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2001-62

News Briefs

Lutheran bishops endorse proposed by-law on exceptions to ordination rule

     (ELCA) The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 
America endorsed language for a proposed by-law to the church's constitution that 
could allow for possible exceptions to the current ordination procedures and 
complicate implementation of the full communion agreement with the Episcopal 
Church.

     The by-law change attempts to respond to some Lutherans who remain opposed 
to provisions in "Called to Common Mission," the full communion agreement 
implemented last January 1, especially the provision that bishops must preside at 
all ordinations. In the past, Lutheran bishops could designate another pastor to 
preside at an ordination and the by-law would allow a synodical bishop to make 
that exception "for pastoral reasons in unusual circumstances." The by-law would 
require the synod bishop to consult with the ELCA presiding bishop and seek the 
advice of the synod council before making such a decision.

     The wording of the by-law was originally proposed by the ELCA Church Council 
last November and offered to the church for discussion. The council is expected 
to discuss the by-law at its April 6-8 meeting and may send it for action to next 
summer's Churchwide Assembly, which has the authority to implement it. It would 
require a two-thirds majority vote. "The worst possible outcome is for the by-law 
not to be adopted and the church therefore have no guidelines for how it will 
handle those who feel they must dissent," said Bishop Ted Schneider of the 
Metropolitan Washington DC Synod. The by-law should not be seen as a "rear guard 
action to undo what the church has done in adopting CCM," added Bishop Peter 
Rogness of the Greater Milwaukee Synod.

     

Canadian churches call for Middle East peace settlement

     (Anglican Journal) A broad coalition of church leaders representing nine 
Canadian churches has called for a peace settlement in the Middle East that would 
guarantee "peaceful existence within secure borders" for both Israelis and 
Palestinians. "Palestinians have the right to exist in peace and freedom in an 
internationally recognized homeland and state" and Israel has an equal right to 
exist in peace and security, said the leaders from Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox, 
Baptist, Presbyterian churches and the United Church of Canada.

     "We believe that the rights, which apply to one people, must also apply to 
the other," their statement said. They also called for dialogue "to keep 
Jerusalem open and accessible to the three faiths that hold it sacred, and to all 
residents of the region who see it as the centre for their livelihood and 
identity." The leaders expressed appreciation for the humanitarian assistance 
Canada has provided and said, "We believe that Canada can play a significant 
leadership role in the search for peace."

     

Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry exceeds capital campaign goal

     (ENS) Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania has 
announced the completion of its "Such Faith" capital campaign. The $13.4 million 
received in donations and pledges exceeded the 1999-2000 goal by $1 million. In 
addition, the campaign raised $3 million in deferred gifts.

     "We are so grateful to those in the Episcopal community who believe in our 
mission of training ordained and lay leaders in the evangelical and orthodox 
tradition," said the Rev. Peter Moore, dean and president of the seminary. "This 
is a sign of God's hand at work here at Trinity as we continue preparing and 
forming our students for ministry and mission."

     The monies will help the seminary to:

    * triple funds available for scholarship assistance;

     *expand the library facility into a state-of-the-art library/academic center, 
including four new classrooms equipped with modern educational technology;

    *enrich the Stanway Institute for World Mission and Evangelism;

     *fund new offerings for faculty and students including the expansion of the 
Extension Ministries Program.

     George Gallup, chairperson of the campaign, said, "God calls students to 
Trinity who are enthusiastic, intelligent, and have a zeal for Christ. Because of 
the campaign, we will be able to provide scholarship assistance to these faithful 
people who are preparing for ministry."

     

Sewanee Church Music Conference set for July

     (ENS) The 52nd annual Sewanee Church Music Conference will be held July 9-15 
at the University of the South and the DuBose Conference Center in Sewanee and 
Monteagle, Tennessee.

     The conference, which offers continuing education in church music and 
attracts organists, choir directors, and clergy from across the country, has 
commissioned new music from American composers Dale Wood and David Ashley White. 

     During the conference, concerts will be held in the newly consecrated Chapel 
of the Apostles on the Sewanee campus. They will feature the Schola Cantorum of 
Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. John Fenstermaker, organist of the Fine Arts Museum of 
San Francisco and Dr. Stephen Hamilton, minister of music at the Church of the 
Most Holy Trinity, in New York City.

     Conference classes will include choral rehearsal techniques, rehearsal and 
performance techniques for chanting, organ improvisation, organ repertoire, and 
conducting from the console. Reading sessions will be offered featuring anthems 
as well as hymn-based organ and liturgical repertoire.

