Interview with the Presiding Bishop
Episcopal News Service. September 30, 1982 [82197]
DPS - Bishop Allin, what would you choose as one word that might best convey your overall feelings and thoughts about the 67th General Convention?
ALLIN - Hard as it is to find one word that might fill the bill in this case, I'll give it a try. The word I would choose is positive. The General Convention, was, I think, a positive experience for the Episcopal Church overall, and I think some positive developments are already coming forth because of the Convention. You know that just before the Convention, the Episcopalian ran a front page story predicting that the weather in New Orleans would be hot and that the Episcopalians might have occasion to get hot under the collar about money. Well, they were wrong on both counts. The weather was cooler than expected, thank God, and I think we made our money decisions in a spirit of cooperation and mutual concern as well.
DPS - Just prior to the Convention, some were saying that the Jubilee Ministry program brought forth by the Standing Commission on the Church in Metropolitan Areas was in conflict with The Next Step in Mission proposal developed by the Episcopal Church Center staff and Executive Council under your leadership. Did you think that?
ALLIN - Both The Next Step in Mission and the Jubilee Ministry program were developed out of concern that the Episcopal Church make some greater impact in meeting the needs of disadvantaged people, needs that are growing daily in these desperate times. There were some similarities in the two proposals as well as some differences. I did not see them so much as being in conflict as I regretted that we could not have gotten together at an early time and worked on a common proposal. The Convention's enthusiasm for Jubilee is understandable and it is right in order. After all, Jubilee was developed by a Standing Commission of the Convention in response to a mandate from the Convention. The Convention's enthusiastic endorsement of the proposal was both expected and well taken. But by its decision to provide limited funding for the Jubilee proposal itself, the Convention seemed to be saying that the Executive Council is to take the Jubilee proposal, work its sound points into the on-going mission of the Church so that the good work of this Standing Commission will not be lost. "The "Jubilee" concept will be a significant aspect within our Next Step in Mission -- for a better coordinated Church. I expect Council to do that coordination and I will try my best to see that it is done well.
DPS - And what of The Next Step in Mission, then?
ALLIN - Well, it was affirmed and approved by the Convention. I interpret this to mean that the General Convention wants each congregation to evaluate its own ministry, using the five criteria: Service, Worship, Education, Evangelism, Pastoral Care. I believe this means that General Convention calls each Episcopalian to increase his or her giving so that additional funds will be available for the poor and the disadvantaged. Information has been sent already, I believe, to each congregation about how this might be done. Making certain that The Next Step in Mission is not relegated to the status of being only a good idea is another task facing the Executive Council and the Church Center staff in the coming three years. The key point is to get on with the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.
DPS - You have mentioned Executive Council in the last two responses. Any comments about the Executive Council elections in the two houses of Convention?
ALLIN - You will recall that in my sermon at the Eucharist on the first day of Convention, I urged that the slate elected to Executive Council be a balanced slate, meaning that I would like a Council with a balanced membership of race and sex and liberal and conservative viewpoints. I am concerned that most of the people elected to Executive Council were male Caucasians. Now there is no reason why a male Caucasian cannot serve well, but I think we would all be better served with more minority representation on the Council. I intend to remind Council of this every time there is an occasion to fill a vacancy during the next three years. On the other hand, it is my job and the job of the Church Center staff to work with whatever Council the Convention and the nine Provinces elect. And I think we will work well with folks who have been elected since all are talented.
DPS - And then there is the matter of the hymnal, of course.
ALLIN - I thought it would be on your list! I think the new book will serve the Church well. I see it being introduced gradually into the worship life of the Church, just as was the case when the 1940 hymnal was adopted. Most of my favorites are still in the book, and I expect to gain some new favorite hymns because of the revision.
DPS - That's about all we have time for, Bishop Allin. Diocesan editors are after us continually to send them shorter articles. But is there anything else you want to say?
ALLIN - Just to end, I expect, the way we began -- with the word positive. That's my feeling, and judging from the mail and the comments I have received, that's the feeling of most of the Church right now. But that does not mean there is time for relaxing or for pretending that all is in order or that all needs are being met. It means that we'll be moving forth from a positive Convention in a positive way -- to accomplish all that we can in fulfilling the one mission that is Our Lord's. It means that we'll have a better framework within which to handle our differences. When I was elected Presiding Bishop in 1973, I set as my number one goal the effecting of reconciliation within the Episcopal Church -- not total agreement, to be sure, but a spirit of reconciliation within which this Church could move forward. I think we're getting there, and I thank God for that!