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The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee of the national church hosted a conference called "Visions of Justice: Activating the Church's Vision" in Columbus, Ohio last November. The purpose of the conference was to stress the interrelatedness of the ministries of economic justice, anti-racism, environmental stewardship, global peace and justice, and Jubilee programs. The work done at the conference acknowledged and demonstrated, through worship and action, that justice, peace, and the integrity of creation are central to the mission of Jesus.
The conference was planned and designed to train JPIC provincial teams, whose members had been appointed by each of the provinces, so that they could return to the dioceses of their provinces and train others in the work of justice, peace, and environmental stewardship.
The decision to form provincial JPIC teams is the response to the greater emphasis on provincial networks and programs in partnership with the national church. Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning sees the provinces as the "right structure to use to mobilize the grassroots." The response to the conference was overwhelming and more than 200 participants attended.
The conference began with an empowering address by the Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellerman, a Methodist minister, seminary professor ,and social activist, who warned of the power and depth of the principalities and powers working against us. He stated that for us to call the powers to repentance Ñ which is in effect much of what we're doing in justice work and peace work and environmental justice workÑis to summon them back to who they are, who they are created to be, servants, not masters.
The following morning we began our day with the Rev. Will Wauters, leader of a Jubilee* ministry center in San Antonio, Texas, discussing with us the four organizing principles for community development needed to reestablish a culture of conversation within our church. The four principles centered around creating a culture of dialogue, helping people analyze their situation, organizing, and accountability.
The rest of the day consisted of five plenary sessions on each of the areas represented by the provincial teams: anti-racism, environmental stewardship, economic justice, Jubilee ministry, and peace. There was a presentation on each issue followed by small group theological reflections. Our final day began with skills training led by Madeline Trichel, director of a peace center in Columbus, and, divided by province, extensive time when we could begin to brainstorm and plan for the year ahead. All of the activities of 1996 are to lead towards a Justice Summit to be held at the end of February 1997.
The provincial team for Province II is: anti-racism, Shirley Ford (LI); economic justice, the Rev. Tracey Lind and Martha S. Gardner (N); environmental stewardship, Alex Cukan (WNY); global peace, the Rev. Stephen Lane (R); and Jubilee ministries, the Rev. Bert Bennett and the Rev. Albany To (NY). The national JPIC Committee members from Province II are the Rev. Jesse Gaither (NJ), and the Ven. Mike Kendall and the Rev. Earl Kooperkamp (NY). There have been some initial meetings of the members of this group and a presentation at provincial Synod about JPIC is planned. The JPIC network will hold a meeting in New York City on May 28 with representatives from the dioceses in Province II. The purpose of the meeting will be to plan a major event in early October 1996 and consider the ongoing work of JPIC. The October event will be open to everyone especially those already doing or interested in doing the work of justice, peace, and environmental stewardship at the grassroots level. This event will be a time to be empowered, to celebrate, to learn, to network, and to have fun. If you are interested in attending the May 28 meeting please contact Martha Gardner. Your help is needed to help us identify folks who are interested in the ministries of justice, peace, racism, environmental stewardship, and Jubilee ministries. Please send names and addresses to Martha S. Gardner at the Sandy Cutler Center for JPIC, c/o St. George's Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
For more information about the team and its work, contact: Martha S. Gardner, St. George's Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040, tel: 201-761-7322.
* Jubilee in a gospel ministry of advocacy in the Episcopal Church. It was established in 1982 by an act of the 67th General Convention, as 'a ministry of joint discipleship in Christ with poor and oppressed people, wherever they are found, to meet basic human needs and to build a just society.' Besides its ministry to the poor and oppressed, Jubilee helps all Episcopalians to consider their baptismal covenant in a new light and so see that, as the convention proclaimed, this ministry 'is at the heart of the mission of the Church.'Return to reading
From Jubilee Ministry, a Place to Serve, page 2, prepared by the Jubilee Ministry Office, the Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017.
