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2001-331

News Briefs

Moravian-Episcopal dialogue drafting proposal for sharing Eucharist

      (ENS) The third meeting of the dialogue between the Episcopal Church and 
Moravian Church in America met November 5-7 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and worked 
on a draft of a proposal to share the Eucharist. The dialogue was established by 
the 1997 General Convention and this meeting was held at the Episcopal Cathedral 
of the Nativity and at Moravian Theological Seminary. It was chaired by Bishop 
Gary Gloster of the Diocese of North Carolina and the Rev. Bill McElveen of the 
Moravian Church.

     The proposal for Interim Eucharistic Sharing would be similar to one passed 
by the 1982 General Convention with the Lutheran Church in America. The draft 
will be sent to the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations for consideration 
at its meeting next year at the School of Theology at the University of the South 
in Sewanee. It could be presented to the 2003 General Convention for adoption.

     Similar to the churches of the Anglican Communion, the Moravians have 
maintained the three-fold orders of ministry--deacons, presbyters (priests) and 
bishops. The goal of the dialogues is full communion with recognition of 
ministries by 2006. More information about the Moravian Church can be found on 
the web site at www.moravian.org, or on the web site for the Ecumenical and 
Interfaith Relations Office at www.episcopalchurch.org. 

     

Archbishop of Canterbury says Christianity and Islam are not at war

      (ACNS) During an interview with the Al Jazeera television network in Qatar, 
Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey strongly rejected claims that Christianity 
and Islam are at war. The network has broadcast statements by Osama bin Laden 
calling for a holy war or "jihad" against Christianity.

      "This is not a religious conflict," Carey said. "Christians and Muslims are 
not at war. It is a fight against terrorism." He added his hope that "the events 
of September 11 will act as a catalyst for us to deepen our dialogue and our 
commitment to one another. I believe we have a lot in common."

     Carey also expressed the hope that relations between the two religions in 
Britain could provide a model. Speaking of British Muslims, he said that "we are 
delighted they are there. They add something to our national life. I hope, 
actually, that we can contribute something to the rest of the world."

     The archbishop said that "very few people in the West" are equating 
terrorism with Islam. "I want to say to young Muslims in my country and 
elsewhere, don't make that link. We are not regarding Islam as responsible for 
the events of September 11. We must destroy that link once and for all and focus 
on what happened. It is terrorism we are against, whether it is people distorting 
Islam or not. Let's get religion out of it."

     Carey added that "religious people have a responsibility to actually do 
something to dig deep into their faith and to seek what we have in common, to 
build together, to build better communities."

     

Israel doesn't recognize authority of new Greek Orthodox patriarch

      (ENI) Invoking a law that goes back to the sixth century, the Government of 
Israel is refusing to recognize the authority of the new Greek Orthodox patriarch 
of the Holy Land, disrupting the functioning of the offices of the oldest and 
most powerful church in Jerusalem.

     The law stems from Emperor Justinian, who said that the government of the 
Holy Land has the right to approve candidates for the office. Patriarch Irineos 
was enthroned last August after a long and stormy election process. Jordan and 
the Palestinian Authority confirmed the choice, but Israel, which tried to have 
his name removed from the list of candidates, still refuses to endorse the 
election.

     Israeli officials have told reporters that they have intelligence reports, 
not made public, that the patriarch has business contacts with the Palestine 
Liberation Organization. Although not illegal, such contacts in the present 
political climate would be regarded as highly sensitive by the Israelis. On a 
practical level, it means that Israelis won't grant visas to guests of the 
Patriarchate.

     The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is the biggest owner of real estate in the 
Holy Land--including the land on which the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, is 
built. The Israelis suspect that those holdings may be used "as a lever for PLO 
activities." The patriarch has confirmed that he intends to renegotiate the 
leases on prime pieces of property but has no intentions of using the action as a 
tool to undermine the political stability of the Jewish State.

      "We understand the importance of land ownership in the very sensitive 
pending geo-political issues, especially regarding the future of Jerusalem," said 
the patriarch. He supports the unity of Jerusalem, claimed by both Israelis and 
Palestinians as their religious and political capital. "Jerusalem, as every other 
city in the world, can only live and progress as a united city, living in peace 
and calm," said Irineos.

     

Russian Orthodox offered special prayers for victims of terrorist attacks

      (ENI) In what is being interpreted as a significant shift in attitude 
towards Americans, the Russian Orthodox Church has offered special prayers for 
victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Despite some strong anti-Western 
attitudes, the shift seems to be more in line with the increasingly pro-Western 
attitudes of President Vladimir Putin.

     Metropolitan Sergy, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, conducted a 
memorial service "for all those in the American land killed suddenly and 
senselessly." A similar service was held at St. Catherine's Church, which belongs 
to the Orthodox Church in America and serves the English-speaking community in 
Moscow. The services took place in keeping with the Orthodox tradition of 
commemorating the dead on the 40th day when the soul finally leaves the earth and 
ascends to heaven--or descends to hell.

      "Thousands of innocent people died because of the madness of those who want 
to reshape the world according to their design," Sergy said in his sermon. "They 
forgot that God did not give man free will for enmity and murder."

