Annual Conference of Cathedral Deans Held
Diocesan Press Service. May 28, 1974 [74160]
HOUSTON, Tex. -- The largest gathering of deans in the history of the Annual Conference of Cathedral Deans was hosted by Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, May 2-6 with 51 deans and 39 wives present from Canada, British Columbia, and all over the United States.
They were treated to a three hour seminar at the Johnson Space Center on the theme : "Outer and Under Space Exploration and its Benefits and Effects Upon Our People. "
The unusual program, designed and arranged by the Very Rev. Robert T. Gibson, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, included such well-known speakers as Dr. Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. and Captain Eugene A. Cernan. NASA technical personnel presented data on various aspects of the space program ranging from the space shuttle and lunar findings to the modular integrated utility system. Richard S. Johnston spoke on the Skylab's medical spin-offs and Robert F. Thompson spoke on the workings and benefits of the space shuttle.
Captain Cernan spoke on the human effects of space exploration and later gave some facts about the Apollo Soyuz test project.
Continuing the space theme, Col. Frank Gorman was the guest preacher at the 11 a. m. service in the Cathedral on Sunday.
"We have had a greater effect on your business than most things that have happened in the last few centuries," Dr. Kraft told the assembled deans. The fact that we now realize we are not the only planet where life exists has had a profound effect on man's thinking, Kraft said.
He said the space program was not on its last legs, that the space shuttle will revolutionize space flight, making it easy and routine. He compared the space program to the building of the railroads in this country in the last century. He predicted that with the use of the space shuttle we will be able to build products that are impossible to build on earth using materials that cannot be utilized here. These things can be made in space beyond gravity and brought back to earth for use.
He concluded his remarks by telling the deans "we look forward to your comments from the pulpit, having been here."
Capt. Cernan, introduced as "a man who has walked on the surface of the moon and been in space three times, emphasized the humanistic aspects of the space effort. " It is not just machines that have gone out into the universe. Space flight is a humanistic thing. " The moon landing was not a conquest but "a symbol of dedication and courage and self sacrifice by 200 million Americans. "
He said he now " appreciates more than ever the significance of what the Supreme Being has created. " He added that though space flight did not make men spiritual or religious, necessarily, it did tend to reinforce beliefs that were already there. He said he was impressed by the reception he had received in little known parts of the world -- Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, where the moon still plays a large part in primitive religion. "People said they prayed for me," he said, "and I think those prayers played as important a part in the success of Apollo 17 as anything the machines did for us.
" The great fact that you have faith is important, not how you worship, " said Cernan who is a Roman Catholic. "Worship of a Supreme Being is the single cohesive factor this world has. " Cernan said he believed there was life elsewhere in the Universe, a theory earlier articulated by Kraft. Cernan admitted he had never seen a UFO but "there are an infinite number of stars . .. there must be a number of other types of life also . . . man cannot be so egoistic as to believe that God created life here and noplace else. He said he thought there would be travel to other planets "in our lifetime."
In the question and answer period that followed each talk, the deans expressed concern for whether the 'Russians had the same feelings of humanity about the space program "as you have. " They also questioned Bob Johnston about the spin-off effects of the space lab program and were told that emergency heart treatment units; sophisticated monitoring equipment that could be handled by para medical people, thus freeing up doctors for patient work; and improvement of monitoring in intensive care units, were among the medical benefits derived from the program.
The deans also expressed interest in whether or not the astronauts experienced emotional problems either from scrubbing a mission or being delayed, or as a result of the longtime separation and dislocation from earth. They were told that no problems in either of these cases were experienced. "However," Johnston said, "They were really ready to come home the last two weeks of the mission."
It was the first time Dean Gibson had had occasion to host the conference and the first time in 12 years, the Cathedral had been host. Bishop Richardson, then dean of the Cathedral, invited the group in 1962.
Dean Gibson praised the space center seminar participants for "an outstanding job."
He said the space program affected the clergy more than any group of people, that the finding of life on other planets "will change our concept of religion . . ."
He said the visitors were impressed with the validity of the space effort, particularly after learning in detail of the spin-offs that have improved the quality of life in many areas. " People still question the cost of the space program, " Dean Gibson said. "We were amazed to find out that it costs r re to pick up the litter in the National Parks of this country for one year than it costs for one Apollo mission."
He said during this business sessions here, led by the Very Rev. Francis B. Sayre, dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, the deans expressed optimism about the church. "They all seem to feel that the corner has been turned and there is increased vitality in the church. " He said there was an increasingly important role for the Cathedral, not as just another parish but a supportive center for the diocese. The deans felt that there should be close relationships between themselves and their bishops and that the bishops should use the Cathedral pulpit to speak on issues of concern to the people of their dioceses.
The Cathedral also has a role as a center for the downtown community and as a leader in the development of art, music, and drama for the entire city. The people and the clergy of the diocese should feel that the Cathedral is their center, Dean Gibson said. " It should be a place in the concrete jungle where people find respite as well as a ministerial arm to convention visitors. " He said Christ Church Cathedral's location as the only church within walking distance of the Civic Center, had made this aspect of its ministry increasingly important.
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