Ministry Council Reports to Executive Council
Diocesan Press Service. May 18, 1972 [72056]
GREENWICH, Conn. (DPS) -- " The ministry of the Church is our total responsibility, our total privilege, our total opportunity to serve the Lord, one another, and our world. " The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church listened to this message from the Rev. Robert Rodenmayer, Coordinator of the Ministry Council, on the afternoon of May 16.
Dr. Rodenmayer reported that the Ministry Council -- an ad hoc group of 17 official representatives of committees, commissions and boards dealing with ministry in the Church -- has three assignments: 1) to promote cooperative activity, 2) to establish a communications network to the Church on ministry, and 3) to develop a model for a ministry board, to be presented at the General Convention in Louisville, Ky., in the fall of 1973, to take the place of the ad hoc group.
Stressing the importance to the Church of its ministers, and how they often feel neglected, Dr. Rodenmayer pointed out some somber facts, including the harsh truth that since January 1 six priests had become so discouraged they took their own lives.
Following the report, Bishop John Allin of Mississippi proposed "that the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church . . . urges the Church as a whole to address itself to the support needs of the entire clergy body . . . " and that it "recognizes the need for a strong, adequately financed, organized effort to deal with ministry concerns on a national level."
The resolution was referred to the Education Committee for study; the committee reported back without comment on Thursday and the resolution was unanimously passed.