Advisory Council to Bishop for Armed Forces Meets
Diocesan Press Service. May 12, 1975 [75184]
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Members of the Episcopal Church's national advisory council to the Bishop for the Armed Forces received a preview of the new combination liturgy book and hymnal that has just been published for the United States military forces during the council's May 9-10 meeting at the College of Preachers in Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Edward I. Swanson, an Episcopal priest who is a staff member of the General Commission on Chaplains and Armed Forces Personnel, reviewed the contents of the new book for the advisory council. Father Swanson said the hymns in the book are from many different denominational sources and reflect the ecumenical nature of the new book as well as the variety of ethnic groups represented in the armed forces. In the liturgical section, the Roman Catholic Mass, the Consultation on Church Union liturgy, an Eastern Orthodox rite, several Jewish services and other liturgical forms have been published. Prayers, selections from the Psalms and other devotional material is also included.
The book cost about a million dollars and was printed at government expense. It is not available for civilian purchase at this time because several copyright permissions were granted with the understanding the book would be restricted to government use, according to Father Swanson.
During their two-day meeting the Council members also discussed the responsibilities for prison and hospital chaplaincies that have recently been assigned to the office of the Bishop for the Armed Forces by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin. Bishop for the Armed Forces Clarence E. Hobgood told the council that he is more than willing to assume this responsibility but indicated an additional staff person will be needed at the Episcopal Church Center in New York before the new work can begin. Bishop Hobgood has made some beginning efforts in this new direction, including attendance at a recent national meeting of Episcopal hospital chaplains in New Orleans.
The role of women clergy in the military chaplaincy was discussed by the council, particularly in view of the increasing number of women serving in all branches of the armed forces.
Bishop Hobgood described his visits to "his diocese" -- the U.S. military installations throughout the world -- of the past several months, commenting in particular on the favorable response from military personnel and chaplains to the lectures of the Rev. Canon William Johnson of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
The advisory committee also heard an interim report on the study of the military chaplaincy now underway by a special commission headed by Suffragan Bishop John T. Walker of Washington, D. C.