News Brief
Episcopal News Service. December 1, 1977 [77387]
The annual Conference of Chairmen of Diocesan Liturgical Music Commissions was held here Nov. 7-10, at St. Mark's Church. Mr. William C. Teague, organist and choirmaster of St. Mark's, and professor of music at Centenary College, was chairman, and the Rev. J. Frederick Patten was host rector. Commission representatives of approximately 60 dioceses spent three days hearing reports, taking part in discussions, and engaging in services of worship with a wide variety of traditional and contemporary music. Representatives of the national Standing Liturgical Commission reported on its continuing work. Dr. Alec Wyton, coordinator of the Standing Commission on Church Music, and others, explained forthcoming efforts of the commission to encourage wider and fuller use of Hymnal 1940, as well as to enrich the latter with additional hymns and tunes. Edward Sovik, Minneapolis architect, discussed current developments in church architecture. One afternoon was devoted to a presentation of the pastoral and liturgical role of deacons, arranged by the Associated Parishes.
A history of United Thank Offering work is being prepared for the UTO's 90th anniversary in 1979, and UTO officials are looking for sources of information. Any photographs, newspaper clippings or memorabilia on the UTO -- especially for the years before 1940 -- that are well-documented illustrations of the work should be sent to UTO coordinator Judith Gillespie at the Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10017.
A small group of dissident Episcopalians from throughout the Southeast voted recently to establish a new "diocese" apart from the Episcopal Church. Acting apparently on the dissident "Affirmation of St. Louis," 32 people representing 14 parishes in Florida, the Carolinas and Virginia voted in mid-November to establish the non-geographic "diocese" in protest to what they consider liberalizing tendencies of the parent Church.
The Coalition for the Apostolic Ministry, an Anglo-Catholic group of Episcopalians who have been leaders in the fight against women's ordination, have officially dissolved themselves to become part of the Evangelical and Catholic Mission. At a vote taken in late October, the CAM board agreed to turn over all its assets, staff and records to the ECM which has run a series of forums for conservative Anglican tradition. Fr. James Wattley continues as executive secretary of the new entity.
At its annual General Council meeting here in mid-November, the American Church Union voted support of Presiding Bishop John M. Allin's statement that he would continue to try to provide pastoral support for dissident Episcopalians. The Board also agreed to continue to welcome both separatists and those who remain in the Episcopal Church as members and chose the Rev. George William Rutler of Rosemont, Pa., as president, succeeding the Rt. Rev. Paul Reeves, Bishop of Georgia.
By a large majority, the General Synod of the Church of England has voted to undertake a sweeping study of human sexuality. Citing "British sexual hypocrisy and moral confusion," the synod voted 249-38 to authorize the study of the "whole theology of Christian sexuality in the light of present theological and psychological understanding." A commission representing the spectrum of thought within the Church will be appointed jointly by the Archbishops to carry out the study and report back to the Synod.
Anglican bishops in Southern Africa have lashed the apartheid policies of the Union of South Africa as "despotic behaviour which.. cannot but contribute to the worsening of racial tensions. " Meeting in Synod, the bishops cited the death of a young moderate, black leader, roundups and bannings that have taken place recently in taking their stand against the white minority government.
The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, in its recent convention, urged the United States to 'take effective measures, including economic sanctions," to bring an end to the apartheid policies of the white regime of South Africa. The convention resolution, sponsored by the Rev. Charles Long, who has been an official with the World Council of Churches and by Daniel Markgraf, cited the death of Stephen Biko, a young black leader and the shutdown of newspapers supporting racial equality and noted that black South Africans are being forced to resort to violence to achieve their human rights.