wfn.org | Executive Council endorses evangelism effort, Church Center move

[ENS@ecunet.org]

2001-300

Executive Council endorses evangelism effort, Church Center move

by James Solheim and Jan Nunley

     (ENS) The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting October 15-18 
in Jacksonville, Florida, spent much of its time discussing recommendations by a 
task force to double active church participation by 2020--and a proposal to move 
the Church Center to a new building on the campus of the General Theological 
Seminary in New York. It also adopted a sweeping resolution on the church's 
response to the terrorist attacks of September 11.

     The 20/20 Task Force was created by the 2000 General Convention to prepare a 
plan for doubling church membership over the next 20 years. The task force 
submitted a final report at the meeting which suggested a vision for the church 
in eight "action areas." The report, and the task of developing further plans for 
the 20/20 initiative, have been referred to the Standing Commission on Domestic 
Mission and Evangelism, which will add 10 new members, all "women under the age 
of 30 and/or women representing racial, ethnic and sexual minorities," to assist 
in monitoring the church's progress on 20/20.

     In his opening comments Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold said that the 
initiative "holds up a lot of energies flowing through the church" but he asked, 
"Where will it fit in the life of the church so it's not disconnected but part of 
the way we do our work?"

     In several lively conversations, council members expressed a range of 
concerns. Louie Crew of Newark said that the 20/20 movement could be used to 
silence the church's dealing with potentially divisive issues. But Jim Bradberry 
of Southern Virginia said that additional work by the Congregations in Mission 
committee offered more of a plan, "taking us out of the quagmire created by the 
report."

Ready to move?

     A proposal to move the national offices of the church to a new facility 
built on the campus of the General Seminary in New York received a more 
enthusiastic response from council members.

     Council approved the joint development "in concept" and authorized a six-
member committee "to prepare a draft letter of agreement and all supporting 
documents and instruments that will govern the real estate, legal and financial 
relationships, responsibilities and obligations" of the church and the seminary.

     According to Treasurer Steve Duggan, the proposal calls for spending about 
$14 million to refurbish the current Church Center and then leasing the building 
to create "a fantastic income stream that would enhance mission. It is a 
potential gold mine," he said.

     Griswold said that council should endorse the concept and move ahead, adding 
that "it is important to keep in mind that it is not a done deal."

     Duggan said in an interview that the proposal is "absolutely doable," that 
both parties "know what the remaining issues are and agree that they should not 
or will not be insurmountable." Depending on the final letter of agreement, and 
acquiring some zoning variances, it would take two or three years to implement 
the plans.

     Council commended the presiding bishop, the House of Bishops, Church Center 
staff, Seamen's Church Institute, Trinity Parish Wall Street and the General 
Seminary for their responses to the terrorist attacks. The resolution "calls upon 
the whole church to engage in local interfaith dialogues" and condemned "in the 
strongest terms all actions by any groups that pervert the true values of Islam, 
Judaism and Christianity." While commending the leadership of President George 
Bush, the resolution pointed out that "the United States need not be at war while 
pursuing the full force of justice against those who committed this crime against 
humanity," arguing that constitutional rights and civil liberties must be 
protected. It also welcomed the move towards statehood for Palestine and "renewal 
of the peace process" as a "direct action against terrorism."

--James Solheim is director and the Rev. Jan Nunley is deputy director of 
Episcopal News Service.