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The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church met in Miami in the Diocese of Southeast Florida in February. Members were welcomed by the Rt. Rev. Calvin O. Schofield, bishop of the diocese and member of council. The diocese has three areas of priority:Êa responsibility toward refugees, institutional racism, and the environment. Two of these areas were addressed as part of the council meeting agenda.
At the opening Evensong, the Rt. Rev. Sam B. Hulsey (Diocese of Northwest Texas) reminded us of our Anglican identity and vision. He reminded us of our connectedness with one another throughout the Anglican Communion. He reminded us of our hospitality in our openness, especially in the diversity we experience, where the love of God opens hearts to compassion. The church is much richer when we extend hospitality. He reminded us that even in the midst of ambiguity there is a strong sense of vitality, for seeking the truth yet unknown, while at the same time trusting in the Holy Spirit that leads us in truth. He reminded us to listen to the people of prophetic voice Ñ the poor, the oppressed, and those who strive for justice, freedom, and peace.
As part of our agenda, an entire day was spent on anti-racism training by extremely qualified persons. Dr. Randall Bailey, a Baptist and professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at the Interdenominational Seminary in Atlanta led a Bible study. the Rev. Canon Edward W. Rodman of the Diocese of Massachusetts and Dr. Peggy Mcintosh of Wellesley College gave a presentation which included the video, The Color of Fear. (See "The Color of Fear".) I highly recommend these people and the video for dioceses and parishes who wish to engage in a study and training on the issue of racism. The House of Bishops , at their March meeting at Kanuga (a conference center in the Diocese of Western North Carolina), received the same training. Another part of our agenda was a visit to the Everglades. When this visit was first proposed, it was met with opposition by some members of council who wondered how such a "pleasure trip" could be justified instead of staying in our sessions attending the business of the council. However, Bishop Schofield stressed that it was the business of the council to be informed about one of the priorities of the diocese: the environment. And so, one afternoon was spent at the Everglades where we learned how Episcopalians in the Diocese of Southeast Florida are taking an active role as responsible environmental stewards to safe-guard and preserve the fragile eco-system which affects some five million people who live and work in south Florida and who are as dependent on the immense natural resources as the wildlife inhabiting it. The total area of the Everglades alone exceeds 5,000 square miles. We saw over twenty species of birds, including osprey, white ibis, American anhingas, great blue heron, snowy egret, yellow-crowned night heron, double crested cormorants, brown pelicans, as well as the laughing gull. We kept our distance from the seemingly complacent alligators who were barely visible in the tall sea of grass in the swamp. For the first time, we welcomed two representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): Ms. Terry Bowes of Boulder, Colorado, and the Rev. Daniel Martensen, ecumenical officer of ELCA. The Rev. Canon Susan Reid of Indianapolis and the Rev. David Perry, our national church ecumenical officer, will serve in a parallel role at the Lutheran Council meetings.
Both of our denominations will be voting on the Episcopal-Lutheran Concordat in our respective conventions in Philadelphia in 1997. We are moving forward to the exciting possibility of full communion with our sisters and brothers in the ELCA. In the fall of 1996 the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church and the House of Bishops of ELCA will meet jointly.
Our Executive Council has for some time included two Canadian observers, James Merrett and Rodney Andrews, who are our partners in the Anglican Church of Canada. We have been enriched by their presence and look forward to a joint meeting with their Executive Council in Toronto, Canada in November 8-13, 1996.
In her address to the council, Dr. Pamela Chinnis, President of the House of Deputies, made reference to a structural renewal process which includes the positive work achieved at the October 1995 meeting in Minneapolis of all the interim bodies of the General Convention. New possibilities for communication were achieved and a strong sense of joint mission and accountability was experienced.
Dr. Chinnis stated that through their common worship, prayer, and life as a community of faith, a new model has emerged. Instead of the old top-down ways of working which fosters isolation, competition , and a duplication of effort, the new approach is ground-up, working more on linking diocesan and local efforts, shared responsibilities, and collaborative efforts. So positive was this meeting , that she and Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning have asked the General Convention office to arrange another joint gathering of interim bodies in March 1998 for the next triennium.
