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2001-56

News Briefs

British scientist-priest latest recipient of Templeton Prize for Progress in 
Religion

     (ENS) A prominent British biochemist who is also an Anglican priest is the 
28th recipient of the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, it was announced 
at a press conference in New York City March 8. The prize carries a stipend of 
over $1 million and has been compared with the Nobel Prize.

     The Rev. Arthur Peacocke was honored for what was described as his 
pioneering exploration of the "creative interaction of science and theology." In 
his statement at the press conference, Peacocke said that he often answers 
questions about how he, as a research scientist, could become so interested in 
religion. "My response is that the search for intelligibility that characterizes 
science and the search for meaning that characterizes religion are two necessary, 
intertwined strands of the human enterprise and are not opposed," he said.

     As founder of the Society of Ordained Scientists, he said that "the 
community of science needs the meanings that religion unveils."

     In response to a question, Peacocke said that he grew up as a "mild agnostic 
who did not find the church convincing." Yet he gradually returned to the church, 
partly under the influence of his wife, but also as the result of a sermon by 
Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple which breached the wall between religion 
and the intellectual life. Rather than experiencing a sudden conversion, he said 
that he "read himself into a conviction."

     The prize was established by financial entrepreneur Sir John Templeton in 
1972 to promote research in religion, a field that he argued was totally ignored 
by the more prominent Nobel Prizes. His motivation in creating the prize, he 
explained at the news conference, was to provide "new spiritual information" on a 
par with intellectual efforts.

     Past recipients of the prize have included the Rev. Billy Graham, Charles 
Colson, Mother Teresa, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

     

Presbyterians divided on blessing same-sex relationships

     (Presbyterian News) As a constitutional amendment prohibiting ceremonies 
blessing same-sex relationships in the Presbyterian Church (USA) makes its way 
through the church, a recent Presbyterian Panel survey indicates that church 
members and clergy favor such a ban. The poll found that 57 percent of members, 
61 percent of elders, and 50 percent of pastors agree that "Presbyterian 
ministers should be prohibited from performing a ceremony that blesses the union 
between two people of the same sex." By similar margins, respondents said that 
such ceremonies also should not take place in Presbyterian churches. Yet 
unofficial tallies of votes on the amendment show the measure trailing by a vote 
of 53 in favor and 74 opposed, a pattern that would spell defeat for the 
amendment if the trend continues. The discrepancy may be traced to the wording of 
the proposed amendment, which does not mention "same-sex unions," according to 
observers.

     

German Christians yearn for unity 'as soon as possible'

     (Lutheran World Information) A German theologian recently elevated to 
cardinal said that, in confessionally divided Germany where the Reformation 
began, the great majority of Protestant and Roman Catholic Christians long for 
church unity, "especially unity at the Lord's table, to come about as soon as 
possible." Cardinal Walter Kasper said at a Geneva meeting of the Lutheran World 
Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity that he felt 
he had been "born with" the ecumenical problem as a German Christian. After the 
two communions signed a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification on 
October 31, 1999, many church members thought it would be possible to share the 
Eucharist. Despite the disappointment, Kasper said there was much to be shared. 
"We can now witness together to that which is central in the Gospel--and in an 
increasingly secularized world that is truly no small matter," he said.

     

'Going up to Jerusalem' draws clergy, musicians, and liturgists

     (ENS) A group of 30 clergy, musicians, liturgists, and seminarians came from 
all over the United States and the Diocese of Canterbury in England to attend a 
series of workshops on Holy Week liturgies practiced at St. Gregory of Nyssa 
Episcopal Church in San Francisco, California.

     The conference, entitled "Going Up To Jerusalem," took place January 13-19. 
The conferees experienced the three types of services ordinarily offered by St. 
Gregory's each Sunday, and through lectures, discussions, and workshops they 
learned about the many aspects that contribute to transforming worship.

     Sessions included aspects relevant to each service of Holy Week, from Palm 
Sunday through the Easter Vigil. Among the topics were: Preaching Good News on 
Good Friday, Moving Together in Procession and Liturgical Dance, Guided 
Conversation as an Experience of God's Word, The Second Century Didache Feast of 
Friends, Welcoming the Stranger, and The Place of Baptism in Holy Week. Many 
sessions included information on meeting the needs of children during the 
liturgy.

     The Rev Alex Bienfait, vicar of St. Andrew's Church in the Diocese of 
Canterbury, said, "Being part of this week was extremely moving and challenging. 
It was an exciting glimpse at a model for worship that is symbolic, ritualistic 
and yet informal, and which makes space for us to bring our individual stories 
and experience of God. I look forward to it inspiring the worship I lead."

     Seminarian Kate Lewis, currently studying at Church Divinity School of the 
Pacific in Berkeley, California, praised the conference, saying, "It is really 
wonderful to break loose from academia and consider real-world praxis in 
community with those who are doing it with intentionality and passion."

     The conference, sponsored by Sophia Network, will be repeated in January of 
2002. For information, visit the church's web site at 
http://www.saintgregorys.org or contact Margaret Lukens at 415.255.8100, 
extension 13.

     

Europeans have more faith in the police than the Church

     (London Daily Telegraph) A recent survey by Reader's Digest revealed that a 
fifth of Europeans do not like the Church of England and some have greater 
confidence in the police and media.

     According to the European Trusted Brands 2001 survey, which polled more than 
17,000 people in 18 European countries to rate their levels of confidence in 10 
institutions, confidence in the church in Britain, Spain, Germany, Belgium and 
the Czech Republic fared badly. In Britain, 51% of those polled said they had 
little confidence in the church, while 71% declared greater faith in the police.

     Confidence in the press increased across Europe over the last 10 years with 
significant growth in Britain, Holland, and Denmark. Seventy-one percent of 
Britons said they had little confidence in the press compared with 83% in 1990.

     Marriage emerged as the most trusted institution in 17 of the 18 European 
countries. Russia was the exception. Only 44% of Europeans said they had 
confidence in the Church as an institution, while 46% said the same of the press 
and 59% of the media.

     The lowest rating went to advertising, which was trusted by only 16% of Europeans.