Provincial Social Welfare Conference Held in Denver
Diocesan Press Service. January 3, 1975 [75002]
Salome Breck
DENVER, Colo. -- Some 50 CSR-related Episcopalians of the Sixth and Seventh provinces met in Denver Nov. 5 through 7 to evaluate individual diocesan programs, compare needs and share plans for the future.
Woodrow Carter, officer for Social Welfare on the "815 " staff, led the three-day meeting, during which small groups explored five major areas of concern.
The workshop on hunger and welfare was directed by Mr. Carter, a long-time social worker.
The group especially concerned with criminal justice was led by Denver's District Attorney, Dale Tooley, communicant at St. Thomas'.
The workshop on Native Americans was scheduled to be led by the Rev. Noah Brokenleg of the Rosebud Mission, South Dakota. Because his plane was delayed that discussion was led by Ms. Helen Peterson, assistant to the commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Denver field coordinator, and the Rev. Innocent Goodhouse of the Diocese of North Dakota.
The group whose topic was Health Care was led by the Rev. Everett Francis, officer for Public Affairs of the "815" staff.
Studies on special problems of the aging were directed by the Rev. Herbert C. Lazenby of the Episcopal Society for Ministry to the Aging.
Problems related to alcoholism were presented for discussion by Mr. Carter and the Rev. Canon George F. LeMoine, Minneapolis, Minn.
The opening dinner meeting was scheduled to have as its host Colorado's Chairman of Christian Social Relations, the Rev. Richard Kerr, rector of the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Denver.
Father Kerr was hospitalized and his wife Jane, acted as official hostess.
The Rev. Marion Hammond, rector of St. Thomas', Denver, was the speaker. Outlining the theological basis for social action, he reminded the group that Jesus came into a world where there were many down-trodden people.
"And often it is only the down-trodden who hurt enough to see the need of change in our world, " said Father Hammond. "The Gospel doesn't identify us as a study group about Christianity, but as an action group.
"We go looking for the tensionless life but tension can be a sign that we need change in our society . . . all the great religious movements have made use of tension -- the Oxford movement, the Reformation, the work of the Holy Spirit.
" It is the job of Christian Social Relations to find the people who feel powerless and dead and help them," said Father Hammond. "But instead, the Christian church often blesses the status quo and the dead. The Eucharist tells us we have the power to change. Our task is to move out into the world, minister to the people who are hurt, and thus extend the Eucharist. We need to tell people 'You do matter! We care! You are free! '" Out of the general discussion and summation made by workshop groups came these general conclusions:
HUNGER AND WELFARE
"Hunger must be considered the most urgent problem of the '70's," observed Mr. Carter at the beginning of that workshop's opening session.
Funds to combat hunger provided by the Church are relatively small, but in spite of this several programs can be considered successful. Best known is the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief.
Several Dioceses, including Colorado, have now designated fast days, and are sending special funds to the World Hunger Fund which is a part of the World Relief Program.
Among successful pilot studies financed by Episcopalians is one on the school lunch program, provided by a $35, 000 United Thank Offering grant.
"The Church can't afford to worry about who gets the credit," Mr. Carter observed. "We have limited funds, but we also have creative ideas. We must learn how to share those ideas, then walk away and let the program work."
Suggestions included sponsoring of nutrition classes, with special emphasis on needs of the aging, expectant mothers-and young children, school lunch programs and information on food stamps, especially for rural areas.
The Church can exert its considerable influence in legislation concerning foods. And church people can examine and improve their own lifestyle.
"Do we as a rule, over-eat? Can we learn to be generous, sharing food and other necessities with the rest of the world? Can we truly commit ourselves to some program of help, no matter how insignificant it may seem?" said members of the group.
THE CHURCH AND THE ALCOHOLIC
Men and women of the group discussing alcoholism were of varied interests and backgrounds, and their discussion covered several aspects of the problem:
RACA (Recovering Alcoholic Clergy Association); alcoholism among American Indians, with such special problems as re-entry into the tribal system from Anglo alcoholism centers, support from family relationships and prevention programs; more adequate training for work with alcoholics at the seminary level.
