Convention, Lambeth To Head Bishops' Agenda
Episcopal News Service. August 6, 1987 [87158]
NEW YORK (DPS, Aug.6) -- "What goes round, comes round" could well be the theme of the 1987 House of Bishops meeting, as bishops of the Episcopal Church plan to look at recent challenges and old statements in light of their future ministry during the late September gathering.
About 140 diocesan, suffragan, coadjutor and assistant bishops, and some retired or resigned bishops, many with their wives, are expected to be present when the Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning, Presiding Bishop, calls the meeting to order on Sept. 25 at the Pheasant Run Convention resort in St. Charles, Ill. Bishops of the Church gather in interim meeting each year between meetings of the General Convention. At these interim meetings, the bishops address matters affecting their ministry as the chief pastors of the Church as well as study and reflect on the role of the Church in the world. This year, the meeting will be devoted largely to preparation for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church and the Lambeth Meeting of Anglican Bishops, both of which will take place in the summer of 1988.
Topics known to be on the agenda, as of this writing, include: four special sessions to explore the themes of the Lambeth Conference; reports by the Urban Bishops, the theology committee and the Board for Theological Education/Council of Seminary Deans; a report and discussion on the committee exploring the pastoral and doctrinal implications of the women in the episcopate; and a progress report and discussion on the work of the Human Affairs and Health commission on human sexuality. The House also is scheduled to consider reports on a study paper on ministry that had been drafted last year.
The Human Affairs panel had been asked to report its work to the House last year after a resolution pressing for a clear statement on "traditional sexual morality" was offered by a number of bishops. A substitute motion commended their concerns to the Committee and directed a progress report.
Bishop Edward Jones of Indianapolis has been chairing an ad hoc committee of bishops to explore the full range of ramifications for the Church of the election and ordination of a woman to the episcopate. His panel's work was given a pastoral and collegial focus when a group of conservative bishops last year issued a plea for a "mode of accommodation... a positive solution" toward members who could not accept such a step. In a resolution passed near the end of the session, the House emphasized its stand that most members did not intend to withhold their consent from a woman's consecration but commended the process of study and consultation Browning had initiated. The statement acknowledged the plea for "restraint" expressed by Anglican primates when they had met in the spring.
In addition to topics raised last year, the meeting will be the focus of centennial celebration of the development of the ChicagoLambeth Quadrilateral -- declaring the Scriptures, the Nicene & Apostles' Creeds, the sacraments of Baptism & Eucharist and the historic episcopate to be the basis of "Home Reunion" -- which was promulgated by the bishops in 1886 and adopted in a modified form by the Lambeth Meeting of 1888. An intensive three-day National Ecumenical Consultation will precede the bishops' meeting and will explore the document's role in shaping Anglican heritage and vision historically and its continued role in ecumenical strategy.
Speakers and conference leaders will include the church historian Dr. Martin Marty of the University of Chicago, Dr. Marianne Micks of the Virginia Seminary, Archbishop Michael Peers, Primate of Canada, and Canon Samuel Van Culin of the Anglican Consultative Council.
The meeting will open with a service, reception and dinner the evening of Sept. 25. On Sept. 26, the party will travel into Chicago for a celebration of the quadrilateral at the diocesan Cathedral. In the afternoon, Browning will deliver his annual report to the House.
On Sunday, after worship, the House will spend most of the day on Lambeth issues with morning and afternoon reports and a dinner at which Van Culin will speak.
Beginning Monday, Dr. Micks will deliver a daily meditation to the House at the opening of each day's work. Lambeth, women in the Episcopate and legislative matters take up the rest of the agenda. Tuesday will see the conclusion of the Lambeth presentation and, on Wednesday, the bishops will hear from Bishop George Hunt of Rhode Island on the Human Affairs report. There is a large block of time set aside for consideration and response of that report.
The meeting will end Thursday evening with a dinner honoring retiring bishops.