wfn.org | Episcopalians: News Briefs

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

April 19, 2002

2002-100

Episcopalians: News Briefs

NCC delegation begins mission to Mideast

(NCCC/USA) Embarking on a 12-day journey to visit those people 
affected by the violence occurring in Palestine and Israel, 14 
American church leaders spent the first day of the journey in 
preparation and by meeting with Orthodox Church leaders in 
Istanbul, Turkey.

The U.S. delegation, headed by Dr. Bob Edgar (United 
Methodist), general secretary of the National Council of 
Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), and by Elenie Huszagh 
(Greek Orthodox), the president of the NCC, received first the 
advice and blessing of His All Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical 
Patriarch of Constantinople and spiritual leader of more than 
250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reminded the group that he 
had met last month in Washington with President Bush and 
Secretary of State Powell. The patriarch expressed his concern 
for the American people in the wake of the September 11 
disaster. "Last month I visited Ground Zero and I prayed...and I 
spoke on the meaning of our common prayer." This led Edgar of 
the NCC to conclude, "So it is in prayer that we Americans come 
now to express our concern for, and our solidarity with, the 
peoples of the Middle East."

The U.S. delegation leaves on Friday, April 19, for Beirut, 
where the group will be hosted by the Middle East Council of 
Churches and have meetings with religious and political leaders, 
including Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. The group will 
then continue on to Syria and Jordan and has scheduled meetings 
with Syrian president Bashar Al Assad and King Abdullah of 
Jordan before arriving in the West Bank and Israel on April 23.

Episcopal GenXers to gather for 'unConventional' time

(ENS) The Episcopal Church's "Generation X"--those born 
1961-1981--will converge on Indianapolis, Indiana, for 
"Gathering the neXt Generation (GTNG) 2002 National Gathering: 
Equipping ourselves for lifelong ministry together," June 20-22 
at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis, with a special 
pre-conference day for Episcopal GenX clergy only on June 19. 

This conference by, for, and with GenXers and their friends 
promises an "unConventional time" and the opportunity for 
GenXers to connect and "be church," according to conference 
organizers. Daily worship and Bible studies will be offered in a 
variety of styles. Featured speaker for the Gathering is 
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. 

Nearly two dozen workshops are planned, including sessions on 
finding vocation and the "heart" experience of being a priest or 
deacon; cell groups and church growth; reconciliation and deep 
nonviolence; the 20/20 movement; spiritual direction using 
e-mail and chat; how to get out of debt; balancing your 
checkbook with God in mind; and many more. The Expo area will 
offer displays and booths from publishers, vestment artists, 
seminaries, and church-related organizations. Childcare and 
children's activities will be available. Full conference 
information, including registration form, fees, online payment, 
workshops, and hotel reservation instructions, is available at 
www.gtng.org/conference.html. 

Barahona chosen to lead Central American Anglicans

(ENS) Bishop Martmn Barahona of El Salvador was chosen as 
Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of Central America 
(IARCA) on Sunday, April 14. Barahona, 59, succeeds Bishop 
Cornelios Wilson of Costa Rica. 

The election was held in Guatemala City during the second 
provincial synod of IARCA, whose motto was "Anglicanism: a 
challenge in Central America." The election was democratic, 
carried out in a process in which laity, priests and bishops 
decided the new course of the province for the next four years. 

The installation of Bishop Barahona has been planned for 
August 24 in San Salvador. All are welcome. 

For the Salvadoran bishop this election was the work of the 
Holy Spirit and his main challenge during this period will be 
the search for unity and the growth of the Episcopal Church.

El Obispo Martmn Barahona de El Salvador fue electo como 
Obispo Primado de la Iglesia Anglicana de la Regisn Central de 
Amirica (IARCA) el pasado domingo 14 de abril. Barahona de 59 
aqos de edad sustituira al Obispo Cornelios Wilson de Costa 
Rica. 

La eleccisn se llevs a cabo en la ciudad de Guatemala durante 
el Segundo Smnodo Provincial de IARCA, cuyo lema fue 
"Anglicanismo: un reto en Centro Amirica". La eleccisn fue 
democratica, conllevs un proceso en el que laicos,sacerdotes y 
obispos decidieron el nuevo rumbo de la provincia para los 
prsximos cuatro aqos.

La instalacisn del Obispo Barahona se ha programado para el 
prsximo 24 de agosto en la capital salvadoreqa. Todos y todas 
estan invitados.

Para el Obispo salvadoreqo este eleccisn fue obra delespiritu 
santo, y su principal reto durante su perisdo sera la busqueda 
de la unidad y el crecimiento de la Iglesia Episcopal 
Anglicana.

US Christian leaders explore new ecumenical body

(ENS) On April 4-6, a group of 37 religious leaders meeting in 
Chicago adopted a statement entitled "Christian Churches 
Together in the U.S.A.: An Invitation to a Journey." The 
statement is part of a conversation between Evangelical, 
Orthodox, Pentecostal, Mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic 
leaders about a new ecumenical organization for the 21st century 
which would include most of the Christian bodies in the US.

"In Baltimore on September 7-8, 2001, we met to pray, to listen 
and to seek the guidance of God on whether all who confess the 
Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the scriptures 
can talk together about how to share with the world our common 
confession of Jesus Christ," the statement explained. "We 
continued this prayerful conversation in Chicago on April 4-6 
and sensed the Holy Spirit leading us to new possibilities."

Lamenting that "we are divided and that our divisions too often 
result in distrust, misunderstandings, fear and even hostility 
between us," the document adds that "our lack of faithfulness to 
each other has led to a lack of effectiveness on crucial issues 
of human dignity and social justice.  We lament that none of 
our current organizations represents the full spectrum of 
Christians in the United States. We long for a place, where our 
differences could be better understood and our commonalities 
better affirmed."

I found this second meeting very exciting," commented Bishop 
Christopher Epting, deputy for ecumenical and interfaith 
relations for the Episcopal Church. "There seemed to be lots of 
energy in the room around finding a new form of conciliar 
ecumenism for the 21st century, perhaps less bureaucratic, more 
flexible, and more inclusive than the structures weve 
inherited. The Episcopal Church will certainly want to continue 
to be part of this conversation.

The statement invites "all churches who confess Jesus Christ as 
God and Savior according to the scriptures" to join in the 
effort. There will be a follow-up meeting on January 27-29, at a 
site to be determined.

Episcopal churches become 'river friendly'

(ENS) Ministry on the River's ecumenical River Friendly Church 
program is attracting Episcopal congregations across the country 
to join others that minister to mariners on America's inland 
waterways. Nearly 100 Episcopal congregations are River Friendly 
Churches. 

River mariners perform dangerous work and endure long periods 
away from home and family, moving millions of tons of valuable 
cargo. Typically mariners will be away from home for at least 
six months of the year, disrupting family patterns. Every other 
Christmas is spent underway. Under the strain of the 
"home-a-month," "gone-a-month" working routine, marriages are 
tested, and often damaged. River families endure these hardships 
without the support systems many take for granted. Their 
schedule precludes traditional participation in the community.

Ministry on the River and River Friendly Churches provide 
mariners and their families with pastoral care, counseling, and 
emergency response onboard and ashore; family support; Bible 
distribution, worship aids; Pass It On book and video exchange; 
and the yearly Christmas on the River program. To learn more 
about becoming a River Friendly Church, e-mail 
riverministry@seamenschurch.org or call Karen Cox, Ministry 
Project Coordinator at 270/575-1005.

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