booklet, written by Richard F. Woods, also offers counsel on the general question of use of music with the liturgy.
During the 131st Convention, of the Diocese of Chicago, the new $1.6 million Diocesan Center was dedicated. The five-story building will provide administrative and program offices for the Diocese and cathedral, a reception area and classrooms for the cathedral's educational program.
Through the Presbyterian Economic Development Corporation, the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. recently invested $1. 1 million in ghetto business and housing enterprises. Major recipients were Harlem's Freedom National Bank and the Interracial Council for Business Opportunity, a national organization with local offices in five cities. These two organizations each received $500, 000. PEDCO was created after approval by the United Presbyterian General Assembly in May of a resolution to make more than $9 million in investment funds available to enterprises owned and operated by minority group entrepreneurs in low and middle income areas.