Representatives to Conference in Tobago Approved
Diocesan Press Service. December 13, 1973 [73272]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church has designated 25 persons to represent the Church at a regional conference of representatives of the three member churches of the Anglican Council for North America and the Caribbean (ACNAC). The three member churches are the Anglican Church of Canada, the Church of the Province of the West Indies, and the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.
According to ACNAC chairman Bishop Clive O. Abdulah of Trinidad and Tobago, the purpose of the conference "is to deepen understanding and relationships among our three Churches and to understand further the demands of the Gospel, so that we may all be more responsive to Christ's Mission to-day. "
The conference will concentrate especially on the Caribbean area and will deal with the Partnership in Mission proposal of the Anglican Consultative Council, which was adopted by the General Convention in October. The concept of partnership is intended to supersede more traditional modes of interaction between churches based only on sending and receiving of personnel and money.
The Council approved the appointment of the following to represent the Episcopal Church at the conference:
* ACNAC members from the Episcopal Church: Presiding Bishop John E. Hines, Mrs. John S. Jackson, Jr., the Rev. Henry B. Mitchell, Bishop Francisco Reus-Froylan of Puerto Rico, Suffragan Bishop Quinton E. Primo, Jr., of Chicago, Dr. D. Bruce Merrifleld, and Miss Eleanor G. Richards;
* Executive Council members: The Rev. John B. Coburn, Mr. Walker Taylor, the Rev. Gerald N. McAllister, the Rev. Rustin R. Kimsey, and the Rev. G. Terrence Ford;
* Companion Diocese representatives, one from each diocese: South Carolina, Nevada, California, Chicago, Indianapolis, Florida, and Southeast Florida or Rochester;
* Two representatives of the Black Caucus/Union of Black Episcopalians;
* Four additional persons, representing: Diocese of Haiti, youth, Diocese of the Virgin Islands, and the House of Bishops Overseas Committee.
In a related action, the Council adopted a resolution whereby the Episcopal Church will accept invitations to "participate as partners in mission" in six provincial/regional consultations in 1974, as follows: Church of the Province of the West Indies, Feb. 1-3; Council of the Church of South East Asia, May 30-31; Nippon Set Ko Kai, June 4-6; Church of the Province of Central Africa, July 16- Aug. 3; Church of the Province of Tanzania, Aug. 26-27; and the Church of the Province of Uganda, late in 1974.