wfn.org | Episcopalians: Human cloning, food security and tv ads on convention agenda

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

June 13, 2003

2003-136

Episcopalians: Human cloning, food security and tv ads on 
convention agenda

by Dan Webster

(ENS) Episcopalians will be asked to consider the moral and 
ethical implications of genetic research, a bio-engineered food 
supply, as well as whether to take their church's message into 
the national marketplace of television and the Internet among 
proposed resolutions dealing with science and technology and 
communications.

"Reproductive cloningis not morally acceptable at this time as 
it endangers the safety of children who might be conceived and 
threatens their dignity as unique individuals," states the 
report of the Ethics and New Genetics Task Force of the Church's 
Executive Council.  "Its use departs from accepted social and 
ethical values," the report adds.

However, the task force does put forth resolutions that would 
approve research on human stem cells, establish ethical 
guidelines for gene transfer, and state a role of the church in 
counseling and education on biomedical ethics. "We weigh the 
contention that existing law and policy endanger respect for 
life by treating it simply as a commodity to be bought or sold," 
reports the task force on the economics and politics of new 
genetics.

"The question of who should benefit from investment in research 
needs to be informed by considerations of justice, and by 
attention to those on the margins of society and who lack basic 
health care," states the task force. "The Episcopal Church's 
role includes education, pastoral care and advocacy for those 
who suffer from genetic and other disease," contends the task 
force. "To be effective ministers we need a solid education 
about genetic issues and we must speak for a just allocation of 
resources in health care."

Church's response to technology

Another group making recommendations to the upcoming Convention 
is the Committee on Science, Technology and Faith.  It hopes to 
use the Internet to inform and educate church leaders on these 
emerging technologies and what the response of the church might 
be.

"Human genetic research is a subject in which the Church's 
application of moral theology is of immediate concern," the 
committee states in its report. "Provisions for education and 
guidance in matters of genetic testing, stem cell applications, 
and gene therapy are important to equip the leadership of the 
church."

During the past three years the committee has studied 
genetically modified foods, robotics and nanotechnology and the 
Christian doctrine of creation especially from an Anglican 
perspective in preparation for the 2003 Convention. Its main 
focus has been on what the committee calls "food security."  It 
calls the church to "foster research and development of the 
types of science and technology that preserve biodiversity in 
food production,'" to maintain a healthy relationship between 
God's creatures and the varieties of food crops on which they 
depend.

The committee's approach to genetically modified foods revolves 
around the biblical concept of stewardship of God's creation by 
human beings.  It also centers on justice issues for farmers, 
those who develop and own the new technology and what the effect 
might be on the national and world food supply.

"Biodiversity in food production manifests the variety in God's 
Creation and the roles of caring and relatedness within God's 
Kingdom," the committee's report asserts. "Jesus' preference for 
the poor is a compelling argument against domination of 
countries' seed and food production by large commercial 
interests," the report argues.

Communication as key component

Most of the proposals around communications to be considered by 
bishops and deputies will focus on evangelism.	The 20/20 Task 
Force, a group formed with the goal of doubling the 
participation in the Episcopal Church by the year 2020, claims 
that communication is a "key component to its success."

It will ask the convention to authorize a $750,000 national 
television ad campaign to raise the awareness level of the 
Episcopal Church and invite seekers, the unchurched and lapsed 
Episcopalians to come to a local Episcopal service.  The ads 
have run locally in Utah and the San Francisco bay area with 
very positive results.

The ads were first shown in the San Francisco market celebrating 
the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of California.  The 
six-week campaign aired just before and after Easter, 2000.  
Several congregations reported much higher Easter attendance.

In Utah the ads ran in November and December 2002.  Survey 
results indicated a 16% increase in the number of viewers aware 
of the Episcopal Church following the ad run.  The Diocese of 
Utah reported a tenfold increase in the number of visits to its 
website immediately after the ads began to run.  This past 
Easter and Pentecost one suburban Salt Lake City parish baptized 
two new members who came as a result of seeing the ads on 
television.  Several other parishes reported an increase in the 
number of newcomers many of whom who came because of the ads.

"Now is the time to take the initiative by telling the good news 
of the Episcopal Church rather than allowing the press to shape 
public perceptions of what this church is like," states a report 
from the Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism, 
out of which the 20/20 task force has worked.

"Perhaps the time has come to consider how to shape the image of 
the Episcopal Church to serve our commitment to being a church 
that makes disciples who make disciples, thereby fulfilling the 
20/20 Vision," the commission asserts.

Lost opportunities?

The commission's report also acknowledges some shortcomings in 
the Church's communications strategy up to now. "In terms of 
communicating the message about what God is doing in and through 
the Episcopal Church, we have been slow to develop an effective 
presence on the World Wide Web. Given that the generations we 
are seeking to reach intermingle meaningfully and naturally both 
in real time and online, significant opportunities are being 
lost," contends the commission. 

"It is vital that the church encourage the development and 
multiplication of the finest interactive web sites at the local 
level, but also that diocesan and national sites be upgraded in 
both content and presentation rather than being mere electronic 
versions of newsletters, organizational directories, catalogues 
of church publications, traditional magazines or church bulletin 
boards.  The production of engaging web sites, web-delivered 
educational content and web-delivered training is certainly an 
area in which young Christians must take a lead," states the 
commission in making its case for better us of communications 
channels and technologies.

The commission is proposing resolutions to radically improve use 
of the Internet by the national church as a major tool of 
evangelism.  It is asking that educational, spiritual growth and 
faith formation materials be placed on the national church 
website "and to develop software and freeware resources for 
downloading."

Also deputies and bishops will be asked to consider funding more 
multi-lingual publications recognizing the continuing growing 
diversity within the Church and the countries where it has 
congregations. (For the first time, the convention's Blue Book 
is available in Spanish.)

The Episcopal Church USA has struggled with its name for several 
years.	The church not only is comprised of dioceses in all 50 
states but also includes dioceses in Central and South America, 
Micronesia, Europe, the Caribbean and Taiwan.

Communications goes well beyond media and technology for this 
commission.  Bishops and deputies will be asked whether they 
will urge all 2.3-million Episcopalians around the world "to be 
able to articulate his or her faith story beginning with 
Epiphany 2004."  The convention may put the responsibility of 
communicating the gospel story squarely on each and every member 
should it pass this proposed resolution.

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--The Rev. Dan Webster is director of communications for the 
Diocese of Utah and is a member of the electronic news team at 
the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis.