Summary of Actions of the Executive Council
Episcopal News Service. June 12, 1980 [80212]
Greenwich, Conn. -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church held its mid-year meeting at Seabury House here, June 4-6, with three members absent.
The Council -- which sets policy and develops programs for the Church between the triennial meetings of the General Convention -- consists of 44 members: 24 elected by the General Convention; 18 elected by the Church's nine internal provinces and the Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, and the President of the House of Deputies, Dr. Charles R. Lawrence. The Rev. Canon James R. Gundrum is secretary.
Changes in the Church's laws last fall have doubled the number of provincial representatives -- provinces previously elected one each -- and pared back the representation elected directly by each convention from 14 to ten.
The Council took the following actions:
The Rt. Rev. John M. Allin
- Consented to the appointment by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin, after consultation with Dr. Charles R. Lawrence, president of the House of Deputies, of the Rev. Robert Wainwright, Rochester, N. Y., to fill the unexpired term of the Rev. Rustin R. Kimsey -- who was recently elected Bishop of Eastern Oregon -- as a presbyter delegate from the Episcopal Church to the Anglican Consultative Council, the term to run until immediately prior to the sixth meeting of the ACC in 1983 or 1984.
- Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin address the Council on long-range planning proposals which he and others presented to the Council.
- Heard Dr. Charles R. Lawrence, vice president of the Council and president of the House of Deputies, address the Council on long-range planning process.
- Approved a resolution of celebration and commemoration of the life of the Rt. Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill, retired Presiding Bishop of the Church, who died May 11.
- Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin announce the retirement on May 31 of John C. Goodbody as Executive for Communication.
- Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin announce the retirement of the Rt. Rev. Richard B. Martin as Executive for Education for Mission and Ministry on June 30.
- Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin announce the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Elliott L. Sorge, currently Field Officer for the Development of Ministry, as Executive for Education for Mission and Ministry on the Episcopal Church Center staff, effective July 1.
- Heard Council member the Rev. Canon Junius Carter of Pittsburgh, Pa., express his concern that with the retirement of Bishop Martin and the appointment of Bishop Sorge to succeed him, there is no black member of the Administrative Group of executives.
- Welcomed Mrs. Marielena de Gonzalez of Barranquilla, Colombia, who has been elected by Province IX as its lay representative on Council until the 1982 General Convention, filling the unexpired term of Gonzalo Lugo of Puerto Rico.
- Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin announce the appointment of Mrs. Marion Cedarblade of San Rafael, Calif., as chairman of the National Commission on Social and Specialized Ministries.
The Rev. Canon James R. Gundrum
Secretary of Executive Council
Executive Officer of General Convention
- Received from the secretary, the Rev. Canon James R. Gundrum, a report of communications received, which were referred to appropriate committees.
- Received from the Rev. Canon James R. Gundrum, Executive Officer of General Convention, notes or minutes from meetings of the following agencies: Standing Commission on Church Music; Standing Commission on the Church in Small Communities; Standing Commission on Metropolitan Areas; Board for Theological Education; Standing Commission on Stewardship/Development; Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements; Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance; Standing Liturgical Commission; Joint Standing Commission on Peace; Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health; Church Deployment Board; and the Joint Standing Committee on Nominations.
Joseph L. Hargrove, Shreveport, La., chairman
- Learned that Council member the Rev. Canon W. Ebert Hobbs, who has taken a staff position with the Anglican Church of Canada in Toronto, will not resign his membership on the Council since he will remain canonically resident in the Diocese of Ohio.
- Heard that the Rev. Herbert Donovan, Jr., Montclair, N.J., who was recently elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Arkansas, and Bishop William Davidson of Western Kansas, (representative of Province VII), who has announced his intention to accept a post as Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Ohio, will resign their memberships when they receive the consents of the majority of the diocesan bishops and standing committees to their changes in status.
