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2001-139

News Briefs

Archbishop Desmond Tutu in residence at EDS during spring semester 2002

     (ENS) Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, will be 
in residence at Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 
during the spring semester of 2002. He is intentionally known for his historic 
opposition to the South African system of apartheid, and for his tireless efforts 
for equality and peace throughout the world. At EDS he will lead a seminar on 
issues in global Christianity.

     Tutu and his wife, Leah Nomalizo Shenxane, will live on campus during the 
spring semester, and he will deliver the commencement address in May 2002. EDS 
president Bishop Steven Charleston has expressed the "joy of the entire EDS 
community at the prospect of welcoming this legendary leader for peace and 
justice into out midst." Charleston added that "the Tutus will be a part of our 
life, study, and worship, and a priceless gift to our school. And we hope in turn 
to provide them with a chance to relax and reflect." Their daughter, Mpho Tutu, 
is a student a EDS studying for the Master's of Divinity degree.

     Initially trained as a teacher, Tutu received his theology training at St. 
Peter's Theological College in Johannesburg and King's College, University of 
London in England. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1961. He continued 
teaching until 1972 when he became the first black to hold the position of dean 
of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg, and three years later became the first 
black to be general secretary of the South African Council of Churches. In 1979, 
he called for economic sanctions against the South African government, a method 
of opposition to apartheid that caught fire world-wide and ended in abolition of 
the system.

     Tutu became the first black Anglican archbishop of Capetown in 1986. In 
1995, Nelson Mandela, then president of South Africa, appointed him to serve as 
head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission investigating human rights 
violations during 1960-1994. Reflecting on his work on the commission, the 
archbishop wrote No Future Without Forgiveness. Among his other noteworthy works 
are The Divine Intention and Hope and Suffering. 

Deputy Prime Minister gives assurances over residential schools settlement 
process

     (ACNS) Led by Archbishop Michael Peers, a senior five-person delegation 
representing the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada meeting May 17 
with deputy prime minister Herb Gray received assurances that the Canadian 
government is now in a position to "move from dialogue to formal discussions, 
leading to an agreement" in the ongoing matter involving "residential schools" 
litigation.

     Meeting at his offices in Ottawa, Gray told the Anglican delegation he had 
received a definitive mandate two days earlier to act as the designated official 
to bring the schools crisis to a satisfactory conclusion by initiating direct 
"negotiations" with the four church denominations named in litigation. Gray said 
he was not yet able to provide precise details about two key dimensions of these 
negotiations--specifically, the timing and parameters of the settlement 
procedures--but he indicated he intended to conduct a briefing with the four 
churches involved (Roman Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian) within two 
weeks.

     During the course of the one-hour meeting, Gray assured Anglican leaders the 
government takes the view that church organizations "play a valuable, far-
reaching role in Canadian civil society" and reiterated his view, stated at 
earlier meetings, that the government has "no desire to see the churches driven 
into bankruptcy" as a result of the residential schools litigation.

     The Anglican delegation was led by Peers, and included Terence Finlay, 
archbishop of Ontario, Donald Phillips, bishop of Rupert's Land (Winnipeg), 
Archdeacon Jim Boyles, General Secretary of General Synod and Esther Wesley, 
coordinator of the Anglican Church Indigenous Healing Fund. The group had pressed 
for a meeting with Gray at the instigation of the House of Bishops to convey the 
immediate concerns of the General Synod and the Diocese of Cariboo, and urgent 
concerns of several other dioceses affected by the schools litigation. During the 
meeting, the delegation made a forceful presentation to Gray reiterating the 
financial deadlines and programmatic pressures exerted by the residential schools 
crisis across Canada.

     The Anglican delegation also took the opportunity during the meeting to 
underscore its deep concerns over the approach taken by the Federal Department of 
Justice, which has taken an aggressive stance in repeatedly naming the Anglican 
Church as a third party defendant in cases brought primarily against the 
government as primary defendant.

     "We took the opportunity to remind Mr. Gray of the pressing financial 
concerns we are facing as a Church and to urge the government to adopt a 
constructive, timely stance in bringing this matter to a speedy conclusion," 
commented Peers following the meeting.

     "We are still waiting for more details setting out the proposed government 
approach to the new level of negotiations," said Finlay. "In spite of this, we felt 
our meeting with Minister Gray was a positive step, demonstrating goodwill on 
both sides."