Structural change is also occurring at the national church center. The Rt. Rev. Charles McNutt, chief operating officer, along with the Rev. Canon Dick Chang, Diane Porter, senior executive for program, and Steve Duggan, the new treasurer, have revitalized the administration of the church center. Even though they have experienced significant down-sizing in the last several years, they are a dedicated, hard-working staff , stronger than ever, and on fire with the love of Christ. New on the staff are Catherine Lynch, assistant treasurer, and Anthony Perfetti, controller.
The next meeting of the Executive Council will be held in Province III in Charleston, West Virginia, June 10-14, 1996.
Contact: The Rev. Virginia M. Sheay
St. Luke's
1620 Prospect St.
Trenton, NJ 08638-3031
tel: 609-882-7614.
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Lee Mun Wah is a community therapist, poet, and filmmaker. His 1993 film Stolen Ground, about racism towards Asian Americans, won the Certificate of Merit at the 1994 San Francisco International Film Festival for Best Documentary. The Color of Fear was awarded highest honors by the 1995 national Educational Media Competition.
The Color of Fear is available from
Stir Fry Productions
1222 Preservation
Parkway
Oakland, CA, 94612.
(From a press release posted to a meeting on Ecunet/Quest.)
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The annual convention is more than just a meeting that votes on the budget, elects members and delegates, hears reports, and passes resolutions. It is a time of renewing and strengthening friendships made in the past and making new ones; a time of sharing and a time to renew our ties with the other parishes in our convocation in Europe. The greatest enjoyment was the opportunity to share in the work of the church with so many wonderful and committed people from the other parishes in the convocation and beyond.
These are truly exciting times to be part of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. Under the strong pastoral and spiritual leadership of our bishop (the Rt. Rev. Jeffery Rowthorn), this is a time of renewed strength and growth throughout the convocation. In fact, the theme and challenge of this convention could be stated as deepening our faith and understanding within the church in order to strengthen our ministry without. It is a time in which the Anglican Churches on the continent are beginning to work more closely together, and expansion of the Anglican Communion itself is on the horizon. At the same time, the challenges to the church from without are as strong as ever. The church must move out of its sheltered walls and be more aware of and active in the world of which it is a part.
The convention opened with an address by Bishop Rowthorn in which he expressed profound thanks for the many blessings since he has arrived in Europe. He then turned his attention to the future, identifying three areas of importance.
Firstly, he challenged us to feed our people well. We must prepare people for ministry in the new Europe. Clergy and lay leaders must be sustained by conferences, retreats, and other support systems. We must give greater attention to preparing all church members for their ministry. Secondly, he reminded us that effective evangelism follows on the heels of truthful ministry. Our challenge is to rediscover confidence and relevance in the gospel to today's world and effectively communicate it.
Our third main ministry is mission of healing and outreach. There must be sharing within our congregations where there are peoples of many lands and many denominations under one roof. There must be sharing with other churches in the Anglican Communion, and sharing with the community.
Bishop Rowthorn quoted George McLeod, of the Iona Community, who said, "Jesus was crucified on a rough wooden cross in a marketplace between two thieves, not on a polished silver cross on an altar between two candles."
This is a clear challenge and mandate to all our churches to take seriously the grounding of faith of all our members and their preparation for their ministry of the baptized, and stresses the importance of effectively reaching out to fellow Anglicans, other churches, and the community at large.
(This article is from the newsletter of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, Epiphany 1996, Nell Tšnsman, editor. The Convocation Convention was held in October 1995.)
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For over 50 years, the Finger Lakes Conference has been meeting at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, in Geneva, New York, for a week of Christian education, fellowship, worship, and just plain down time. Meeting the last week of June, the conference serves the Episcopal Churches in Province II and beyond. Our program consists of a general lecturer of note and stature, interesting courses to challenge one's faith and life, small group discussions, fellowship, and time just to have some fun.