The Rt. Rev. Philip A. Smith, New Hampshire, chairman
- Approved a resolution in support of a resolution which originated with the Episcopal Communicators calling for the continued publication of The Convention Daily as the independently edited newspaper of General Convention.
The Rt. Rev. Donald J. Parsons, Quincy, chairman
- Approved the employment on a temporary basis, if necessary, of additional professional assistance to process inquiries in the event Congress approves draft registration.
- Referred back to the committee a proposed policy statement on the Episcopal Church's national employment policy, with the request for the expression of a position on affirmative action as well as nondiscriminatory practices, with a report called for at the November meeting.
- Heard a one-hour report by the Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson of Washington, D. C., chairman of the recently organized Episcopal Urban Caucus, and three other leaders in the organization, on the plans and goals of the Caucus.
- Expressed its concern over the threats of nuclear war, the accelerating arms race, and the neglect of human needs, especially in the cities, and directed the office of Christian education and the public issues office, in collaboration with the Episcopal Urban Caucus and other appropriate agencies, to develop a proposal for a study and action guide for the Church.
- Expressed thanks and congratulations to those who have brought to completion the seven-volume Church's Teaching Series and the accompanying Use Guides, especially the Rev. Alan Jones, chairman of the steering committee; the members of the steering committee; the authors; the staff of the Seabury Press; the testing parishes; and the office of Christian education at the Episcopal Church Center.
Matthew K. Chew, Scottsdale, Ariz., chairman
- Heard Treasurer Matthew Costigan estimate that total income for the 1980 general church program budget will be about $16.1 million ($250,000 more than the original estimate) and that apportionment pledges for that budget will be about $13.6 million ($288,000 more than first estimates).
- Heard Treasurer Matthew Costigan report that receipts for the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief ($1,379,025.50) for the first four months of 1980 are about $700,000 more than the same period last year, and that the United Thank Offering receipts ($894,182.49) are about $290,000 more than a year ago.
- Heard Mrs. Carter Chinnis, chairman of the Venture in Mission Process and Funding Committee, report that receipts at the national office from the Venture campaign total $5,214,000, with disbursements through April totaling $3,517,842.19.
- Approved a work schedule for the program budget process for 1981 and 1982; confirmed meeting dates for the Council for the next two years as follows: 1981 -- Feb. 25-27, June 16-20, and Nov. 18-20, and 1982 -- Feb. 17-19, April 19-21, Nov. 17-19, and rejected a proposed meeting during General Convention in New Orleans in September of that year; and noted Episcopal Church Center staff in-house weeks as follows: 1981 -- March 2-6, Sept. 14-18, and Dec. 7-11, and 1982 -- Feb. 23-26, May 3-7, and Nov. 1-5.
- Approved the guarantee of a loan of $100,000 to the Episcopal Church in Micronesia, through the Bank of Hawaii, for construction of a headmaster/vicarage apartment building at St. John's Episcopal Preparatory School in Guam.
- Voted to retain the auditing firm of John Deviny Carrico, Professional Association, to audit the financial records for the period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 1980.
- Accepted a report from the Audit Committee, chaired by Harrison Tillman of Valdosta, Ga., which commended the Council's financial operation, but expressed a concern over a deficit of $47,000 in the General Convention assessment budget, reflecting overspending for the Convention operations and facilities in September, 1979.
- Heard a brief report on the regional accounting manual workshops which the finance office is conducting, with general favorable comments received, though officers of some small churches feel overwhelmed by the volume of material.
- Heard the committee report that the proposal for medical insurance for retired staff members is being implemented, and that a proposed new lay pension plan for staff will not be put into effect because the current plan is better.
- Heard that the committee, after consultation with attorneys, will inform the Diocese of Lexington that the use of the word "Episcopal" cannot be restricted to official usage by the Council.
Mrs. Carter Chinnis, West Palm Beach, Fla., chairman
- Heard a report on the renewal/fundraising program, Venture in Mission, which revealed that $81 million has been pledged or paid to the program to date, with about one-third ($28 million) designated for national Church projects.
