Miscellaneous Items of Executive Council Business
Diocesan Press Service. May 15, 1975 [75190]
The Rev. Dr. John B. Coburn, New York City, chairman of the Committee on the Observance of the Bicentennial of the Nation, reported that a great variety of resource materials is continuing to be developed for the Episcopal Church's participation in the nation's bicentennial in 1976 and will be distributed to parishes. A budget of $106,000 for a 16-month period -- July 1, 1975 to October 31, 1976 -- was approved, with funds to come from the Gallagher Fund.
The Council approved a resolution which said "that this Council, on behalf of the Church, express its deeply-felt appreciation for the continuing contribution to its life and worship made through the United Thank Offering." The UTO, established in 1889, has become the major extra-budgetary resource for funding church programs, primarily of diocesan origin. A project of the Episcopal Churchwomen, contributions since 1970 have averaged more than $1.25 million per year, and during the five-year period provided 391 grants in 134 dioceses of 48 countries throughout the world. The Council asked that its resolution of appreciation for the UTO program of prayers of thanksgiving and financial support be given proper attention in the press and conveyed to the UTO leadership.
The Council heard a recommendation from its communication committee that the administrative group of the staff employ an assistant press officer because of the increasing quantity of work as the church moves toward the 1976 meeting of the General Convention in Minnesota.
The Council approved the staggered terms of the Board of Trustees of The Seabury Press and the four following new trustees in addition to those presented in February: Mr. George W. Brandt, Jr., 32, black male, attorney, New York City; the Rt. Rev. Richard S. Emrich, 65, white male, retired Bishop of Michigan, Sun City, Ariz.; Dr. Margaret M. Lawrence, 60, black female, psychiatrist, Pomona, N.Y.; and Dr. D. Bruce Merrifield, 51, white male, director of research, Houston, Tex.
Presiding. Bishop John M. Allin announced the appointment of the Rev. Canon Erwin M. Soukup, Chicago, as an additional member of the communication committee, representing the Episcopal Communicators, who nominated him to the Presiding Bishop.
Reports and/or revised charters were received from the five component agencies of Mission Service and Strategy: Community Action and Human Development Commission (CAHD) ; Episcopal Asiamerica Strategies Task-Force (EAST); Episcopal Commission for Black Ministries (ECBM) ; National Commission on Hispanic Affairs (NCHA); and National Committee on Indian Work (NC1W). Council member Marcus A. Cummings, Cincinnati, was confirmed as chairman of CAHD.
The Rt. Rev. William J. Gordon, resigned Bishop of Alaska, at the invitation of the lay ministries committee, spoke about the services he is offering to dioceses in his project TEAM (Teach Each A Ministry). A pamphlet describing his work will be available soon. Bishop Gordon maintains his residence and office at General Delivery, Burton, Wash. 98013.
Bishop Scott Field Bailey, Houston, Tex., executive officer of the General Convention, gave a report on the work of 18 joint committees and commissions, boards and agencies, which he coordinates. Following the 65th General Convention in Minnesota, September 11-23, 1976, he said, the 66th Convention will meet in Denver, Colo., September 8-20, 1979, and the 67th General Convention will convene in Milwaukee, Wis., October 9-21, 1982.
The Council adopted a resolution expressing appreciation to the Rev. Canon Charles M. Guilbert, New York City, who has announced his resignation as secretary of the House of Deputies and as registrar and secretary-treasurer of the General Convention, to retire from the active ministry on May 28, 1975. Canon Guilbert was secretary of the Executive Council from 1961 to 1970.
The Council received a statement from the Episcopal Asiamerica Strategies Task-Force on refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia, and approved a statement which said: "We urge the dioceses and parishes of the Episcopal Church to participate with the Presiding Bishop and the staff of the Episcopal Church Center to implement the resettlement program."
The Council heard a report by the Rev. Rustin R. Kimsey, The Dalles, Ore., for a subcommittee of the mission committee on the developing plans for a partners in mission consultation for the Episcopal Church, tentatively planned for 1977 at a U.S. site to be selected. The Council approved the overall plan and referred the 1976 budget items to the finance committee.
Companion diocese relationships were extended between Texas and Lake Malawi until September, 1977, and between Connecticut and the Virgin Islands until December, 1976. A new companion diocese relationship was established between Oklahoma and Nicaragua, to be in effect until May, 1978.
The mission committee distributed to the Council for information a paper on the companion diocese program, presenting a brief review of the current status of this program, examples of functioning relationships, and an evaluation of some of the companionships.
The Council adopted a resolution which permits the Episcopal Church to accept invitations and to send representatives to participate as partners in mission in joint provincial/regional consultations, as follows: the Church of the Province of West Africa, August 5-8, 1975, and the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, January 6-12, 1976.
A list of dioceses with linkage assignments of Council members, staff, and others, was submitted for the Council's information by the mission committee.
The Council heard that the Board of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief has reorganized, and an executive committee, chaired by Mr. Curtis Roosevelt, has been set up. The Council voted to extend an invitation to Mr. Roosevelt to speak to the Council in September about the work of the board. The board reported that a study is under way on the relation of the Episcopal Church's board to Church World Service and other agencies through whom the Church works. Receipts of $384,575.78 were reported by the board for April, bringing the total received by the Fund for the first four months of 1975 to $1,268,802.39, more than the total receipts for 1974. In addition, last year's unspent balance of $294,176.34 and a $911,000 gift from the Diocese of Rochester are available for relief work.
Members of the Anglican Council of North America and the Caribbean (ACNAC) executive committee were elected by the Council as follows: Mrs. John S. Jackson, Lake Oswego, Ore.; Ms. Paulette Meaux, Lake Charles, La.; Dr. D. Bruce Merrifield, Houston, Tex.; the Rev. Henry Mitchell, Charlottesville, Va.; the Rev. Jack Potter, Indianapolis, Ind.; and the Rev. Donald O. Wilson, Baltimore, Md.
The General Convention process committee, the Rev. Gerald N. McAllister, San Antonio, Tex., chairman, reported that it is progressing in its work of preparing the Council's report and 1977-1979 program and budget recommendations for the 1976 Convention.
Presiding Bishop John M. Allin, president of the Council, announced the following staff changes: the appointment of the Rev. Canon Richard J. Anderson, Buffalo, N.Y., associate for development and stewardship, and his resignation as an additional member of the communication committee; the appointment of Miss Dolores D'Agostino, New York City, associate coordinator, office of religious education; the resignation of Mrs. Nancie Oyama in the office of the Episcopal Asiamerica Strategies Task-Force; and the resignation of Dr. Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., treasurer, who is retiring effective August 1.
The Council elected Mr. Matthew Costigan treasurer of the Executive Council and of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, effective August 1, and upon nomination of Bishop John M. Allin, confirmed Mr. Louis Gill as assistant treasurer, effective June 1.
Bishop John M. Allin, president of the Council and Presiding Bishop, referred to the steering committee an invitation from Bishop Milton Richardson of Texas for the Executive Council to meet in Houston for its December 16-18 meeting.
The Executive Council voted its appreciation for the "warm hospitality " of Bishop William C. Frey of Colorado; Council member Robert F. Royster, Lakewood, Colo.; the Rev. Canon Harry Christopher, Denver; and all others from the Diocese of Colorado who had a part in hosting the meeting.