     Metropolitan Kirill, chairman of the patriarchate's department for external 
relations, said that the United States had "moral and religious grounds" for a 
response to the terrorist attacks but he warned against the dangers of a 
disproportionate response that could cause the death of innocent people.

     Kirill said that the blow by the terrorists "was ultimately directed at the 
system of liberal values, which is asserted in the modern world through a network 
of international organizations as a universal model of civilization which has no 
alternatives." Russia has a large and growing Muslim population of about 20 
million and they are extremely sensitive to broad accusations of "Islamic 
terrorism."

     

Survey offers overview of religion in America

      (ENS) The latest American Religious Identification Survey, released by the 
Graduate Center of the City University of New York, provides an overview of 
religion in America. A sample of over 50,000 randomly selected respondents offers 
what the center calls "the most comprehensive portrait of religious 
identification in the U.S. today." Since the official US Census does not ask 
about religion, the survey also complements the Census.

     The survey reveals that 52 percent of adults in America identify themselves 
as Protestants, 24.5 percent are Roman Catholic, 14.1 percent say they have no 
religious affiliation, 1.3 percent are Jewish and Muslims are 0.5 percent. In 
addition the survey offered some comparisons:

     Roman Catholics increased from 46 to 50.8 million, but their proportion in 
the population fell by nearly two percentage points

     Although Protestant and other non-Roman Catholic groups remain the majority 
with 105.4 million, their proportion fell sharply, from 60 percent to 52 percent

     About 2.8 million adults say they are Jewish, down from 3.1 million in 1990, 
and another 2.5 million were born Jewish but no longer identify with the religion

     The number of adults who identify with non-Christian religions rose from 5.8 
to 7.7 million, but their proportion of the population is small at 3.7 percent

     Muslims have doubled since 1990, but are still only 1.1 million.

     

Presbyterians face cutbacks due to economy and continuing conflict

      (PCUSA) A weakened national economy and continuing conflict within the 
Presbyterian Church (USA) have created a potential shortfall that could reach at 
least $2.5 million next year, forcing some cutbacks at the national level.

      "Belt-tightening was inevitable but uncertainty in both the economy and the 
church have moved up our timetable," said John Detterick, executive director of 
the General Assembly Council in announcing cuts in the mission budget. 
"Circumstances are pushing us to make decisions we wouldn't have made this early 
otherwise." He met recently with senior staff at the Presbyterian Center in 
Louisville, urging them to "think strategically" about making the cuts necessary 
to balance the budget.

     Detterick said that the budget would be trimmed and a "number of new 
initiatives" would be scaled back or postponed. A feasibility study now under way 
is considering a campaign to raise more than $39 million for missionary support 
and new-church starts. While he wouldn't predict the results, due in December, 
Detterick said that "we need to test these kind of mission initiatives as a new, 
more responsible way of funding mission."

     

Archbishop of Canterbury urges protection for world's religious minorities

      (ACNS) In a memorial service for Christians recently murdered in Pakistan, 
Archbishop of Canterbury George L. Carey issued a strong plea for political 
leaders to protect religious minority communities around the world.

      "All those in leadership positions have an absolute duty not only to 
protect the rights of religious minorities to live and worship in peace, but also 
to promote real understanding, peace and dialogue," he said at the service in 
Southward Cathedral November 10. "Tolerance should be only the starting point. We 
must move on, we must build bridges not walls," he said. 

     "Christian communities in many parts of the world find themselves fearful, 
having to witness to their faith in dangerous and difficult circumstances," Carey 
said. "We should remember that the position of Muslims in Britain is also that of 
a minority faith sometimes beset with the hostility caused by intolerance, 
ignorance and suspicion."

     Carey noted that recent events have "caused considerable anxiety about the 
very possibility of Christians and Muslims living together in harmony. Although I 
understand that anxiety, we cannot let fear and mistrust determine how we live 
together."

     Mentioning his recent visit to Qatar and Bahrain, Carey said that the 
Christian communities in those Gulf states were small "but are free to worship. 
Surrounded by Muslims, these churches continue in their faith and serve the 
communities that are built up around the Christian message." He reported that 
"everywhere I went I found clear determination by Christians and Muslims to live 
together in dialogue and in mutual respect."

     

Sudanese bishop reports civil war has intensified

      (ACNS) Speaking to the Church of England General Synod November 14, 
Archbishop Joseph Marona of the Sudan reported that the situation in his nation 
has "deteriorated." More than two million people have died there in a civil war 
that has raged for over 45 years. "The extent of suffering and displacement has 
defied belief," he said. "People have been waiting and are still waiting on the Lord
for it to end. Human efforts have led to nothing."

     Marona said that his people have learned lessons from waiting. "To wait on the 
Lord is an expression of complete trust. By waiting God promises us a purified heart.
By waiting the way opens leading us to purified behavior."

     He said that one of the greatest sufferings is the dispersal of the Sudanese people. 
"Over six million have been internally displaced and millions more have fled the country," 
Marona said. With people scattered all over the world, "In exile they are acknowledging 
God's mercy in blessing them through his Holy Spirit."

     He added, "We urgently need the war in Sudan to come to an end. Our people 
cry out to be able to return to their own homes, to be able to cultivate the land, to 
rebuild their schools."