Council Rescinds Action
Diocesan Press Service. March 8, 1965 [XXX-9]
At its annual meeting in February the Executive Council adopted a resolution rescinding the qualification it had placed previously upon the participation of Episcopal clergy in projects supported directly, or indirectly, by its Church and Race Fund.
On Dec. 9 the Council had adopted a proviso to its Church and Race Fund Appeal resolution which stated that no Episcopal priest could be sent to a diocese in connection with a project supported by this fund unless he first obtained the consent of the diocesan bishop.
Presiding at his first meeting, Bishop, Hines asked for a special open order of business to "expand, reconsider or further clarify" the above qualification. Reporters and photographers crowded the meeting room to obtain first-hand coverage.
Since the December meeting more than 75 letters, petitions and memorials had been received by the president and secretary of the Council from Bishops, standing committees, churchmembers, seminary faculties and diocesan conventions disturbed by the qualification Council had adopted.
Bishop Hines expressed the view that, "more background may be advisable and wise," and further, that there could be "some conflict with the House of Bishops statement on Christian Obedience and the General Convention action with respect to the National Council of Churches." At its General Convention, the Church voted to continue its support of the NCCC. One Council member also pointed out that the qualifying proviso went beyond the provisions of the Canons of General Convention which require the license of a bishop for ministries of more than two months.
Invited by Bishop Hines to be present and participate in the discussions so that all facets of the subject would be presented were the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Bishop Coadjutor of Mississippi; the Rev. Dr. Robert Spike, director of the NCCC Commission on Religion and Race; the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, Jr., Suffragan Bishop of Washington and chairman of the Delta Ministry; and the Rev. Harry J. Bowie, an Episcopal priest, acting Delta Project Director, McComb, Miss. In charge of the session were the Rt. Rev. Robert L. DeWitt, Bishop of Pennsylvania and chairman of the Home Department and the Rt. Rev. William H. Marmion, Bishop of Southwestern Virginia and chairman of the Department of Christian Social Relations.
Following a thorough presentation, discussion and debate, the Council adopted three resolutions. The first stated that Executive Council officers engaged in carrying out Council initiated programs must obtain the consent of the Bishop into whose Diocese they are going. When they go into a diocese on interdenominational programs, they are required to consult with and advise the Bishop concerning the program and their participation. The same procedure will be followed by the Executive Council in situations involving other clergymen and laymen (not officers of Council) participating in programs of ecumenical agencies to the extent that their participation is known. The second resolution established a Church and Race Fund for the year 1965 and authorized an appeal for $100,000. The third resolution reaffirmed the Executive Council's support of the NCCC and of the work of its Commission on Religion and Race and of the Delta Ministry. It also committed itself to give $45,000 to the Commission on Religion and Race and an additional $20, 000 for the Delta Ministry Commission. This money will come from the Church and Race Fund as it becomes available.