wfn.org | Episcopalians: Diversity and multiculturalism key factors for church growth

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

June 13, 2003

2003-144

Episcopalians: Diversity and multiculturalism key factors for 
church growth

by Giovanni Figueredo

(ENS) In an effort to address the expanding diversity in 
American and its implications for the church, the General 
Convention's agenda will continue dealing with issues of 
multiculturalism, anti-racism, and evangelism in an 
ever-changing demographic landscape, both in the church and 
society at large. 

According to the Blue Book (available in a Spanish edition for 
the first time), the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music 
(SCLM) will propose the inclusion of new liturgies and musical 
resources that suit the cultural milieu in which the missionary 
work takes place. 

With this in mind, SCLM is offering a number of proposals aimed 
at expanding the musical and liturgical repertoire to mirror the 
ethnic and linguistic diversity of the constituency of the 
church. A significant step in that direction is the proposal to 
approve the publication of newly written bilingual materials for 
missionary activities such as planting new churches, 
commissioning new planters, opening new congregations and others 
(Resolution A101). These materials are to be published in 
English and Spanish.

These rites acknowledge the reality of new congregations, which 
very frequently gather in secular spaces and need to sanctify 
and mark those locations as places of worship. (The text was 
drawn from the Book of Occasional Services of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church in America.)

Reflecting cultural sensitivities

A similar proposal (A102) is centered on the creation of 
liturgies that reflect cultural sensitivity to important rites 
of passage and customs such as "Fiesta de Quinceaqeras"(a 
Hispanic version of a "Sweet Sixteen" celebration, very popular 
in Mexico and Central America), and honoring of ancestors 
(Chinese ritual), among others. These rites would represent a 
more genuine way for minorities to express their faith in their 
own language and in accordance with their own cultural 
experiences, while feeling welcome in their new church 
community. 

Worshiping in the mother language (vernacular) is a central 
element in Anglican worship. Bishop Mark McDonald of Alaska 
wrote in his book, "A Strategy for Growth in the Episcopal 
Church: Joining Multiculturalism with Evangelism," that 
"minorities that struggle with issues of identity, in a society 
dominated by an alien culture, seem to look for fellowship among 
people who are similar in culture, language, and background" and 
certainly they want and prefer to worship in their own language 
and in the context of their own culture.

The SCLM also provides musical resources drawn from the 
repertoire currently in use by the church--the 1982 Hymnal, El 
Himnario, Wonder, Love and Praise, and Lift Every Voice and 
Sing. The resolution calls for the allotment of funds ($30,000) 
for this purpose and the materials developed would have to be 
finished for the 75th General Convention.

In related matters, the SCLM will table the continual use of 
Enriching Our Worship, forms I and II, which include liturgical 
texts for the Daily Office, the Great Litany, and the Eucharist, 
as well as new rites for Ministry to the Sick and Dying, and the 
Burial of a Child (Resolution A091). In addition, the SCLM 
requests the appointment of a task force and a grant ($14,000) 
to continue the work of developing new liturgies (Resolution 
A092).

The SCLM will also submit for approval the commemorations of:

--The ordination of Li Tim-Oi, the first woman to be ordained in 
the Anglican Communion, in Hong Kong in 1944.

--Enmegabowh, a Canadian Native missionary priest to the Ojibway 
in northern Minnesota and first Native American priest in the 
Episcopal Church.

--Social reformer Florence Nightingale.

--Philip the Deacon.

--Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda and Martyr.

--William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury.

--C.S. Lewis, Christian writer.

--Philander Chase, Bishop of Ohio, 1852.

All these commemorations should be approved for trial use during 
the next triennium.

The SCLM will also recommend the definitive adoption of the 
Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) for the table of readings 
currently printed in the Prayer Book (BCP). This lectionary is 
already used by at least 14 denominations with which the 
Episcopal Church has inter-Anglican ecumenical relations. 

According to a survey conducted by the commission, 83 % of the 
congregations are still using the table of readings included in 
the BCP, while the rest use the RCL occasionally. The committee 
has come to the conclusion that the RCL will not be taken 
seriously unless the GC adopts it (Resolution A103).

Other resolutions propose grants for liturgical education and 
enrichment projects that support evangelism and church growth 
through new and revised forms of liturgy and worship.

As an attempt to reflect the linguistic diversity within the 
church, the BCP might be published in French and German during 
the next triennium. Versions in Italian, Preghiere Comuni (for 
the use in the Convocation of American Churches in Europe), and 
Chinese have already been authorized by the Custodian of the 
Standard Book of Common Prayer.

