Episcopal Press and News
Miscellaneous Actions of Executive Council
Diocesan Press Service. February 24, 1972 [72021]
GREENWICH, Conn. (DPS) -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Churchmen here February 22-24, in its annual meeting as the directors of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church. Among the actions taken, the Council –
* Elected a Screening and Review Committee for the General Convention Special Program which has authority to approve grants for projects which foster self-determination for the poor and powerless. Elected from the membership of the Executive Council were: Mrs. Seaton Bailey (Georgia), Bishop Wilburn C. Campbell (West Virginia), the Rev. Canon Gordon Gillett (New Hampshire), and Philip Masquelette (Texas). Elected from the Union of Black Episcopalians were: the Rev. Jesse F. Anderson, Jr. (Washington), and the Rev. James Woodruff (Pennsylvania). Representatives of the poor elected were: Henry Allen (Oklahoma), Quince Duncan (Costa Rica), Paul Fletcher (Olympia), E. Thaxton King (Ohio), Mrs. Sue Kobak (Southwestern Virginia), Kwami McDonald (North Carolina), and Carlos Russell (Long Island).
* Adopted a resolution from the Ghetto Loan and Investment Committee which set as Executive Council policy "the investment and/or deposits of available funds up to $20, 000 in FDIC or FSLIC-insured interest-bearing or dividend-bearing accounts in minority-owned banks and saving institutions in the United States of America. " The resolution directed the treasurer "to implement said policy by so investing available funds from time to time." It also asked that this action be publicized to each jurisdiction and Church-related institution "in order to encourage such other Church units to take similar action in this regard. "
* Heard an announcement and an invitation from Bishop Allen W. Brown of Albany concerning the fourteenth international Anglican Fellowship of Prayer which will be held in Albany, N.Y., April 23-25. Using the theme, "Prayer Unites," the Fellowship will hear the Rt. Rev. Cuthbert Bardsley, Bishop of Coventry, England.
* Adopted the proposed Charter of the National Commission on Hispanic Affairs and elected as regional members of the Commission Julio Rosado (North East), and Rogelio Granados (South West).
* Adopted a policy statement on ending the war in Indochina which declared that "our continued participation in that war does not conform to Christian principle. " The statement also said: "We are called to be peace-makers. We must oppose the further continuation of this war and act to bring it to an end by all proper means at our command, with full release of prisoners of war by both sides, and bind up the wounds of its victims."
* Adopted a policy statement on Health Care "to guide its staff in the information, education and action programs of the Council."
* Received a statement from Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., treasurer, which reports a total of $492,997.63 paid in 1971 on the Faith Offering to support projects over and above the Commitment Budget.
* Heard Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., treasurer, report that a total of approximately $165,000 has been received for the 150th Anniversary Offering for six designated dioceses.
* Received a report from Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., treasurer, that contributions to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and Interchurch Aid in 1971, totalled $593,166.80, which is approximately $10,000 below the contributions for 1970.
* Elected as members of the Committee on Trust Funds for 1972: Frederick G. Atkinson, Samuel L. Brookfield, Benjamin S. Clark, Thomas D. Cunningham, Jr., Edward B. de Selding, Elbridge T. Gerry, and Longstreet Hinton.
* Advanced $50, 000 to the Treasurer of General Convention, from the Reserve for Contigencies, to employ a General Convention Manager and secretary. The Presiding Bishop announced the appointment of Bob N. Wallace, Louisville, Ky., to the position.
* Heard a report from Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., treasurer, which indicated that 16 dioceses overpaid their pledges in the total sum of $264,821.15 in 1971, while seven dioceses underpaid their pledges by $68,337.98. With the increase in income and the reduction in expenses by the Program, Jurisdictional and Administrative units, there was a balance of $411,129 at the end of 1971. By action of the Council, the 1971 lapsed balance was set up as a reserve for future program needs.
* Appropriated the sum of $75,000 to Seabury Press, Inc., to meet operating expenses in 1972.
* Adopted a statement on Empowerment which said that "empowerment is the predominant objective in the ministry and mission of our church at home and abroad in our day." The statement said that "a primary task in the empowerment process is the liberating of man from those 'powers and principalities ' and structures which enslave him" and that "empowering must be seen as a liberating process for oppressed and oppressor, for powerful and powerless, whereby God's Spirit breaks the walls of separation that dehumanize people."
* Terminated the Companion Diocese Relationship between the Dioceses of Maryland and Lagos (The Church in the Province of West Africa) and established a Companion Diocese Relationship between the Dioceses of Maryland and Liberia, to be in effect until February, 1975, unless terminated sooner by mutual consent.
* Adopted a resolution which calls for the Executive Council to "associate itself with the leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambokavanga Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Africa (Rhenish Mission Church) and with the Anglican Bishop of Damaraland in opposing the extension of the doctrine and practice of apartheid to the people of South West Africa." It also commended "the said Christian leaders in their courageous stand on behalf of the freedom and human dignity of all the inhabitants of that land."
* Voted to discharge with thanks the Ad Hoc Committee on Location of Church Center and to appoint another committee to gather more expert data on the kind of Church Center which will be needed in the future, to report to the Council within the coming year, and to lead up to a report and recommendations at the General Convention in Louisville in 1973.
* Confirmed the appointment of the following as members of the Board of Trustees of The Seabury Press: The Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, Chairman; the Rt. Rev. Roger Blanchard; the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin; the Rt. Rev. Stephen Bayne, Executive Committee member; the Rt. Rev. John M. Krumm; John P.R. Budlong, Chairman of Executive Committee; the Very Rev. John V. Butler; Dr. Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., Treasurer and Executive Committee member; John C. Goodbody, President of the Corporation; Mrs. Carman St. John Hunter; George A. Murphy; Dr. Manning Pattillo; George Seaton; Robert Saudek; Warren H. Turner, Jr., Vice Chairman and Secretary; J. Randall Williams, Executive Committee member.
* Expressed thanks to Bishop Archie H. Crowley, Suffragan Bishop of Michigan and representative of Province V, and Mrs. Fernando Aldana of Guatemala, representative of Province IX, whose terms expire at this Council meeting.
