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March 19, 2003

2003-062

Episcopalians: News Briefs

'Tree hugger' named as winner of million-dollar religion prize 

(ENI)Holmes Rolston III, an environmentalist and ordained 
Presbyterian minister, has been named winner of this year's 
Templeton Prize, one of the world's most prestigious awards in 
the field of religion--and worth over $1 million, making it the 
world's largest monetary award given to an individual.

A self-described "tree-hugger" who teaches philosophy at 
Colorado State University, Rolston has been a leader in the 
burgeoning field of environmental ethics. He is different from 
many other ethicists in that human beings are not at the center 
of his studies. He argues that ecosystems--systems of plants and 
animals as well as human beings--should be at the heart of 
theological and scientific inquiry.

"I'm trying to keep humans within a bigger picture," Rolston 
told ENI. "It's a mistake for humans to think they are at the 
center, the focus of creation."

The prize was founded in 1972 by Sir John Templeton, a US-born 
investor who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1987. 
Templeton created the award because he thought the annual Nobel 
Prizes overlooked the field of religion. Previous winners 
include the late Mother Teresa, the evangelist Billy Graham and 
Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn. 

"I had to fight both theology and science to love nature," said 
Rolston in remarks prepared for a March 19 news conference. 
"Science thought nature to be value-free. Monotheism thought 
nature fallen owing to human sin," he noted. "They [both] agreed 
that humans were the center of value on Earth."

Rolston, who grew up in Virginia and received his formal 
theological education at Union Seminary in Richmond, a 
Presbyterian school, said that only recently had Protestant 
theologians and ethicists begun taking environmental concerns 
seriously.

"Rolston, more than any other living person, has been the 
seminal thinker who makes possible a new rapprochement between 
biology and religion, joining theologians and biologists in 
their common respect and reverence for nature," said Perry 
Biddle of the Middle Tennessee Presbytery of the Presbyterian 
Church (USA) in nominating Rolston for the prize.

Prime Minister Blair receives communion from Pope John Paul II 
at the Vatican

(Church Times) Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain, an 
Anglican, received communion from Pope John Paul II during a 
recent visit to the Vatican and attended mass with his wife and 
three eldest children, all of whom are Roman Catholics.

A Jesuit liturgist from one of the pontifical universities 
confirmed the story. Reports indicate that the Vatican 
Secretariat of State granted a special dispensation to Blair on 
the grounds that there is no Anglican church for him to attend 
in the Vatican, although there are three Anglican places of 
worship in Rome itself. "It could be significant," said the Rev. 
Jonathan Boardman, chaplain of All Saints Church. "This little 
stone could start an avalanche. The granting of dispensations 
becomes highly charged to those of us who whom they aren't 
granted."

In Britain it is permissible for a non-Roman Catholic in a mixed 
marriage to receive communion under guidelines outlined in "One 
Bread One Body," a 1998 Roman Catholic teaching document, but 
the document makes it clear that "eucharistic sharing can only 
be exceptional."

"We're delighted," said the Rev. Martin Reardon of the 
Association of Interchurch Families. "It is progress. We would 
hope that the guidelines will develop to meet the pastoral needs 
of interchurch families."

Another Anglican source in Rome warned, however, that there are 
too many exceptions, perhaps an indication that there is an 
eagerness by some in the Vatican to do the little things that 
can be done, rather than tackling some of the larger issues.

European politicians in unholy row over God's place in 
constitution

(ENI) Calls for placing a reference to God in the text of a new 
European Union constitution have provoked lively debate, with 
some drafters urging that the draft mention faith in God as a 
source of truth and justice. Others are baffled by the 
suggestion.

"What on earth has God to do with a constitution?" asked Lena 
Hjelm-Wallen, a former Swedish deputy prime minister and a 
member of the convention drafting the constitution. She said 
that she thought it was "a joke" when she first heard the 
recommendation.

One proposal is that the constitution adopt the wording of the 
Polish constitution to state that the European Union's "values 
include the values of those who believe in God as the source of 
truth, justice, good and beauty as well as of those who do not 
share such a belief but respect these universal values arising 
from other sources."

Former French president, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who chairs 
the convention, has questioned the mention of God. "Europeans 
live in a purely secular political system, where religion does 
not play an important role." 

An editorial in a Swedish newspaper said that placing Christian 
values above others would be "a huge mistake." It pointed out 
that many Europeans are followers of other faith traditions or 
have no religious beliefs at all. "How could they identify with 
a constitution founded on Christian values?" the editorial 
asked, suggesting that such a constitution would be dangerous 
because it would "exclude groups and raise new walls."

Caribbean conference explores mission issues in a new 
century

(Codrington College) An ecumenical conference on the theme of 
"Christian Mission in the 21st Century Caribbean" was held in 
Barbados in response to a statement from the House of Bishops of 
the Province of the West Indies that called on dioceses to 
emphasize mission as the key to development.

