New Council on Ministry Organizes
Diocesan Press Service. May 30, 1974 [74166]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Council on Ministry of the Episcopal Church, reorganized by action of the General Convention last fall, now includes a representative from each of the eight domestic provinces of the church, in addition to leaders of the agencies having to do with ministry in the church.
The Council on Ministry, which replaced the three-year-old ad hoc Ministry Council, is required to report regularly to the Executive Council and to the House of Bishops between triennial meetings of the General Convention.
At its organizational meeting in New York City, April 23-24, the following officers were elected: Bishop Robert R. Spears, Jr. of Rochester, chairperson; Mrs. W. Ashton Lee, Denver, Colo., vice-chairperson; the Rev. Peter Lee, Chapel Hill, N.C., secretary. In addition to the three officers, the following were elected to serve on the executive committee: The Very Rev. Harvey H. Guthrie, Jr., Cambridge, Mass.; Bishop Frederick B. Wolf of Maine; and Mr. Richard Humphrey, Jr., Detroit, Mich.
Presiding Bishop-Elect John M. Allin attended the meeting and spoke of his concerns for "the total renewal of ministry" and of his search for "a person of stature to fill the key post of Deputy for Ministry " on his staff.
As established by the General Convention, the Council on Ministry seeks "to coordinate the efforts and objectives with regard to ministry " of the following agencies in the Episcopal Church: Board for Clergy Deployment, Board for Theological Education, Church Pension Fun d, General Board of Examining Chaplains, House of Bishops Committee on Pastoral Development, Executive Council's Program Group on Lay Ministries, and Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church.
Council membership consists of the chairperson or designate of each of these participating agencies, one staff person from each with voice but no vote, one elected member of the Executive Council, the chairman of the Conference of Deans of Accredited Episcopal Seminaries, and one person representing the commission on ministry of a diocese in each of the nine provinces.
Last fall, the General Convention charged the Council on Ministry "to study the total needs and trends of ministry within this Church and to determine what components are needed for a comprehensive support system for that ministry."
The Council was asked to recommend to the 1976 General Convention "a national instrumentality by which a comprehensive support system may be established."
At that time the Council will also "propose methods by which national, diocesan, and local instrumentalities can be integrated and supported."
The Presiding Bishop will appoint a staff person who will coordinate the ministry concerns and objectives of the church through the Council on Ministry.
( NOTE: A list of members of the Council on Ministry is attached.)
[Contact the Archives for a list of Council Members. --Ed.]