"If the Church is truly the Church it will think in larger terms of helping a multi- problem society, and train its people to be more than 'do-gooders,'" said members of the group.
THE CHURCH AND THE AGING
The Episcopal Church professes to be interested in the problems of the aging, but budgets only $12,000 for this work. This means that most work with senior citizens must be produced with more imagination than money, and on the local level.
The group pointed out that the Church could help create a more positive attitude toward age in a society which has been arbitrary. "What does the 'doctrine of leisure' mean? " they asked. Is the Church interested in the fact that many people in retirement centers simply "live together" rather than marrying or lose part of their pensions; that many laws are dehumanizing; that retired persons should do actual work, not simply "busy work"; that transportation to church and to the doctor and telephone calls can mean much to older people?
These are helps which depend on an attitude of caring rather than expenditure of money.
THE CHURCH AND NATIVE AMERICANS
The Native American population of the Sixth and Seventh provinces is considered the most disadvantaged in the country. Here, Indians are the most isolated, not only physically, but psychologically and socially.
Some 58,000 to 100, 000 American Indians live in the six-state area of Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. On some reservations, alcoholism is as high as 80 percent; suicide rates are 13 times higher than the national average. Family disintegration, high school drop-out rates, sub-standard housing and few permanent jobs have resulted in a situation which has been described by some authorities as "full of the possibility of racial genocide."
This workshop group saw the possibility of an understanding Church as a natural advocate for the rights of American Indians to maintain their own culture; as able to offer leadership without tampering with the internal politics of the tribes; as a support to the Indian in his effort to preserve land and water rights and develop his own leadership, especially leadership within the Church.
THE CHURCH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Discussion here emphasized the need for fresh ideas about the entire justice system, involved as it is with many lawyers and judges insisting on their own convenience, and police "doing things their own way."
Meanwhile, 40 percent of those who have reported crimes to the police say they "wouldn't do it again," and are part of a society where 80 percent of all felonies are committed by "repeaters. "
" Episcopalians, for the most part, are a comfortable lot, and don't live in areas where they see the problems of criminal justice first hand, " said the group. "However, many Episcopalians have access to people who can act to change the system. They can help put out office-holders who do not act creatively. Above all, they can care enough to become involved.
THE CHURCH AND HEALTH CARE
Health care in the United States has been described as "the largest non-system in the world," with the poor having a "hard time " but the middle class American "paying more and more, only to discover he is being taken care of less and less."
"Often, in areas where we need to change laws, we are represented, not by elected officials, but by medical societies," said members of the group.
The rising cost of health care is turning more and more Americans to medical group plans.
Most people who are not directly concerned with nursing homes simply ignore the poor conditions which often exist.
These are some of the problems discussed by the group, which believed that any diocese or parish could become more helpful if it would take the trouble to become informed.
Information on medical insurance plans has been compiled in a pamphlet prepared by the interreligious Task Force on Health Care, made up of Jewish, Roman Catholic and Protestant organizations. The study is called Comparative Analysis of Four Major National Health Insurance Plans Before the 93rd Congress. Copies are available at 20 cents each from: Service Department/100 Maryland Ave. N.E. /Washington, D.C. 20002. Order number is T 1195.
Before the closing Eucharist, delegates filled out answers to two questions. The first was, "What do I expect to do when I get back home?"
Mr. Carter reports that there was an overwhelming commitment from delegates to call meetings with their individual bishops, and to try to work out some new possibilities in social responsibility in their own dioceses. There was a feeling of urgency to get the individual diocese to set some new directions, and a reinforcement of the need to look at real social issues on the local level.
The second question asked was this: "What are your expectations of help from the "815" staff?"
Here delegates expressed hope that staff would make results of this conference available all the way down to the local parish; that staff would share the concerns of the group with the Presiding Bishop so that those concerns would be included in the overall process of National church planning and direction.