wfn.org | Episcopalians: News Briefs

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

May 16, 2003

2003-109

Episcopalians: News Briefs

Iraqi Christians worry about freedom of religion, rise of 
fundamentalism

(ENS) While most Iraqi Christians joined the celebrations 
following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, they are now 
expressing concern and anxiety that freedom of religion will be 
curbed in favor of Islamic fundamentalism.

Fearing a Shiite-dominated government, Christian leaders are 
calling for a new constitution that will guarantee minority 
faiths the right to "profess our faith according to our ancient 
traditions and our religious law, the right to educate our 
children according to Christian principles, the right to freely 
assemble, to build our places of worship, and our cultural and 
social centers according to our needs," the Chaldean Church said 
in a statement. 

"I'm afraid for my people," said Bishop Ishlemon Warduni, leader 
of the Chaldean community that represents about 80 percent of 
Iraq's 800,000 Christians. (The remaining 20 percent is 
comprised of Syrians, Assyrians and Armenians.) "During the war 
we were not afraid like we are now. All Christians are in 
danger," he said in an article in Religion News Service.

"We have a 2,000-year history in Iraq--and that is now 
threatened. The fanatics would see us gone," he said. The danger 
seems most pronounced in Shiite strongholds in southern Iraq 
where Muslim clerics are calling for an Islamic republic. Under 
Saddam Hussein Christians were allowed freedom of worship but 
not to seek converts or give their children Christian names. 
There are increasing reports of Christian girls and women being 
harassed on the streets for not wearing veils and liquor stores, 
usually run by Christians, have received threatening notes.

Canadian bishops endorse choice of episcopal visitor for New 
Westminster

(ENS) The bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada have 
overwhelmingly endorsed the appointed of Bishop William Hockin 
to serve as episcopal visitors for parishes that oppose the 
decision by the Diocese of New Westminster to bless same-gender 
relationships. Hockin has been the bishop of Fredericton, New 
Brunswick, but has announced his retirement in October.

"We welcome this as a model of respect for those who hold views 
at variance with the decision of the Synod of New Westminster 
while preserving the unity and integrity of the diocese," said 
the motion passed by the House of Bishops at the April 2-May 2 
meeting. "We urge all parishes calling for alternative episcopal 
oversight to explore the possibility of finding their own best 
interests, and those of the wider church, addressed in Bishop 
Hockin's appointment, and encourage them to explore this 
possibility with him." 

In another motion the bishops urged Bishop Terry Buckle of Yukon 
to "withdraw his offer of episcopal oversight for the seven 
parishes" seeking it. Bishop Michael Ingham of New Westminster 
threatened ecclesiastical charges against Buckle if he proceeded 
with his intention. Ingham said that, under canon law, no 
outside bishop can assume jurisdiction of parishes in another 
diocese.

A motion asking Ingham not to implement the decision opening the 
way to blessing same-gender unions before the General Synod of 
the church meets next year was tabled.

The parishes have formed the Anglican Communion in New 
Westminster (ACiNW). While expressing gratitude for the effort 
of the bishops to resolve the issue, "especially in view of the 
divisive nature of the issue and the strong conviction on both 
sides," it said the provision for alternative oversight too weak 
and temporary to be effective--and one that fails to address a 
deeper crisis in the diocese.

Workshop on Christian Unity celebrates spirit of ecumenism

(ENS) The 2003 National Workshop on Christian Unity drew over 
400 participants to its May 10-13 meeting in Savannah, Georgia, 
where they celebrated the spirit of ecumenism--and some progress 
on the road to unity. The meeting also sought to "widen the 
table" by including denominations that haven't participated in 
the movement over the years.

Plenary sessions, for example, focused on the classical 
Pentecostal traditions and the ways in which their growth around 
the world has impacted and influenced the ecumenical movement. 
Pentecostals in the U.S. have moved through a period when they 
did not participate in ecumenical discussions into a new period 
where their influence has increased on the ecumenical scene. The 
main question for Pentecostals now, according to some 
participants, is whether the ecumenical movement is really 
serious about building a new ecumenical table with them as 
partners in the building process or merely "adding leaves to the 
existing table."

In the opening plenary address, Dr. Robert Franklin of Emory 
University in Atlanta spoke of the power of the Holy Spirit to 
break apart neatly constructed vessels of parochialism and of 
the need for the church to have a broom ready to sweep up those 
shattered fragments, study them, and seek to shape them into new 
and unexpected arrangements of great beauty and utility. 
"Tradition is the living faith of the dead while traditionalism 
is the dead faith of the living," he said. He challenged 
participants to become, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., 
a creative core of non-conformists seeking dialogue and 
cooperation among churches and the great religions of the world.

Dr. Anthea Butler emphasized local partnerships and dialogue 
between Pentecostals and mainline churches in addition to the 
national and international ones. The Rev. Carmelo Alvarez traced 
the history of Pentecostal and charismatic renewal n the 
churches of Latin America, pointing out that Roman Catholic and 
historic Protestant churches often have a charismatic flavor and 
dimension that makes cooperation easier and more fruitful.

