wfn.org | Episcopal convention addresses international issues

[Daphne Mack <dmack@dfms.org>]

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GC2000-089

General Convention addresses international issues

by Genie Carr

     (ENS-DENVER) Ever mindful of belonging to a worldwide 
Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church's 73rd General 
Convention dealt with a number of international issues as bishops 
and deputies heeded calls for solidarity--both in faith and in 
economics--with the peoples of the world.

     In particular, the convention looked close to home at Cuba 
and Canada, and farther away at Sudan, other parts of Africa, and 
the Middle East.

     Bishop Simon Chiwanga of the Diocese of Mpwapwa in the 
Anglican Church of Tanzania, Africa, preached at the Convention 
Eucharist on July 9. Addressing a congregation of some 8,000 
people, he spoke of Sudan, where people are tortured for their 
faith; of other nations in Africa, where one hears "a litany of 
devastation"; and of the church's being "genuine partners in 
mission as Anglicans and with our ecumenical sisters and 
brothers." 

     Noting "our worship of materialism," Chiwanga reminded the 
congregation of Jesus' command to his disciples to go out two-by-
two, with few possessions but with a sense of urgency for 
spreading the gospel. In proclaiming the reign of God, he said, 
we need to go in humility and weakness so that we can be in power 
"with" (not have "power over") other people. Those "other people" 
were the focus of concern of many of the resolutions, activities 
and conversations offered over the two weeks of the convention.

Canada

     Addressing the House of Bishops, Archbishop Michael Peers of 
Canada said that in his country aboriginal rights comprise "the 
most explosive social and political issue of this decade." More 
than half the $7 million (U.S.) in assets of the Canadian 
church's general synod has been spent for litigation over charges 
of past sexual and physical abuse of indigenous students at 
church- and government-run board schools. Peers said he was 
grateful that many Episcopal bishops had expressed concern and 
offered support.

Sudan

     Sudan, a country between Egypt and Uganda that is one third 
the size of the United States, received much attention. Bishops 
and others from Sudan told of severe persecution of Sudanese in 
the south of the country. They are bombed out of their homes, and 
killed by soldiers and gunships by the Muslim government based in 
the north. Many people in the southern region are Christians or 
follow African traditional beliefs.

     Bishop Peter Munde of the Diocese of Yambio of the Episcopal 
Church of Sudan told the Committee on International and National 
Concerns that the government uses money from oil recently 
discovered in the south to buy weapons - spending $1 million a 
day - to attack the southern Sudanese.

     In addition to speeches, a candlelight vigil on July 6 
highlighted the plight of the Sudanese. Participants urged 
companies and investment funds to divest from oil companies that 
do business with the Sudanese government. At a committee hearing 
on July 10, Faith McDonnell of the Institute on Religion and 
Democracy in Washington, D.C., said that such organizations as 
the California pension system, the Texas Teachers Fund and the 
state of New Jersey have pledged not to invest in such companies.

     In legislation, convention deputies and bishops voted to 
express solidarity with persecuted Sudanese Christians (A130) and 
to encouraging divestment in the Sudanese oil industry.

Cuba

     After some differences in wording between the deputies and 
bishops, the convention approved a resolution (C045) that asks 
the U.S. government to restore full diplomatic relations with 
Cuba, while considering "issues of human rights, freedom of 
speech and movement" along with freedom for political prisoners.

South Africa

     In appreciation of progress in South Africa, the convention 
urged the U.S. government to increase aid and private investment 
in that country, targeting improvements in education and other 
programs for the poor (A003); commended South Africa's Truth and 
Reconciliation Commission (A004); and calling on our government 
to apologize for U.S. complicity in supporting the apartheid 
government (A005).

Development

     The convention directed dioceses to cooperate with other 
people of faith in programs of education and advocacy to help 
raise public awareness of vital economic issues that affect the 
poor (A001, A002). 

