Church News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. November 26, 1980 [80433]
New York -- An emergency grant of $5,000 has been made by the Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief to assist victims of an earthquake in Algeria on Oct. 10. The grant, channelled through the National Council of Churches Church World Service, will help provide medicine, tents, blankets, food and clothing for the homeless and injured. The Fund's grant is part of a $35,000 contribution by Church World Service.
Glen Cove, N.Y. -- A memorial service was held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church here on Nov. 29 for the Rev. John H. Townsend, an overseas missionary for 38 years, who died in Kerrville, Tex., after an extended illness. A member of a prominent Long Island family, Townsend served as a missionary of the Episcopal Church in Cuba, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador. He is survived by three daughters and several grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017.
Seattle -- "Family Violence: A Workshop Manual for Rural Communities," has recently been published by the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, 4250 South Mead St., Seattle, Wash. 98118. The Center is an education and training resource which seeks to mobilize the religious community in response to sexual and domestic violence. The Manual, which is recommended by the Justice for Women Working Group of the Division of Church and Society of the National Council of Churches, and by the Standing Committee on National Mission in Church and Society of the Episcopal Church Executive Council, was prepared by the Rev. Marie M. Fortune and Denise Hormann. Mrs. Marjorie L. Christie, Council member from Franklin Lakes, N.J., represents the Episcopal Church on the Center's National Advisory Committee.
New York -- David T. Andrews of Katonah, N. Y., is a new vice president of The Episcopal Church Foundation, succeeding Stephen P. Bell who is retiring after 11 years in charge of its national Council. Andrews will serve the Foundation's 15 regional Council units, organized in diocesan chapters with 470 lay men and women members, which act as a two-way channel of communication among key parishes, the Foundation and the national Episcopal Church. A graduate of Williams College and Harvard, Andrews has been a bank officer in the New York area.
New York -- The Episcopal Church General Theological Seminary here has announced that the first $1 million in gifts and pledges on its year-old $10 million capital funds campaign has been received. The $10 million goal is to be divided evenly between providing instructional endowment and providing capital improvements to the existing physical plant. The seminary is the first and oldest such institution in the Episcopal Church, dating back to 1817 when it was founded by an act of General Convention.
Evanston, Ill. -- Students from nine Episcopal Church seminaries met here recently at Seabury Western Theological Seminary for a three-day conference to seek ways to establish inter-seminary communication, shared programs, on-going dialogue, resources, insights and visions, and to explore emerging trends in the church and in seminary life and education. An inter-seminary newsletter will be revived.
Charleston, W.Va. -- In mid-October Bishop Robert P. Atkinson of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia announced that he was withdrawing his request for the election of a suffragan bishop for the diocese which had been set for Nov. 15. He said the decision was reached because "I cannot comfortably share with anyone my episcopate for the next 16 years or so, God willing." He said he will propose to the diocesan council "alternative ways of direction and planning for the diocese, including changes in my ways of bishoping."