Panel Coordinates Family Resources
Episcopal News Service. August 6, 1981 [81217]
NEW YORK -- A Family Life Committee has been established by an Episcopal Church commission to create and disseminate resources on family life and policy for congregational and diocesan use.
The committee is the latest step in a process that began in 1977, was broadened in a 1978 Conference on Families and won support from the 1979 General Convention. One result of this activity was that Episcopalians were able to play a wide-ranging role in the planning that went into the White House Conference on Families last year.
The panel will be charged with implementing the Family Life Conference recommendations, and developing guidelines for the Venture in Mission Family Project which won Executive Council funding support in February. Their work will involve developing a parish resource notebook and identifying people and programs that can aid congregations in this ministry.
The committee is a task force of the National Commission on Social and Specialized Ministries, whose members represent a wide range of concerns related to families: Portia Johnson, women's issues; Harriett Hayes, Christian education; the Rev. William J. Winterrowd, Episcopal social agencies; the Rev. Arthur Lee, congregationland diocesan concerns; Mr. David Cramer, minorities. The Rev. Martin Tilson, who chaired the 1978 conference, is the chairman and the Rev. Jay Dean is consultant to the committee. Woodrow W. Carter, officer for social welfare, is the staff coordinator for the Episcopal Church Center.