The conference is open to laity and clergy of the Episcopal Church, other denominations, and other interested people. Our aim is to be inclusive, challenging, and faith filled. Varied opportunities for personal and group interaction with the general lecturer, course leaders, and other conference participants are available.
The general lecturer will be the Rev. Robert Farrrar Capon, author of twenty theological books, including several novels and four cookbooks. He has been an Episcopal parish priest, a seminary dean, a professor of theology and Greek, a canon theologian to the bishop of Long Island, a teacher of cooking, and a free-lance food writer for The New York Times, Newsday, and many other magazines. His latest book, to be published this spring, is The Astonished Heart. His area of expertise is New Testament. The titles of his lectures are: Christianity Is Not a Religion, Parables of the Kingdom, The Parables of Grace, The Parables of Judgment, and The Forms of the Church: Past, Present, and Future.
There will be five courses:
The chaplain for the conference will be the Rev. Barbara Humphery, Rochester, New York.
This year's Finger Lakes Conference will be held Sunday, June 23 to Friday, June 28. The cost, which includes room, board, and program, is $230 per person. Scholarships are available.
For registration information contact: the Rev. Diana Purcell-Chapman
P.O.
Box 492
Wellsville, NY 14895
tel: 814-228-3482.
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A Healing Liturgy , especially for survivors of abuse, came about as the result of the expressed need of persons who are survivors of abuse for a liturgical expression that honored their healing journey, and was framed in language and images that did not replicate the abuse. The liturgy, written by a woman who has walked the healing path, is based on her own experiences. She graciously offered it for our use. It is a copyrighted liturgy, first held in September 1992 at Church of the Ascension, Buffalo, New York, and is used with the express permission of the author.
The persons who attend this liturgy are most often survivors of sexual abuse and/or of physical abuse, their friends, and their healing partners. Because they are in some stage of their healing journey, every effort is made to help them to feel safe, to feel in control, and to know what will happen.
Although the service originated in an Episcopal Church, it is ecumenical. It follows an ancient form with a creative content.
A special liturgy is needed as most survivors of abuse are not able to find spiritual consolation or nurture in the power based and male dominated images of the traditional liturgical expression while on the healing journey. Often the effects of abuse have deep spiritual repercussions, especially if suffered as a child. What is needed is a liturgy which uses other images of God that are both scriptural and nurturing, and which reflect God's healing presence through a long journey to wholeness, and not a "zap Ñ you're healed" kind of theology.
Of equal importance with the liturgical text is the music used for the service. It is not possible to use most hymns in standard issue hymnals regardless of denomination. Hymns must be carefully selected for appropriateness of the text. References to God as our father and protector will ring hollow for persons whose father was the abuser or to someone who had no one to protect her or him from abuse. We have looked to new hymn texts by modern authors which can be sung to familiar traditional tunes.
An important boundary to establish is that the liturgy is not therapy nor is it a support group. This is a service of Holy Communion Ñ a sign of God's presence with us and in our lives. It is a means for survivors of abuse to tell their story and to hear the stories of others. It is a means of hearing about a God who is parent, who hurts with them, and who promises wholeness and healing as a part of their pilgrimage. The structure and wordings are especially designed so that they give imagery of God who is nurturing and healing.
The liturgy is theologically sound and follows the structural form of "An Order for Celebrating the Holy Eucharist" in the Book of Common Prayer. There is a time in the service for the laying on of hands on the heads of those who choose to come forward. A prayer for God's healing power to come into the person's life is offered.
A social hour following the service may offer support . Those attending the service are invited, but never forcefully encouraged, to come. At first many people may prefer anonymity until they feel safe with the officiants and the group. Community building will evolve naturally.
Copies of A Healing Liturgy are available from
the Rev. Donald B. Hill
320
Praker Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14216.
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