News Brief
Episcopal News Service. October 25, 1984 [84211]
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- The Episcopal Women's Caucus' board of directors met with the Episcopal Urban Caucus here in September as part of their commitment to work with other Episcopalians on justice issues. Foremost on the agenda was political strategy for the 1985 General Convention. Names for committee vacancies were selected to submit to the Joint Standing Committee on Nominations. A procedure and time table were discussed for issuing a statement on abortion. A plan was sketched for developing resolutions prior to this winter's diocesan conventions. In-house business included reports from the task forces on by-laws and membership and the consultation to be held in November to investigate a new organizational plan.
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- A Chancery Court lawsuit filed here May 9 by three former officials of the Prayer Book Society against the current directors has been dismissed. The suit sought "access to the books and records including the contributor list" of the Society. In a decision handed down by Chancellor George T. Lewis, the court said that "to give the plaintiffs the contributor list and an opportunity to bicker with contributors about the alleged misrepresentations made by the Society would do irreparable harm to the Society, and...that the defendant has proved that this is an internal fight for control, which would not be in the best interest of the Society for 'any proper purpose'." The court also noted that "it is always sad to see churches and church-related organizations become involved in litigation to adjudicate their differences rather than settling them through democratic processes."
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- Brother Richard Thomas, Superior General of the Brotherhood of St. Gregory, in his capacity as advisory counsel and secretary, met with the House of Bishops Standing Committee for Religious Communities during the House's recent meeting. The Committee is composed of Bishops William C. R. Sheridan (chair), Luc A. Garnier, William Stevens, and Mark Dyer and Brother Richard, and the Rev. Andrew Rank, SSP, advisory counsel. The meeting began the process of approval for recognition under Title III, Canon 27, of communities which have submitted applications. Given recognition under the provisions of the Canon were the Brotherhood of St. Gregory, the Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit, the Community of St. Mary, the Order of the Teachers of the Children of God, the Society of St. John the Evangelist, the Order of St. Benedict and the Order of St. Anne (Bethany Convent). A projected task of the Committee is publication of a complete directory of all Episcopal Church orders and communities.
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- In a letter accompanying materials for Alcohol Awareness Sunday -- scheduled for Nov. 18, -- Presiding Bishop John M. Allin wrote, "Such good purpose as is represented by Alcohol Awareness Sunday certainly needs no special endorsement, but simply the shared appeal by all of us for greater response in dealing with the extensive alcohol problem so frequently being encountered.... Let us both work and pray for the effectiveness of this venture." Materials are available from the National Episcopal Coalition on Alcohol, P. O. Box 50489, Washington, DC 20004.
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- Paul Van Buren, an Episcopal theologian who teaches religion at Temple University, has been named to direct the National Conference of Christians and Jews' new Jerusalem-based study program for work in Christian-Jewish theology. Called the Center for Contemporary Theology, it will be located at the Shalom Hartman Institute for Judaic Studies and grew out of collaborative work by Van Buren and Rabbi David Hartman, director of the Institute. Twenty Christian scholars, including 10 from North America, have been named fellows in theology and will spend two months in Jerusalem working with Jewish scholars, beginning this month.
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- The Brotherhood of St. Gregory, one of the largest religious communities for men in the Episcopal Church, celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of its foundation with a Festival Eucharist at St. Bartholomew's Church here on Sept. 16. The Community's Founder and Superior General, Brother Richard Thomas Biernacki, BSG, was joined in this service by the Episcopal Visitor, the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, Jr., Bishop of New York, who celebrated the Eucharist and preached. The Brotherhood's ecumenical efforts were reflected by the participation in the service of the Order of St. Luke (Methodist), the Brothers of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) and the Brotherhood of Jesus (Lutheran).
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- A directory of specialized ministries is now available. Recently revised, the Directory of National and Provincial Networks contains a listing of individuals involved in ministries of special focus, as well as the Executive Council members, provincial presidents and individuals with provincial network responsibility. Also included are persons who form networks in three program units of the Episcopal Church Center: Education for Mission and Ministry, National Mission in Church and Society, and World Mission in Church and Society. An adjunct reference, A List of Diocesan Resource Persons, will be published soon. Compiled through the Office of the executive assistant to the Education for Mission and Ministry unit, the directory may be obtained by contacting the Rev. Fred Howard, Executive Assistant, Education for Mission and Ministry, Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- A Handbook for Evangelism is now available from the Office of Evangelism Ministries of the Education for Mission and Ministry unit at the Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017. As set up by the Rev. A. Wayne Schwab, coordinator for Evangelism ministries, the handbook is divided into three parts: Orientation for Evangelism, Basic Steps in Evangelism, and Mileposts and Alternate Routes. There is also a resource section.
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- Nine Episcopalians and 18 Lutherans gathered at Pacific Lutheran Seminary here this summer to discuss the struggle of Christian discipleship in the workplace. Sponsored by New Models for Ministry, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Pacific Lutheran Seminary, the conference included a panel of church and business leaders dealing with issues such as staff reductions, balancing family life and job responsibilities and "working at a job where I worry about money."
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- "I Don't Drink Cocktails Anymore", a piece on alcohol by Alan Houghton which originally appeared in Jubilate Deo, the newspaper of the Diocese of South Carolina, was reprinted -- with front cover billing and full credit given -- in the August issue of Reader's Digest, with reprints available. Editor of Jubilate Deo John C. Goodbody says he believes this is the first piece from any Episcopal periodical ever to appear in Reader's Digest.
(DPS, Oct. 25) -- Oct. 28 marks the beginning of the year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of St. George's Episcopal Church here. The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Graham Leonard, Lord Bishop of London, whose predecessors had the oversight of colonial parishes before the American Revolution, will be the guest of the parish for the weekend and will preside and preach at that Sunday's Eucharist. There will also be an ecumenical service of Solemn Evensong, at which Samuel Belk, III, President of the Canterbury Trust, will deliver a message from the Archbishop of Canterbury.