- Approved the release of about $500,000 in Venture in Mission funds which are on hand for the following projects:
| Regional Strategies for Ministry, Appalachian Peoples Service Organization, Blacksburg, Va. -- $53,440.11. | |
| Navajo Transit System, Navajo Reservation, Navajo Area Mission -- $24,025. | |
| Ministry and Mission in Changing Urban Communities, Episcopal Urban Caucus Development Program, Washington, D.C. -- $25,000. | |
| Research Project: Isolated Professionals in Small Communities, Resource Center for Small Churches, Luling, Tex. -- $5,000. | |
| Furnishing of Office, Resource Center for Small Churches, Luling, Tex. -- $3,500. | |
| Cultural Ministry Project, St. Ann and Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., Diocese of Long Island -- $10,000 (from Vincent Astor Trust Fund). | |
| Industrial Areas Mission/Community Project, Brooklyn, N.Y., Diocese of Long Island -- $20,000 per year for three years (from Vincent Astor Trust Fund). | |
| Mission Team Project of the South Bronx, Diocese of New York -- $35,000 per year for three years (from Vincent Astor Trust Fund). | |
| Institute for Church Growth, Evangelism and Renewal, Education for Mission and Ministry Office, Episcopal Church Center. | |
| Stimulating Congregational Investment in Evangelism, Education for Mission and Ministry Office, Episcopal Church Center. | |
| The Church's Teaching Series, reimburse Constable Fund, Episcopal Church Center -- $27,000. | |
| Locally Based Education of Laity for Mutual Ministry, National Institute for Lay Training, New York -- $4,404.59. | |
| St. Luke's International Medical Center, Tokyo -- $18,272.38. | |
| Community Conference Center Project, Juba, the Republic of the Sudan -- $16,100. | |
| Endowment Fund for the Episcopal Church in Nicaragua -- $83,560.53. | |
| Opportunities in Africa, the Church in Damaraland -- $20,600. | |
| Opportunities in Africa for emergency relief and resettlement -- $10,000 for Zimbabwe; and $20,000 for Somalia. | |
| Church of Uganda Program for Relief and Reconstruction -- $70,000. |
- Approved the transferral of the functions and responsibilities of the Venture in Mission Audit Committee to the Audit Committee of the Executive Council.
Joseph L. Hargrove, Shreveport, La., chairman
- Approved observance by the Episcopal Church of the International Year of the Disabled Person during 1981 and asked the office of social welfare to assist parishes and dioceses by making available resources and educational materials.
- Set October 18-19 for observance of Responsible Energy Sabbath in the Episcopal Church and recommended the use of a new educational resource, The Prometheus Question, to parishes.
- Expressed to the Rev. Paul M. Washington, Philadelphia, its appreciation and concern for his efforts in the cause of justice and peace while on a mission to Iran along with an independent group of United States citizens.
- Approved the charters for the following National Mission groups: Committee on Social Responsibility in Investments, Coalition for Human Needs, Executive Council Housing Organizing Subcommittee, National Commission on Hispanic Ministries, National Committee on Indian Work, National Hunger Committee, Episcopal Commission for Black Ministries, National Commission of the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry, National Commission on Social and Specialized Ministries, and Executive Council National Missions Concern Subcommittee.
- Defeated a motion to require all resolutions for Council consideration to be submitted to the secretary at least 30 days in advance of each meeting and circulated to members at least 15 days in advance, with provision for waiving this requirement by the unanimous consent of the appropriate standing committee or a two-thirds vote of the Council members present.
- Agreed to suggestions from Bishop Otis Charles of Utah that the Presiding Bishop and the Council urge study and action on the issue of the MX missile, that the Episcopal Church Center staff make resources available, and agreed to inform Bishop Charles that the Rev. William L. Weiler, Associate Ecumenical Officer for Washington Affairs, will be in touch with members of Congress concerning arms reduction.