Workshops and seminars provided an overview of the various 
ecumenical dialogues as well as a focus on interfaith listening, 
racism, grassroots ecumenism, and the office of deacon as an 
ecumenical opportunity. One of the special Eucharists was 
celebrated by Lutherans and Episcopalians with Bishop Henry 
Louttit of Georgia presiding and Bishop Ronald Warren of the 
Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
preaching on the mission challenges facing the two churches 
today as "full communion" partners.

Episcopal Church's resolution on diversity defeated at 
stockholders meeting

(ENS/Omaha World Herald) A resolution presented by the Episcopal 
Church and the Church Pension Fund asking Werner Enterprises to 
consider diversity on its board was defeated at a stockholders 
meeting May 13.

A long-haul freight carrier, Werner's board includes the 
founder, Clarence Werner, his three sons and five other white 
men. "In this day and age an all-white male board is just an 
anachronism," said Harry van Buren, who introduced the 
resolution on diversity. "In the economy that we have today, 
companies need to take advantage of different perspectives and 
different kinds of talents." Van Buren is a consultant for the 
church on social responsibility in investments and corporate 
ethics. 

The company argued that it provides equal employment 
opportunities and that the resolution would limit the board's 
ability to select the most qualified candidates. The vote was 71 
percent against and 27 percent in favor, with some abstentions. 
"We hope we've raised the company's consciousness of this 
issue," said van Buren.

The church has monitored the social responsibility of its 
investment portfolio since 1972, beginning with the issue of 
investment in South Africa during its apartheid era. Board 
diversity resolutions have been proposed for about 20 companies, 
van Buren pointed out. Only twice have the resolutions been 
brought to a vote. Two others were withdrawn after the companies 
agreed to include language on board diversity in their proxy 
statements.

Arab Christians urge Israeli compatriots to mend divisions 

(ENI) Arab church leaders and academics in the Holy Land have 
appealed to Israelis to stop highlighting the divisions between 
Muslims and Christians and instead to seek a common vision with 
all Palestinians.

The emotionally charged plea was issued in Jerusalem at a 
conference on contemporary Christianity in the Holy Land, held 
under the auspices of Hebrew University's Harry S. Truman 
Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace.

Dr. Bernard Sabella, of Roman Catholic Bethlehem University, 
told the participants Israeli policy on relations between 
Palestinian Muslims and Christians was politically motivated. 
"Instead of working to see the common vision with Palestinians, 
both Muslims and Christians, they seize on the contradictions 
and the dividing factors, hopefully to prove to the world that 
Israel is the protecting factor for minorities," he said. "I 
think that is an awful approach."

Sabella, a Roman Catholic and an expert on the Christian 
population in the Holy Land, said Israelis needed to change 
their tack. "For me as a Palestinian Christian, my prospects are 
to see my people making peace with your people," he said to 
Israeli Jews in the audience. "And if we don't work for that, 
there is no hope. Not for Palestinian Christians, Muslims or 
Israeli Jews."

The Anglican archbishop in Jerusalem, Riah Abu El-Assal, who 
also addressed the conference, argued that Arab Christians in 
Israel like him were in a unique position. The bishop, who hails 
from Nazareth in northern Israel, described himself as an "Arab, 
Palestinian and Christian Israeli." That means that he "can 
speak to the Palestinian leadership better than any [other] 
Israeli," he said. "We are a branch of the Arab national tree. 
The homeland of the Arab nation is our homeland. The [Arab] 
culture is our culture."

At the same time, Arab Christians were also Israelis, and as 
such had rights within Israel, he noted. While Israelis often 
refer to their country as a Jewish state, Riah described it 
differently. "Israel is not only the state of the Jewish people, 
it is the state of all its citizens, among them the 1.3 million 
[mainly Muslim Arabs] who are not Jews," he said.

"The Christians have remained one of the less-researched topics 
in the Israeli academy and are hardly known to the Israeli 
public," said Dr. Daphne Tsimhoni, one of the coordinators of 
the conference. "The conference makes a contribution to fill 
that gap."

People

(ENS) Sonia Omulepu, who had served as special projects officer 
for the U.S. office of the World Council of Churches, has been 
appointed coordinator for the Interfaith Education Initiative, a 
joint venture of Episcopal Relief and Development and the Office 
of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

She began her career at the Episcopal Church Center as part of 
the General Convention Special Program. For almost 20 years she 
was assistant to the executive director of the African American 
Council of the Reformed Church in America where she edited the 
monthly newsletter, planned annual conferences and designed the 
annual colloquium on Black Religion. At the WCC office she 
planned preparatory meetings for key events and coordinated the 
logistics of meetings in the U.S.

She is a member of the congregation of St. Savior at the 
Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York where she serves as 
a member of the vestry.

Ethan Flad has been named editor of The Witness magazine, 
responsible for the bi-monthly print publication and regular 
on-line commentary. "We are pleased to have Ethan energize the 
prophetic voice of The Witness," said Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon, 
president of Episcopal Church Publishing. "Never has this work 
been more necessary than at this crucial time. Ethan's tireless 
work in grassroots justice organizing and advocacy make him the 
right person for this challenge."

During his international justice work at the Church Center in 
New York and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Flad has traveled 
extensively in southern Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Central 
and South America. Since 2001 he has been web editor and 
producer for A Globe of Witnesses, an on-line initiative.

The Witness has been a progressive and prophetic voice in the 
church since 1917, honored with many awards for its special 
blend of analysis, opinion and reflection using essays, poetry, 
and photography.

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