The struggle with racism

During the last 2000 General Convention the church decided to 
remain steadfast in its commitment to put an end to any form of 
racism within ecclesiastical structures and in society. The 
Executive Council appointed a committee focused on furthering 
anti-racism programs and policies. Over the last triennium 
several steps were taken in this direction, such as the training 
of church officials and designing an anti-racism curriculum. By 
the fall of 2002, 61 dioceses had anti-racism committees and 
were hosting at least one anti-racism training event a year. 

During this General Convention the Committee on Anti-Racism will 
propose to continue the work in this field and will request 
mandatory anti-racism training for all those who seek election 
or appointment to various standing committees of the Executive 
Council, related boards and other organizations.

Other committees are suggesting other measures to increase the 
awareness in the wider church with its increasing ethnic, 
cultural and linguistic diversity, a parallel phenomenon 
occurring not only in the Episcopal Church but also in the 
nation and in the Anglican Communion in general. 

Anglicanism has ceased to be an "ethnic faith" professed mostly 
by members of a specific ethnic group that worships in a 
specific language. Over the years it has crossed cultural, 
linguistic and ethnic barriers and become an expression of the 
Christian faith that is open and welcoming to everyone, 
regardless of their ethnic background. 

The Episcopal Church is no stranger to this process. According 
to the Committee on the State of the Church, at least one 
diocese reports that its overall membership is nearly 50 percent 
Hispanic, while two other dioceses report the regular 
celebration of the Sunday Eucharist in various languages or 
dialects. Hispanics have been the fastest-growing group within 
the church during the last 10 years. 

The Episcopal Church is already a multi-cultural church (in some 
places more than others). If approved, the Province IX would 
welcome two new dioceses which are almost totally made up of 
Spanish-speaking congregations: Venezuela and Puerto Rico 
(Resolutions A-141, A142). 

The Diocese of Texas reports at least 13 Hispanic missionary 
congregations, a phenomenon that is becoming common in other 
dioceses. The Hispanic presence is felt not solely in the pews 
but also in church leadership. Currently at least six bishops 
have Hispanic roots and 20 Hispanic deputies will participate in 
the General Convention (not counting those who come from 
dioceses outside the United States).

Other ethnic groups are claiming space at the table. Last year 
Carol Joy Gallagher, a member of the Cherokee Nation, became the 
first Native American woman elected to the episcopate when she 
was elected suffragan in Southern Virginia. 

Appeal for Hispanics

The Rev. Daniel Caballero of the Office of Hispanic Ministries 
at the Episcopal Church Center in New York said that "the 
Episcopal Church is attractive for Hispanics because it is 
Catholic (despite the Anglican heritage) and offers the 
sacraments which are very important to their spiritual lives. In 
addition, the Episcopal Church structure offers community with a 
voice and a vote, also very important."

Many newcomers to the church, especially those with a Roman 
Catholic background, are surprised to find that many decisions 
at the parish level and in the wider church are reached through 
consensus and votes rather than imposed by vertical structures 
of power. From the elections of the parish vestry and rector to 
the election of bishops, laity in the Episcopal Church have a 
voice that influences decisions at all levels of church life.

In the light of this reality, other standing committees will 
also propose that seminaries and diocesan schools integrate into 
their curricula courses on contemporary foreign languages and 
anti-racism. Likewise, the Standing Commission on Domestic 
Mission and Evangelism will propose a revision to the ordination 
canons to require "competency in a contemporary language other 
than English or a culture other than the candidate's native 
culture, and require inter-cultural field education experience 
of all candidates."

According to Caballero, education is the key element to making a 
church a welcoming place for ethnic minorities, "educating both 
the Hispanic and the Anglo communities about each other's 
cultures and the importance of the church and its response to 
the Great Commission our Lord gave to his disciples. There must 
be an intentional desire by both groups, and not just a verbal 
one, in seeking to learn about each other and to, above all, 
openly love one another in Christ."

The passing of all these resolutions will contribute making the 
Episcopal Church a more hospitable and inclusive spiritual home 
for all those who are called to lead Christian lives and express 
their faith in the context of Anglican worship and theology 
regardless of what their ethnic, linguistic or cultural 
background happens to be.

------

Los informes a la Convencisn General 74th (de otro modo conocido 
como el Libro 
Azul)
http://www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/index.cfm?fuseaction=blueb
ook_spanish

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM 
www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/pdf_blue_2003/18-LiturgyMusic.pdf

Committee on 
Anti-Racism
www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/pdf_blue_2003/www.episcopalchurch
.org/peace-justice/antiracism.asp

Committee on the State of the 
Church
www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/pdf_blue_2003/27-HODStateOfChurch
.pdf

Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and 
Evangelism
www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/pdf_blue_2003/10-DomMissionEvange
lism.pdf

--Giovanni Figueredo is a novice at the Society of St. John the 
Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is a member of the 
ENS news team at the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis.