News Brief
Episcopal News Service. February 2, 1978 [78029]
A world conference bringing scientists and theologians together to explore the use of science and technology as transforming forces in the service of humanity and for justice and peace will take place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under auspices of the World Council of Churches a year and a half from now -- July 12-24, 1979. Entitled "World Conference on Faith, Science and the Future, " the conference will bring 500 scientists and theologians from around the world together. They are to "look for the meaning of faith in a world in which science and technology are transforming forces that both liberate and destroy persons and human values," an announcement declares.
The Council of the Evangelical and Catholic Mission met at the Church of the Ascension late January and chose officers to serve for two years. They are: The Rt. Rev. Stanley Atkins, Bishop of Eau Claire, as chairman; Mrs. C. William Swinford (Frances) of Lexington, Ky., as vice-chairman; the Rev. Canon Charles H. Osborn of Long Branch, N.J., as secretary; and Miss Charlotte M. Acquaviva of New York City, as treasurer. The Steering Committee of ECM was also elected by the Council. In addition to the officers ex-officio, the following will be serving: The Rt. Rev. A. Donald Davies, Bishop of Dallas; The Rt. Rev. Charles T. Gaskell, Bishop of Milwaukee; the Rt. Rev. Addison Hosea, Bishop of Lexington; the Rev. Edwin A. Norris, Jr., of Chicago; the Rev. John R. Purnell, of Boston; the Rev. C. Boone Sadler, Jr., of Los Angeles; Mrs. Dorothy Spaulding, of Washington; Mrs. Alice Vinik, of Chicago; and the Rev. William C. Wantland of Oklahoma City. The employment of the Rev. James C. Wattley as executive secretary was confirmed. The ECM office remains at 226 East 60th Street, New York City.
The National Institute for Lay Training is offering a series of short term workshops for the training of men and women for the practice of ministry. The Lay Pastoral Care Workshop will be held at the NILT training center at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. This is a four day program for clergy and key lay leaders who will be supervisors within congregations. On April 15 the Institute is offering a one-day workshop in Christian Adult Education to study the needs and possibilities for adults in Christian education. "How do we get it together -- being a Christian in the corporate world?" is the subject of a consultation for women and men, clergy and laity to explore spiritual, biblical, personal and group models and resources, with an ecumenical leadership team to help explore these questions. This will be on May 6. Further information may be obtained by writing or calling: The National Institute for Lay Training, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 (212 ) 687-1365.
Fifteen diocesan Episcopal Churchwomen's Presidents or their representatives, and liaison people from dioceses without an ECW structure came to New York at their own expense from as far away as Maine and Maryland to meet with Mrs. Betty Connelly, Triennial Presiding Officer, Mrs. Anna Margaret Feild, Assistant Presiding Officer, Dr. Anne Harrison, Education for Ministry staff, and Miss Judith Gillespie, United Thank Offering Coordinator, to exchange ideas and information about the coming Triennial in Colorado. Mrs. Connelly explained that four small groups of Triennial planners, working independently, arrived at the same theme for Triennial: "Walking in the Light. " Mrs. Rae Whitney, of Nebraska, devised the logo, which depicts the three program emphases. The mountains represent the Colorado setting. The first mountain represents Christ's Transfiguration and the renewal or transfiguration of the lives of His people. The second mountain, Calvary, relates to God's redemption and forgiveness, and the third stands for the Ascension.
Officials of the Church Hymnal Corp. have reported that they sold "just under 900,000" copies of the Proposed Book of Common Prayer in the first eleven months that the book was available. Combined with the various editions sold by the Seabury Press, approximately 1.2 million copies of the book have been purchased -- most of them pew editions. At the same time, a Standing Liturgical Commission report noted that in the last 50 years, Church Hymnal had sold 4 million copies of the 1928 version of the Book of Common Prayer. Figures from other publishers -- past and present -- of the 1928 book were not available.
The Rt. Rev. Philip A. Smith, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, was among 13 New Hampshire Church leaders who joined in a statement challenging Gov. Mildrim Thompson for his remarks supporting the apartheid regime of South Africa. The conservative Republican governor returned from an 11-day tour of South Africa with high praise for the racist regime. Among other statements, he called Soweto, the black ghetto and site of the murderous July 4, 1976 riots, "just wonderful." Bishop Smith and the other members of the executive committee of the New Hampshire Council of Churches said that the true situation was "quite the contrary" of what the governor reported and called on the members of their communions to become informed about the situation in South Africa.