Bishop Burt Threatens Resignation from Episcopate
Diocesan Press Service. February 27, 1975 [75079]
PERRYSBURG, Ohio -- The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, meeting in annual convention Feb. 8 & 9 at the Holiday Inn, Perrysburg, voted to spend $50,000 to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief on Feb. 10th, earmarked to aid the Hunger Crisis, and heard their Diocesan leader, Bishop John Harris Burt announce his proposed resignation from the episcopate if the 1976 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Minnesota, is unsuccessful in persuading the National Church to permit the priesting of women.
The Bishop said, "There is no issue confronting all of us in our Church today which is of greater importance to our ongoing corporate life in Christian fellowship than how we shall affirm the full personhood of women. How long it took us in the Episcopal Church to permit women to sit on vestries, to be delegates in Conventions like this, to read the Scriptures publicly and administer the chalice as official layreaders."
"In 1973 caution overcame lay deputies at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church when the ordination of women was defeated"
He reflected many who reacted with dismay over the Louisville defeat at General Convention, saw acts of ecclesiastical disobedience as effective strategy.
"As Bishop of this Diocese I have believed it to be a special obligation of the trust you reposed in me through my election and Consecration to do my level best to see that our differences over this issue are debated and resolved within the guidelines which our representative decision-making process has enshrined in the canons."
Looking forward, he continued, "If, dear friends, we are unsuccessful at the 1976 General Convention in persuading our Church to permit the priesting of women, then I intend to resign from the episcopate. I shall resign as an act of conscience against what I will then consider to be determinative decision by our Church to continue sexual discrimination in our practice of ordination. "
"I do not make this announcement lightly. Unless other appropriate and legally alternatives appear, which I presently do not now foresee, I feel that these ordaining hands of mine should no longer be limited to male heads after the Minnesota conclave. "
"To be frank it will break my heart if inaction on this matter by the 1976 General Convention forces me to respond to these promptings of my conscience. For I would hate to resign the leadership of this exciting diocese and to break the personal ties with this company of clergy and laity whom I have come to love so deeply. "
Earlier in the Episcopal Address he had dealt with proportional vs. equal representation for voting at Convention. Last year, equal lay representation was approved for the first reading. The Bishop believes that such a radical shift in diocesan power should be carefully analyzed before ratification in the 1975 Convention. (This constitutional change on Feb. 9 failed to receive the necessary 2/3 majority to pass.) Speaking on the Hunger Crisis, the Bishop urged the Convention to take the deepest look at the American way and to ask in light of the Gospel the most searching questions of the Church and society about ways to modify our life style.
On the 14 point Resolution of the Commission on Racial Justice Bishop Burt stressed that "each point be evaluated carefully before being dismissed as unworkable, impractical or unnecessary. The blacks have the conviction that they are now fighting this battle alone. The Church must meet these issues and not wash its hands, following the example of Pontius Pilate." (The Resolution of the Commission on Racial Justice was received and passed on Feb. 9.)
The newly elected members to the Ecclesiastical Court (which must meet to try the Rev. L. Peter Beebe of Oberlin) are: the Rev. Ora A. Calhoun, St. Matthew's, Ashland; the Rev. Richard M. Morris, St. Peter's, Lakewood; the Rev. James D. Reasner, St. Andrew's, Toledo; the Rev. George E. Ross, St. Paul's, Akron; and the Rev. George H. Van Doren, St. Peter's, Akron.
Deputies elected to represent the Diocese in the Minnesota General Convention in 1976 are: Clergy: the Rev. Dalton D. Downs, Emmanuel, Cleveland; the Rev. Canon W. Ebert Hobbs, Christ Church, Shaker Hts.; the Rev. Phillip J. Rapp, St. Andrew's, Toledo and the Very Rev. Perry R. Williams, Trinity Cathedral. Lay: Mr. Paul Frank, St. Paul's, Akron; Mrs. Charles Huston, St. Andrew's, Mentor; Mr. Clarence W. Mixon, Church of the Incarnation, Cleveland; and Mr. Sterling Newell, Jr., St. Paul's, Cleveland Hts.
Other elections to policy-making positions include:
Standing Committee: Clergy: the Rev. William J. Haas, Church of the Epiphany, Euclid. Lay: Mrs. Charles Huston, St. Andrew's, Mentor.
Diocesan Council: Clergy: the Rev. Ora A. Calhoun, St. Matthew's, Ahsland; the Rev. Charles M. Irish, St. Luke's, Bath; the Rev. Roderic H. Pierce, St. Andrew's, Elyria; the Rev. William D. Shively, St. Christopher's, Gates Mills. Lay: Mr. Leroy Cowperthwaite, Christ Church, Kent; Mr. Sterling H. Flynt, St. Thomas, Berea; and Mrs. Robert New, St. Paul's, Akron.
Ohio Council of Churches: Mrs. Richard B. Foley, St. Paul's, Akron. Cathedral Chapter: Clergy: the Rev. Thomas E. Vossler, St. Alban's, Cleveland Hts. Lay: Mr. Arthur D. Ott, St. James', Painesville.
Provincial Synod: Clergy: the Rev. Stephen P. Pressey, St. Rocco's, Youngstown. Lay: Mr. John Medlong, All Saints', Parma.
Trustee of the Diocese: Mr. George H. Page, St. Paul's, Cleveland Hts. Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Right Rev. John M. Allin, reported in his Banquet Address that "the national response to the Hunger Crisis by giving to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief has been heartening." He also called for the national Church to have a Renewal of the Total Ministry, with faith and clarification -- not division and manipulation. "
The Convention approved 7 resolutions touching on a wide variety of concerns in church and society. Through these resolutions the Convention took the following action:
(a) expressed a desire to reaffirm the 1970 decision to hold Convention on Saturday and Sunday.
(b) asked the Bishop and deputation to General Convention to press for the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood and Episcopate.
(c) directed the Department of Christian Social Relations to study the matter of the production and use of alcoholic beverages in relation to domestic and world hunger and to recommend appropriate action for the people of the Diocese.
(d) petitioned the President of the United States and the U.S. Senators and Representatives from Ohio and other members of Congress to curtail immediately all forms of assistance which are used to make war to the nations of Indochina.
(e) banned smoking at the general and committee meetings of the Convention of the Diocese and urge members of this Church to abstain from the use of tobacco.
(f) repudiated the country resorting to military aggression in the Middle East to solve the growing energy crisis and directed that the concern be communicated to all appropriate government leaders and committees.
(g) called upon each family of the Diocese to contribute $1.00 per month for 12 months to world hunger through the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief. A check for $50,000 be sent immediately.
In conjunction with the 158th Diocesan Convention, one hundred and eighty seven youth met at the Ramada Inn, across from the Convention headquarters. Sleeping bags and guitars were brought by the young people who represented over 50 parishes and missions. An orientation presentation occupied their first evening, Feb. 7th, as the youth representatives and visitors were brought aboard the planning, concerns and issues of the convention. Later several resolutions brought to the floor of the convention were initiated by the youth. Saturday morning the youth reps joined their delegations on the convention floor where they were accorded voice and seat, but no vote. Simultaneously the youth visitors participated in a Hunger Workshop, then later joined the convention in the visitors gallery. TORCH Singers entered at the Banquet. During their two day meeting a Youth Council of twenty was created, with two representatives from each region. This Council will meet regularly with the Youth Ministries Division.