Priorities Set for Funds
Diocesan Press Service. March 6, 1964 [XIX-2]
Priorities were set at the February National Council meeting for the distribution of funds to be received during 1964 in response to Presiding Bishop Lichtenberger's earlier appeal for $150,000 to financially aid Episcopalians and others caught in "tense racial situations" in the U. S.
At the annual meeting of the council, the 32 members adopted as top priority "the relief of persons, parishes or church-related institutions in distress because of their efforts to bring about changes in local (racial) situations." The Council agreed that this would be done "with careful regard for the authority of the bishop of the diocese concerned."
The Council met Feb. 18-20 in Greenwich, Conn., where Bishop Lichtenberger in December had called upon all Episcopalians to give financial support to the church's commitment to end segregation in the life of the church and in society.
Priority also will be given, the Council statement declared, to "support and strengthen the witness of parish clergy -- white, Negro and others -- in their own settings."
Commitment to the National Council of Churches' Commission on Religion and Race to further "cooperative action among the churches" was expressed as a foremost concern. A total of $45, 000 will be appropriated during 1964 for the NCC commission's work, if the appeal produces $115,000 or more.
It was also made clear that funds from the special appeal will not be applied to bail bonds or other legal expenses. An exception, however, would be "in cases involving persons in their own communities where demonstrated financial distress, lack of legal resources, and/or threats to physical safety warrant involvement as a last resort."
In such cases, funds allocated by a three-member National Council committee appointed by the Presiding Bishop, would be made available through the National Council of Churches. Committee members are the Rt. Rev. William H. Marmion, Roanoke, Va., Bishop of Southwestern Ohio; and Ernest Greene, of Washington, D. C.
National Council staff, through departmental reports, pledged themselves "to give priority to issues of race which affect their own programs." Specific means of implementation will be presented at the Council's May quarterly meeting.
At this time, however, the Council projected plans toward new programming for human relations training scholarships, a scholarship program for Negro Students, a summer interracial project for seminarians, and for one year financing of an Episcopal priest in an interdenominational venture to "strengthen communication and further bi-racial efforts in the five states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina," in cooperation with the NCC Commission on Religion and Race.
"No action on this last project will be taken, it is understood, without careful planning with the Bishop in the area in which the man would serve. "
In other business, Council members drafted a memoria to General Convention it to spell out in its canon on vestrymen (canon 13) their wider responsibility for "unification, development and prosecution" of the parish's missionary, educational and social ministry.
Turning to "Mutual Responsibility and Interdependence in the Body of Christ," the Anglican Congress document, the Council recognized the need to make financial provisions for missionary bishops who might find themselves out of jobs. It was pointed out that, in re-evaluating the structure of the Episcopal Church so that it can meet its missionary opportunities at home and overseas, some American missionary bishops could be left without jurisdictions.
A case in point is the Rt. Rev. A. Ervine Swift, Missionary Bishop of Puerto Rico. Bishop Swift requested the Council's endorsement, which it gave, of the election of a Puerto Rican bishop coadjutor. If General Convention also approves the plan, Bishop Swift said, he would intend to resign as soon as possible and let an indigenous bishop direct Puerto Rican church work. Thus, with 18 more active years in the ministry, Bishop Swift contemplates pulling his job out from under himself.
Also approved by Council members was the suggestion that two triennial budgets--one based on available income, the other in terms of needed programming--be put before General Convention.
In other action, they:
# Approved reorganization plans of the Department of Christian Education.
# Endorsed a companion-diocese relationship between the Diocese of Indianapolis and the three districts of Brazil.
# Endorsed the principle of study sabbaticals for priests and bishops.
Announced at the meeting were resignations of the following officers: the Rev. Henry L. H. Myers, executive secretary of the Division of Leadership Training, Christian Education Department, effective Dec.31, 1963, to accept an assistant professorship of Christian Education and Homiletics, School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.; the Rev. John C. W. Linsley, associate director, Overseas Department, effective Jan. 31, to be pastoral assistant at St. Paul's Church, Westfield, N. J.; the Rev. Robert A. MacGill, editor of publications, Promotion Department, effective March 31, to return to the parish ministry.
Two appointments were made: Mrs. Peggy Morrison, assistant secretary in the Department of Christian Social Relations, in liaison with the General Division of Women's Work, effective May 1; and William Heuss, New York City, youth associate, effective June 1.