     For further information visit the conference's web site at 
http://www.sewaneeconf.com

     

Kasper appointed head of Pontifical Council for Unity

     (ENI) On March 3 Pope John Paul announced the retirement of Cardinal Edward 
I. Cassidy as head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 
1989 and named Cardinal Walter Kasper as his successor.

     Kasper has served as the pontifical council's secretary for the past two 
years. In January, he was named as one of the new members of the College of 
Cardinals. Kasper was an assistant to Hans Kung at the University of Tubingen, 
and from 1970 to 1989 he was professor of dogmatic theology. He has written many 
books on theology and in 1989 he was appointed Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart.

     Kasper is widely regarded as progressive in his views. In an interview in 
with Die Furche magazine, he expressed doubts about the presentation and 
interpretation last year of the Vatican document Dominus Iesus which stated that 
the churches which grew out of the Reformation of the 16th century were not in 
fact "churches in the proper sense."

     "That affirmation offended other people," he said, "and if my friends are 
offended, then so am I. It's an unfortunate affirmation-clumsy and ambiguous." He 
added that the section of Dominus Iesus on the Protestant churches was written in 
"abstract, doctrinaire language, which in some ways excludes [others.] The tone 
is not appropriate."

     Regarding Kasper's appointment, Dr. Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the 
World Council of Churches, said, "Cardinal Kasper comes to this central position 
of ecumenical leadership in the Roman Catholic Church with broad pastoral 
experience and sensitivity and after a distinguished career as a theological 
teacher." "His competence will be an asset for our work together. We look forward 
to his leadership and inspiration in the years ahead."

     

Joint prayer service planned for Easter Sunday

     (ENI) Members of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches in South Korea 
will meet for a combined prayer service for Christian unity on Easter Sunday, 
April 15.

     The committee for church unity of the National Council of Churches in Korea 
(NCCK), along with the Korean Catholic Bishops' Committee for Promoting Christian 
Unity and Interreligious Dialogue, the Korean Orthodox Church, and Korean 
Lutheran Church, have agreed to hold a Common Easter Prayer for Christian Unity 
on Easter Sunday at the Korean Orthodox Cathedral in Seoul.

     Many Orthodox churches follow a different calendar from Protestant and 
Catholic churches that in most years, have differing dates for Easter. But this 
year the dates coincide.

     Churches in South Korea have been engaged in discussions about unity for 
many years, particularly in annual preparations for the "Week of Prayer for 
Christian Unity." This year's Easter prayer is a direct result of those long-term 
discussions.

     The prayer meeting, which has the support of the Ecumenical Patriarch of 
Constantinople, Bartholomeos I, is expected to last about 90 minutes.

     Kim Dong-wan, the general secretary of NCCK, said, "I hope this Common 
Prayer will be held every year, and also hope all Christians in the world 
celebrate Easter on the same day from this year on."

     

Media Fellowship International brings God to the press

     (Maranatha Christian Journal) Media Fellowship International (MFI), a 
nondenominational, evangelical ministry that reaches secular media and 
entertainment professionals worldwide for Christ, was on hand after a 15-year-old 
gunman opened fire on his classmates March 5 at Santana High School in Santee, 
California.

     Many of the area churches are doing their part to help the community heal, 
but MFI's mission is to help the media that deal with tragedies like these all 
too often.

     MFI sets up shop around the nation wherever breaking news happens.

     In Santee, they set up a hospitality booth to provide free food, hot coffee 
and a place for working members of the press to gather.

     "A lot of people don't really think about the news media as needing help," 
said Bob Rieth, executive director of MFI. "But they do. We provide a non-
threatening environment for the working press to be exposed to the gospel of 
Jesus Christ.

     "No matter how stoic reporters may look on camera, they go through the same 
emotions that the rest of us do," Rieth said. "They are just human beings." 

     Through MFI, the working press at the Santana shootings received free 
counseling along with their coffee and pastries. "There was one reporter on the 
first day that used our facilities to quietly call home and talk to his teenage son who 
had just gotten off school," Rieth said. "And there was another cameraman last night 
who walked into our hospitality suite looking dazed. He told us that this was his fourth 
school shooting. It was taking its toll on the man." 

     Reith and his team of volunteers work around the clock to offer prayers and 
a sense of community among the secular media.

     Michelle Locke, an Associated Press reporter from Berkeley, noted that she 
appreciated the nondenominational aspect of the ministry. "These guys are doing 
a work that we need among our journalism crowd," she said. "And it's nice to 
know they just care."