Episcopal Life Daily February 7, 2008
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:
* TOP STORY - Tornado-affected areas receive ERD outreach * TOP STORY - Title IV Task Force proposes revisions to canons on ecclesiastical discipline; comment period opens * TOP STORY - Anglican Communion Interfaith Network launches key document 'Generous Love' * DIOCESAN DIGEST - ALABAMA: Diocesan medical team arrives in Haiti * WORLD REPORT - UNITED KINGDOM: Law needs to accommodate religious legal codes such as 'Sharia,' Canterbury says * MISSION - Seamen's Knit 4 Lent initiative to serve mariners working in Gulf Coast * PEOPLE - Newark Cathedral Dean C. David Williams retiring to devote time to UBE * TEACHING - Seminaries continue movement toward greater cooperation in theological education * FEATURE - Lifting Every Voice: UBE's next generations launch new chapters of ministry, history, tradition * DAYBOOK - February 8, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History * CATALYST - A Year with American Saints
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TOP STORIES
Tornado-affected areas receive ERD outreach
[Episcopal News Service] Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is reaching out to communities affected by the violent tornadoes that tore across the southern United States of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee on February 5, leaving more than 50 people dead -- the highest death toll caused by tornadoes in a 24-hour period since 1999.
The storms spawned a cluster of killer tornadoes, along with hail and heavy snow that injured at least 100 people across the five states and reduced homes, schools and businesses to rubble. "Stunned residents report unimaginable devastation in their communities," an ERD release said.
ERD has contacted several of the affected dioceses and is reaching out to others. Assessments are underway to determine critical needs. "ERD stands ready to respond, and offers prayers of support to all who are suffering as a result of the tornadoes," the release said.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94705_ENG_HTM.htm
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Title IV Task Force proposes revisions to canons on ecclesiastical discipline; comment period opens
Group suggests new procedures for disciplining lay leaders, dealing with impaired clergy
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] Building on work done before and during the 75th General Convention in 2006, a task force has released a second proposed revision of the Episcopal Church's rules on ecclesiastical discipline.
The Title IV Task Force II has proposed a complete revision of Title IV, the main clergy-discipline canons. The group also proposes adding to Canon 17 of Title I a process for disciplining lay leaders and a procedure for dealing with impaired clergy to the Title III ministry canons.
The release of the documents opens a comment period that runs until the end of June.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94701_ENG_HTM.htm
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Anglican Communion Interfaith Network launches key document 'Generous Love'
[Episcopal News Service] The Anglican Communion's Network for Interfaith Concerns (NIFCON) has released a document intended for those already engaged interfaith relations and those who are considering how and whether they might begin such engagement, an Anglican Communion Office (ACO) news release announced.
The document, "Generous Love: the truth of the Gospel and the call to dialogue -- An Anglican theology of inter faith relations," is the culmination of four years' work. "The discernment of a distinctively Anglican theology of interfaith relations is set against the backdrop of and builds on similar work in other Christian traditions, notably Nostra Aetate," the ACO release notes, referring to the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions.
Generous Love is being sent to every Anglican diocesan bishop and to all NIFCON contacts. Recipients are being asked to disseminate the document as widely as possible.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94718_ENG_HTM.htm
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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DIOCESAN DIGEST
ALABAMA: Diocesan medical team arrives in Haiti http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_94706_ENG_HTM.htm
More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm
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WORLD REPORT
UNITED KINGDOM: Law needs to accommodate religious legal codes such as 'Sharia,' Canterbury says http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_94717_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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MISSION
Seamen's Knit 4 Lent initiative to serve mariners working in Gulf Coast
[Seamen's Church Institute] Episcopal knitters and groups across the country are invited to include "Knit 4 Lent" as part of their Lenten discipline. The Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) is hoping to gather 4,000 of the very popular hand-knit or crocheted hats in the 40 days of Lent for mariners working in the Gulf Coast during Christmas 2008.
Last year, SCI's Christmas at Sea and Christmas on the River distributed a record 17,651 handmade gifts to mariners working lonely waters on Christmas Day.