- Heard a report from John K. Cannon of Detroit, chairman of the Committee on Social Responsibility in Investments, which indicated that the Council's stockholder resolution with Dresser, which asked for the adoption of the Sullivan Principles by that corporation, had received 11.2 percent of the vote, and that of 100 social responsibility resolutions submitted to corporations by religious groups, 33 had been withdrawn because the companies supplied the requested information or changed their policy.
- Approved the revision of the Council's 1971 resolution on welfare reform data to conform to U.S. government statistics.
The Rev. Maurice M. Benitez, Houston, Tex., chairman
- Approved a resolution expressing gratitude and appreciation to the fund-raising organization, Ward, Dreshman and Reinhardt, and in particular to Harold T. Treash, president, for their service in the Venture in Mission program and for their willingness to continue as consultants in that project.
- Heard a report on activities of the Stewardship/Development Office at the Episcopal Church Center, including consultation with some of the theological seminaries of the Church.
- Heard a report by the Rev. Thomas Carson, Executive for Stewardship/Development, in which he said that the Episcopal Church's Venture in Mission has raised more money than the capital campaigns in any other denominations, with 56 of the campaigns in 95 dioceses already begun or completed for a total of $81 million pledged to date.
The Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell, Central Florida, chairman
- Heard a statement which recognized the growth of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, noting especially the appeals for Cambodians, Cubans, Haitians, and Ugandans; and a brief report on the uncertain conditions that prevail in Liberia following a coup d'etat in April.
- Approved the report of a Committee of Conference which contained the Council's response to the Report of the National Council of Churches Panel on Ecumenical Commitment and the National Council of Churches Purposes.
- Confirmed the appointment of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Powell, Sewanee, Tenn., in the Volunteers for Mission program, to the Diocese of Costa Rica for a three-month tour to conduct lay leadership training programs.
- Confirmed the appointment of Miss Cynthia Wilder, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., in the Volunteers for Mission program, as assistant lay reader in San Felipe de Lara in the Diocese of Guatemala, for one year.
- Confirmed the appointment of Miss Eliza Cutcher, Tucson, Ariz., for a two-year term as an agriculturist with CEDAI in the Diocese of Ecuador.
- Learned that the Rev. Dcss. Evelyn Ashcroft, Pacific Grove, Calif., has returned from a nine-month tour in the Volunteers for Mission program, in Buye, Burundi, in the Women's Training Center in the Diocese of Buye.
- Learned that Leonard S. Coleman has completed a three-year appointed missionary term as training officer for the Church Organization for Research and Training in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Confirmed the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Jean Rigal Elisee, Bishop of Gambia and the Rio Pongas in the Province of West Africa, to be a missionary of the Episcopal Church.
- Asked the secretary to convey the Council's appreciation to the overseas personnell whose appointments were confirmed.
- Approved a Companion Diocese Relationship between the following jurisdictions: Diocese of Louisiana and the Diocese of the Virgin Islands; Diocese of Southern Virginia and the Anglican Diocese of Bukavu in Zaire; Diocese of Colorado and the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi of the Church of the Province of Central Africa; and the Diocese of Delaware and the Diocese of Haiti.
- Accepted a report on the Partners in Mission Consultation of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Japan), at which the Episcopal Church was represented by Mrs. Carter Chinnis of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Bishop Edmond L. Browning of Hawaii.
- Asked that a resolution on a re-examination of the memberships and functions of the National Council of Churches, approved by the Council in September, 1978, be implemented by the appropriate committees and officers.
- Approved a revised ten-year financial projection for the autonomous Diocese of Puerto Rico by Aug. 5, 1980, by the Executive for World Mission, the Executive for Finance, and a member of the Committee of Review from Province IX, and that the Council's Treasurer report on the financial position of the diocese at each meeting of the Council.