Dr. Noel Titus, principal of Codrington College--a sponsor of 
the conference, surveyed the colonial history of the region and 
the "culture of suspicion" it created, as well as the divisions 
created by the influx of immigrants since the abolition of 
slavery that created geographical and political divisions. He 
also described the religious pluralism of the region, the 
persistent problem of poverty, and the erosion of Caribbean 
cultures by outside influences.

Church of England Bishop Stephen Sykes of Durham explored the 
concept of power in the mission and theology of the church. 
Christian theology holds a nuanced view of power, he said, and 
rather than rejecting the exercise of power Christians should 
undertake mission through the power received from God.

Dr. Titus Presler, dean-president of the Episcopal Theological 
Seminary of the Southwest in Texas, addressed "the church's 
global engagement in a new century," arguing that global 
engagement is a central element of our identity as Christians. 
He said that "companionship" is the central paradigm for mission 
because it emphasizes listening to one another and being open to 
discovering Christ and the Gospel in new ways in the experience 
of other pilgrims. Companionship also stresses solidarity rather 
than the solving of problems.

According to Presler, the incarnational church is called to be a 
witness, a pilgrim, a servant, a prophet, and a sacrament, as 
well as hospitable. He concluded by stressing that God is 
calling us to be outward and visible signs of his love, justice 
and transformation.

Papers and discussions highlighted a number of issues unique to 
the region, including a proper understanding and use of power; 
the future of the ecumenical movement; how the churches should 
deal with Rastafarianism; attitudes toward women and the use of 
masculine language and imagery; the emphasis on mission in 
theological education; and how to reach out in mission both at 
home and abroad.

Kenyan church members warned against charming python

(ENI) Church leaders in Kenya are warning their members not to 
put their faith in a 16-foot python that has attracted hundreds 
of visitors who believe that the snake possesses supernatural 
powers.

"People should not put their faith in this snake," said Anglican 
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi. "They should understand it is a 
snake like any other. Believing its presence signifies a good 
omen is simply deceitful and satanic. We need to pray for these 
people."

Some villagers, however, believe that the snake's appearance is 
a good omen portending an abundant harvest and success in school 
for the children. More than a decade ago, when another python in 
the region died, the community went into mourning and 
slaughtered animals to appease the spirits of the snake.

Some elders in the village credit the snake with playing a role 
in the country's elections last December when former president 
Daniel arap Moi surrendered power after ruling for 40 years. 
"The people feel that the peaceful transition in Kenya's last 
election was part of that good omen," said Tom Ayenda, a Luo 
elder.

Anglican and Roman Catholic church leaders are urging that the 
snake be moved to a park but residents have vowed to seek a 
court order to keep the python in the village. Some clergy are 
calling on theologians to study the phenomenon and advise church 
leaders on its significance, warning that it is contributing to 
confusion among the people.

Others are advising church leaders to regard the popular beliefs 
about the snake as positive. "Should it be moved, a rebellion 
will erupt among the people," said Prof. Gilbert Ogutu of the 
University of Nairobi. "Its presence does not prevent anybody 
from adhering to their faith. In fact, it may symbolize that God 
has visited his people. Church leaders should visit the site and 
pray for the people."

Religious intolerance highlighted by WCC at human rights meeting

(WCC) Increasing religious intolerance in India, Indonesia and 
Pakistan is being highlighted by the World Council of Churches 
at a meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 
(UNCHR). The denial of economic and cultural rights to the 
people of West Papua, as well as human rights violations 
committed under the Israeli military occupation of Palestine 
will also be addressed by the WCC.

The WCC called on the Commission on Human Rights to "urge the 
governments of these countries to seek means by which dialogue 
may be promoted between religious communities and their 
governments, as well as between religious communities 
themselves."

In West Papua, the Indonesian government "over the years has 
followed policies that have been unjust, unfair and exploitative 
of the Papuan people." The WCC is asking the government to make 
serious efforts to "implement the autonomy law in consultation 
with the representatives of the Papuan people," and to take 
steps to make sure that they get a "a just share of the proceeds 
raised from the exploitation of its abundant natural resources."

The WCC's Commission of Churches of International Affairs will 
also make a presentation on the human rights implications of a 
wall under construction between Israel and the West Bank, 
providing eyewitness accounts by participants in a WCC-sponsored 
Ecumenical Accompaniment Program. The commission has arranged a 
photo exhibit of the wall and will show a video produced by the 
WCC, "Ending Occupation: Voices for Just Peace."

In addition, the WCC commission will monitor developments 
related to justice, security legislation and terrorism, racism, 
indigenous people, and situations in the Sudan, Nigeria, 
Colombia, Guatemala and Iraq. Representatives from 
church-related partners in Pakistan, Nigeria and Argentina will 
be attending the session, which began March 17 and runs through 
April 24.

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