"Knitters can pray with their hands as they make these Christmas gifts and become a partner in SCI's ministry of hospitality," said the Rev. David Rider, SCI's executive director. "They will help us share God's love at his Incarnation as they contemplate his death and Resurrection during Lent."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_94721_ENG_HTM.htm
More Mission: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_ENG_HTM.htm
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PEOPLE
Newark Cathedral Dean C. David Williams retiring to devote time to UBE
[Episcopal News Service] The Very Rev. C. David Williams, dean and rector of Trinity and St. Philip's Cathedral (http://trinitystphilipscathedral.dioceseofnewark.org/index_files/Page26 6.htm) in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark (http://www.dioceseofnewark.org) is stepping down after eight years.
Williams, 65, said that he will be taking on more duties as the current president of the Union of Black Episcopalians (http://www.ube.org) (UBE). He was elected (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_88067_ENG_HTM.htm) to the post in July.
His goals for UBE include increasing membership, securing a financial base for the organization "and preaching a message to America that the struggle for civil rights is not over."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_94720_ENG_HTM.htm
More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm
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TEACHING
Seminaries continue movement toward greater cooperation in theological education
Deans seeking approval from trustees, bishops for 'more effective, more efficient' programs
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] The leaders of the 11 seminaries connected with the Episcopal Church have agreed that the schools they lead will consolidate their efforts in four areas of theological education. The agreement came during a January meeting at Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Attending the meeting were deans and trustees -- including many board chairs -- from nearly all 11 of the seminaries, along with many of the bishops who serve on some of the seminaries' boards.
The collaborations will be distance learning, Spanish-language ministry preparation, Anglican Communion partnerships, and seminary-diocesan partnerships for local ministry development education.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94700_ENG_HTM.htm
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FEATURES
Lifting Every Voice
Next generations launch new chapters of ministry, history, tradition
New leaders are rising up within the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) as its members mark a 40-year milestone. "It is crucial that members of the African Diaspora have a way to gather, support, and encourage one another," said the Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, 41, rector of Grace Episcopal Church, in Syracuse, New York, and chaplain at Syracuse University.
The "talents, wisdom, and gifts of people working individually and corporately" help "ensure that the Episcopal Church is faithful in its vision to be the church for all who feel called to it," she added.
This month -- as congregations and the nation observe Black History Month -- UBE begins its fifth decade as a force for social justice and change in the Episcopal Church. Its mission is as spirited as the historic anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94719_ENG_HTM.htm
More Features: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78936_ENG_HTM.htm
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DAYBOOK
On February 8, 2008...
* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm * Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm * Today in History: On February 8, 1693, King William III and Queen Mary II granted a charter to establish The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The college was originally intended to educate Anglican clergy and is America's second-oldest higher education institution.
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CATALYST
"A Year with American Saints" from Church Publishing, Inc., by G. Scott Cady and Christopher L. Webber, 758 pages, paperback, c. 2006, $30
[Source: Church Publishing, Inc.] Here, in a single volume, G. Scott Cady and Christopher L. Webber have profiled a broad and inclusive cross section of American pilgrims of the faith, some very famous, others less well-known men and women from all periods of America's history and all major Christian faith traditions. From the pre-revolutionary era to the twentieth century, their accomplishments and spiritual journeys are examples of perseverance, courage, and holiness.
From Robert Hunt, first chaplain of the Jamestown colony in Virginia,
who gave pastoral care and support to settlers who were far from home and struggling with disease and hardship -- to Rosa Parks, whose quiet, dignified resistance to segregation signaled a dramatic change in the Civil Rights movement, A Year with American Saints encompasses the joy and drama of the Christian story in America.
While entries have been arranged to provide historical and chronological variety, a handy calendar guide allows the reader to remember individuals on their birthdays or death dates. With one profile and related writing or saying for every day of the year, A Year with American Saints is destined to become a classic -- an ideal volume for individual use as part of a daily reading-and-prayer regimen, and a rich source of sermon material for preachers.
To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org
More Catalyst: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/83842_ENG_HTM.htm