News Brief
Episcopal News Service. April 9, 1987 [87088]
"Shadowlands," the television drama on the life of writer C. S. Lewis which was co-produced by the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation and the BBC, was recently awarded a 1987 Christophers Award by the Roman Catholic group of that name. The Rev. John Catoir, director of The Christophers, presented the awards, which highlight the organization's commitment to remind the world that "one person can make a difference." Bronze medallions, inscribed with the Christophers' motto, "Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness," were given to 82 writers, directors and producers whose creative and professional efforts were said to "affirm the highest values of the human spirit." The film had already won other awards, both in Britain and in the United States, including an International Emmy.
The Religious Public Relations Council Inc., meeting here April 8-11, has named the Episcopal Ad Project as one of the winners of its Wilbur Award, which is given to recognize excellence in the communication of religious values. This is the second year in which the Episcopal Ad Project, an independent ministry started at St. Luke's Church, Minneapolis, has received an award. They were given an award for the latest series of seven ads which were released in 1986. These are black and white ads which local churches can use in the process of attracting people to come back to church. One such ad shows a casket being carried down some church steps and asks, "Will it take six strong men to bring you back into church?" Another ad shows the tablets containing the Ten Commandments and says "For fast, fast, fast, relief take two tablets." The Ad Project also won an award for its posters. Four of the ads have been printed as large posters. One of them reproduces the painting by Titian showing Daniel in the lions' den and says, "Contrary to conventional wisdom stress is not a 20th century phenomenon." The ads and posters are developed at Fallon McElligott Advertising Agency located in Minneapolis and are sold at a modest cost to churches and individuals.
On his recent retirement after 32 years service to the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia, E. Holcombe Palmer was counting not only his many friends but approximately $144,000 that more than 400 of them have contributed to a church schools scholarship fund that bears his name. Palmer, when asked by those wishing to recognize him upon his retirement, suggested that they give to the Church School of the Diocese of Virginia as a way of helping young people obtain an education they might not otherwise be able to afford. When told of the initiation of the fund in his honor, Palmer said he hoped it "will bring to the schools students who will excel, young people with the will to contribute to the life of the community which in turn will help them develop their own God-given potential." The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, Bishop of Virginia who is also Chairman of the Board of the Church Schools of the Diocese, has announced a goal of at least $200,000 for the E. Holcombe Palmer Scholarship Fund. Income from the fund will provide annual scholarship for students at the seven diocesan schools. Palmer came to the administrative staff of the diocese in 1955 after service as a naval supply officer in World War II and the Korean War, and was the first layman to hold a position of leadership on a Virginia bishop's staff. Since then he has worked for four diocesan and eight suffragan bishops. At the diocese's annual council meeting last January, Lee appointed him canon for life. Palmer will continue as consultant and advisor to the bishop on a part-time basis.
St. Paul's College here, a member of the United Negro College Fund, has received a $3,378 contribution from RJR Nabisco, Inc. "This gift from RJR Nabisco helps make a college education possible for many students who could not otherwise attend," says Marvin B. Scott, president of St. Paul's. The recent grant was part of a $250,000 donation from RJR Nabisco to the United Negro College Fund, to be shared by the Fund's 43 member universities nationwide. RJR Nabisco is the nation's largest contributor to United Negro College Fund colleges. The company has given more than $2 million to United Negro College Fund to date, and recently announced a new million-dollar pledge to the organization to be paid in four annual installments beginning in 1987.
The Rt. Rev. Elliot L. Sorge told clergy and lay delegates attending the Episcopal Diocese of Easton's 119th Convention at Emmanuel Church here that their diocese has been identified by the national Church as one of 12 among 98 in the country that is exceeding a state's rate of population growth. With a record 10,000 baptized communicants in 39 parishes throughout Maryland's nine Eastern Shore counties, Sorge reported "we have grown by 5.74 percent while the State of Maryland has increased by 4.2 percent...and the Eastern Shore by 4.8 percent. Speaking at the convention's opening session, Sorge announced recommendations for the establishment of two new congregations in the growth areas of Queen Anne's and Wicamico counties. Sorge cited clergy who have come into the diocese, an increased emphasis on evangelism, training programs for ministry, and stewardship among reason for the "new energy and enthusiasm for growth."
The Anglican Church of the Province of Tanzania has recently decided to allow a man who has more than one wife to be baptized, along with his wives. However, should he marry another wife after baptism, he would be excluded from the eucharist. The former church rule required a polygamous man to abandon all wives but one before being baptized.
The Episcopal Diocese of Central New York has begun publication of a large-type edition of its monthly newspaper, The Messenger. The easier-to-read version has cone in response to a survey conducted last year by the diocesan Commission on Aging, which learned that many older people found the smaller type difficult to read. Joan Grover, co-chair of the commission at the time of the survey, estimates that there may be as many as 900 people in the diocese who can benefit from the larger typeface. The project is being financed for its first year through a grant from Central New York's Venture in Mission, a diocesan-wide campaign held in 1984 which raised more than $2 million for a variety of ministries both within the diocese and around the world.