     They also urged acceptance of the 1998 Lambeth Conference 
challenge to fund international development programs with 0.7 
percent of net disposable budgeted diocesan income (A001). And 
they called on the church to adopt and implement specific ethical 
principles for international economic development (A002), such as 
making sure that the government, commercial leadership, labor and 
civil institutions of developing nations "are engaged fully" in 
decisions about their own economies.

     All dioceses were also challenged to support micro-credit 
initiatives (D033) for international development.

Iraq

     While urging retention of a strict embargo against military-
related items for Iraq, the convention also asked the church to 
urge the Security Council of the United Nations and the President 
of the United States to take immediate action to lift sanctions 
against normal trade in civilian goods for the people of Iraq. 
That trade would include such items as food, medicine and medical 
supplies and materials needed to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure 
for effective sanitation, electric power and safe drinking water. 
(C027)

India

     The U.S. government will be asked to put pressure on the 
Indian government, through the United Nations, to recognize 
"untouchability" as a crime against humanity (D024). The church 
was asked to support the Okinawan people's effort to have U.S. 
military bases and personnel removed from Okinawa (D028).

Indonesia and Pakistan

     Support was also expressed for ending persecution in 
Indonesia and Pakistan (B053, B047). At a hearing of the 
Committee on International and National Concerns, Elizabeth Vice, 
a young woman who had spent a year in Pakistan, told of Molotov 
cocktails being thrown into Christians' homes and of Christians' 
testimony in court being virtually worthless.

Israel/Palestine

     The convention also supported the rights of Israelis and 
Palestinians to self-determination (B016). Speaking at a hearing 
of the Committee on International and National Concerns, Bishop 
Riah Abu El-Assal of Jerusalem, a Palestinian who is also an 
Israeli citizen, said that he likes to tell the mayor of 
Jerusalem, a Jew, "We have been in Palestine since before Joshua 
was in Jericho." 

     In addition, the U.S. government will be asked to request, 
through diplomatic channels and in the spirit of Jubilee, 
Israel's immediate release of Mordechai Vanunu from prison, while 
recognizing that he violated an oath of confidentiality in the 
name of conscience. Twelve years ago, Venunu was imprisoned for 
revealing secrets of Israel's nuclear program.

Philippines

     In honor of the centennial of the Episcopal Church in the 
Philippines, an endowment fund was created for that church 
(B012). At home, redress was urged for surviving Latin Japanese 
Americans who were abducted and incarcerated during World War II 
(D032).

International debt

     A rally and "human chain" of about 200 people, sponsored by 
Jubilee 2000 Colorado, focused attention on the burden of 
international debt on poor countries of world. The keynote 
speaker, Bishop Enock Lee Drati of the Diocese of Madi, West 
Nile, Uganda, said the modest debt relief Uganda has received has 
helped increase the number of young people enrolled in school 
from 53 to 90 percent.

     The event also included speakers from the United Methodist 
Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Roman Catholic 
Church, United Church of Christ, and the Presbyterian Church USA.

     Debt reduction for poor nations was particularly noted when 
the convention agreed to request that the President of the United 
States and other representatives to the G8 Summit meeting in 
Okinawa convey an urgent appeal to cancel the debts of highly 
indebted poor countries.

     Congress has already progressed toward such debt reduction 
for some parts of the world. However, no funds have been 
allocated, and the resolution at the convention sought to extend 
debt cancellation in response to the worldwide, interfaith 
campaign of Jubilee 2000 (B040).

Migration Ministries

     The convention adopted "The Episcopal Church in Service to 
Refugees and Immigrants" as a mission statement (A053, amended), 
to address the needs of countries beleaguered by migrants and 
refugees escaping conditions in their own lands.

     The statement, which was seven pages long in the General 
Convention "Blue Book" of reports and resolutions, notes that "as 
people of Christ (we) are called to extend hospitality to 
strangers as a central principle of our faith." Episcopal 
Migration Ministries resettles more than 3,000 refugees each year 
and presses the U.S. government to make immigration more 
accessible for those who seek to join their families in this 
country. 

--Genie Carr is a freelance writer living in Winston-Salem, North 
Carolina.