Council Calls for Rapid Restoration of Constitutional Rhodesian Government at December Meeting
Diocesan Press Service. January 14, 1966 [XXXIX-1]
"It is a scandal to the Gospel of reconciliation that a fearful minority of 220,000 people seek to erect a society which excludes from human and political selfhood over four million people, and to do it, as Mr. (Ian) Smith maintains in the name of 'Christianity, justice and civilization'." So saying the Executive Council at its December meeting in Greenwich, Conn. called for efforts to bring about the rapid restoration of constitutional government in Rhodesia.
Supporting the stand of the Anglican Bishops of Mashonaland and Matabeleland, the Christian Council of Rhodesia, and the Roman Catholic bishops of the country, the resolution urged all churchmen to take steps to curtail economic transactions with Rhodesia. These efforts have been asked for by the Rhodesian Christian community despite the knowledge that it will suffer from the results.
"Only after the removal of the illegal Smith regime can the groundwork be laid for a multi-racial society based on full participation in the affairs of government and an end to gross denials of human dignity."
Lest Americans take this resolution as an occasion for judging others, the Council prefaced it with a reminder of the "widespread destruction of many Indian nations by our forebearers" and "the forced importation into this country of African people as slaves."
A second world trouble spot also came up for debate - Vietnam. Action on the proposed resolution, however, will not be taken until the February meeting. The resolution had called for approval of "the widest possible distribution" of the Statement and Message of the General Board of the National Council of Churches on Vietnam and a statement by the Peace Advisory Committee of the Christian Social Relations Department of the Executive Council. It was tabled because members of the Council felt they had not had sufficient time to read and understand the statements which had been distributed during the meeting. Presiding Bishop Hines stated that the Council's action did not imply that these documents could not be distributed by the Christian Social Relations Department through its normal channels.
The Council also constituted a committee to study and amend, if they feel it is advisable, a pamphlet published by the Council entitled "Choosing your Draft Classification. " The committee will consist of the Presiding Bishop, the Director of the Department of Christian Social Relations, and the Suffragan Bishop for the Armed Forces. This action was taken after extended debate on the merits of the pamphlet and its meaning.
The Council also moved that the committee which was constituted at the Fall meeting continue its investigations of possible renovations to Seabury House, concentrating on proposals for expanding and improving the dining facilities, because this was felt to be the major need. The committee reported that renovations to the dining area and an enlargement of the Council meeting room, which would also serve as a chapel, would cost approximately $130,000. Proposals at the Fall meeting had been for extensive renovations to the entire building with an estimated cost of $580,000.
The December meeting was experimental in its form with two full days devoted to department meetings and only one half day to dealing with the quarterly business of the Council. In the past the Council has met for two full days.
In other action at this brief meeting the Council approved the establishment of a Church and Race Fund for 1966 and authorized an appeal for $100,000
- instructed the Home Department to encourage and assist dioceses in the selection and training of American Indians for ordained ministry in the church and for positions of lay responsibility
- recommended that clergy elect social security before the April 15th deadline and requested the Church Pension Fund to study the relationship between the coverage they now provide and benefits that could be provided if universal social security could be assumed.
- approved the establishment of companion diocese relationships between New Hampshire and Hong Kong; Utah and Edmonton, Canada; Northern California and Agusan, Surigao and Catanduanes in the Philippine Independent Church; Quincy and Mauritius; Southwestern Virginia and Ecuador; Eastern Oregon and Mashonaland and a second three year relationship between Arizona and Mexico.
- approved the use of the domestic portion of the 1967 Church School Missionary Offering, the theme of which is "Poverty and Affluence - Dilemma for Christians", for projects through which Christians may address some of the major problems of poverty and affluence
- changed the financing arrangements for grants to demonstration projects in pilot dioceses within the United States so that the Executive Council's share of the costs is reduced and a schedule for doing so agreed upon from the start.
- Approved the appointment of the Rev. Raymond E. Maxwell as executive secretary of the Division of World Relief and Interchurch Aid in the Department of Christian Social Relations; and of the Rev. Quinland Reeves Gordon as associate secretary for Intergroup Relations in the Division of Christian Citizenship in the Department of Christian Social Relations
- Elected William Ikard II of New Mexico to fill the unexpired term of W. Barton Beatty of New York on the General Assembly and the General Board of the National Council of Churches
- Approved the transfer of Mrs. Peggy Morrison from assistant secretary in Liaison with the General Division of Women's Work in the Department of Christian Social Relations to the position of assistant secretary, Area of Training Services, Department of Christian Education
- Approved the sending of a delegation to the World Conference on Church and Society in Geneva, Switzerland under the auspices of the World Council of Churches. This meeting is a successor to the World Conferences on Life and Work held in 1927 and 1937.
It was also announced at the Council meeting that the Presiding Bishop had appointed Lawrence E. Laybourne, assistant publisher of Time magazine, as a member-at-large in the General Division of Laymen's Work.