wfn.org | Episcopal News Service Briefs I

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2001-341

News Briefs

Pope issues official church document on Internet 

     (RNS) Pope John Paul II has become the first Roman Catholic pontiff to issue 
an official church document via the Internet. The Vatican said that in a ceremony 
in the Apostolic Palace on November 22, John Paul signed a message summing up the 
work of a meeting of the bishops of Oceania, held at the Vatican in late 1998. 

     The pope previously has traveled to the region concerned to issue his Post-
Synodal Apostolic Exhortation following a continental Synod of Bishops. The 
Vatican gave no explanation for the change in custom, but John Paul is 81 years 
old and suffers from a neurological disease that limits his mobility. Although he 
has continued to travel and plans to visit Bulgaria in May, his trips outside 
Italy have become shorter in recent years. "In fact," the announcement said, 
"given the geographical dispersion and the expanse of the continent (of Oceania), 
electronic communication had an important role during all the synodal process 
from the initial preparations." 

     The Vatican said it would be the first time in the history of the church 
that a pope has issued a pontifical document electronically. The Vatican has for 
several years posted documents on its Web site (www.vatican.va), but only after 
distributing them in print. 

     

South African wins award for genocide documentary on Anglican bishop

     (UNIIN) A reporter for the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Jacques 
Pauw, has won the 2001 International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' 
(ICIJ) Award for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting, the 
Washington-based body said. 

     The ICIJ independent panel of international judges awarded Pauw $20,000 for 
the winning documentary, "The Bishop of Shyogwe." It is a story about an Anglican 
bishop accused of conspiring with the Rwandan government to kill Tutsis who 
sought sanctuary in his parish compound during the 1994 genocide. The judges said 
that, without Pauw's effort, the bishop, wanted by the International Criminal 
Tribunal for Rwanda to answer charges of genocide, might never have been brought 
to justice. 

     "Jacques Pauw illuminates the tragedy of the Rwandan genocide in the grand 
tradition of Hanna Arendt's seminal analysis of Adolf Eichmann--by focusing on 
the 'banality of evil' embodied by a single man," the judges said in their 
commendation. 

     Competition for the 2001 award attracted 67 entries from 23 countries, 
involving reporting in 62 countries. Pauw will be presented his award at a 
National Press Club luncheon in Washington, DC in early 2002. 

     The ICIJ describes its annual prize as unique among journalism awards 
worldwide "in that it was created specifically to honor international 
investigative reporting." ICIJ, created in 1997, is a network of 80 journalist-
members from 44 countries. 

     

Anglican bishop accuses Nigerian politicians of negligence, corruption 

     (allAfrica.com) The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Peter 
Akinola, has expressed dismay over the high level of corruption in the country. 
Speaking at this year's Carnival for Christ, an annual event of the Abuja Diocese 
of the Anglican Communion, Akinola lamented that Nigerian youths no longer 
believed in hard work. 

     "All they are after is to get rich quickly," said the archbishop who put the 
blame at the doorstep of politicians. According to him, members of the political 
class have abandoned the mandate given them by the electorate in their pursuit of 
selfish interest. He said: "politicians, instead of working hard to improve the 
lives of the masses, are busy chasing their second term in office. 

     "Are they sure there will be an election come year 2003? Or would there even 
be a nation called Nigeria with the amount of corruption going on?" he asked. 

     Akinola decried a situation "where those in high places are busy purchasing 
houses in London and competing among themselves on the number of cars, clothes 
and jewelries in their possession." 

     "Majority of families in the country are drying up every day due to a lack 
of economic base," he said, noting that many people could no longer afford three 
meals a day, "except those in high places." 

     The archbishop called on all authorities concerned to rise up to the 
challenges facing the country in order to move it forward. 

     

One dead, 10 churches burned in Nigerian religious riot

     (allAfrica.com) One person was killed and no fewer than 10 churches torched 
in Osogbo, the the capital of the Nigerian state of Osun, in the early hours of 
November 29, by protesters numbering about 1,000 who are suspected to be Muslim 
fundamentalists. 

     Though Osun police commissioner Ganiyu Dawodu said the investigation 
conducted "so far has not fingered religious conflict," the Nigerian newspaper 
This Day reported that the rioters were protesting the coming of the German 
evangelist Reinhard Bonnke to the state for a five-day crusade. 

     Aside from the damaged churches, the group vandalized two vehicles belonging 
to the chaplain of All Saints Cathedral, the Rev. Igbeda Odunayo. 

     Among the affected churches are the Anglican All Saints Cathedral.

     The mayhem, which lasted for about five hours, was said to have started 
around midnight. 

     The chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas, Alhaji Mustapha Ajisafe, and 
the chairman of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 
Bishop Leke Abegunrin, had on behalf of Muslims dissociated themselves from the 
ugly incident. 

     They described it as unfortunate and uncalled for noting the two religions 
"are for peace and we must embrace peace." 

     

Cape Town archbishop to attend economic summit 

      (Cape Argus) Njongonkulu Ndungane, the archbishop of Cape Town, has been 
invited to attend the World Economic Forum in New York early in the new year. He 
will be among the leaders of the world faith community who, as a response to the 
September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, have been invited to assist 
world leaders in reformulating or reconsidering global interests. 

     He said the forum recognized that "we need a new direction in terms of 
strategizing for a stable future in the world, and that the religious leadership 
has to play a role in this." 

     The archbishop, a key figure in the Jubilee 2000 campaign for the 
cancellation of Third World debt, said he believed "a sustainable future in our 
world will rest on three pillars: politicians creating the political space for 
things to happen, the business community bringing skills needed for development 
and growth, and the broad church of civil society bringing the elements of 
spirituality, human values, and environmental concern. 

     "Creative partnerships formed from these three can bring about stability and 
growth, and I hope that 2002 'Davos in New York', as they are calling it, will 
help to achieve this." 

     The theme of next year's forum is "Leadership in fragile times ... a vision 
for a shared future." 

     

Ugandan Anglican priests suspended for being unmarried 

     (allAfrica.com) The Central Buganda diocese of the Church of Uganda has 
suspended over 30 priests for being bachelors. The move was meant to encourage 
them to get married. 

     The Rev. Martin Kiwanuka, diocesan secretary, confirmed the suspension 
November 22 to the Ugandan newspaper The Monitor. He said bachelor priests are 
more likely to love other people's wives and cause conflicts. 

     Kiwanuka said about 30 priests were suspended and the list would be released 
soon. He said that the decision to suspend the priests was reached at by the 
diocesan council which sat at Kasaka last week. The Monitor was also told that 
the affected priests including have been served with suspension letters and will 
not be allowed to carry out any church work until they are confirmed to be 
lawfully married. 

     

Return to 'religion as usual' as attacks' impact recedes

     (New York Times) In the first Sunday after the terrorist attacks, people 
filled the pews at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky, seeking 
solace in a sermon about grief and joining together to sing "America the 
Beautiful." That day, the church drew 200 people, significantly more than the 
average Sunday attendance of 150, and for the next two Sundays the crowds kept 
coming. 

     But by the end of November, attendance was back to normal at St. Andrew's, 
an average-size American church, as it has been in recent weeks at houses of 
worship across the country. Americans, who after the attacks turned to religion 
in an outpouring that some religious leaders hailed as a spiritual "great 
awakening," have now mostly returned to their former habits.

     "I just don't see much indication that there has been a great awakening or a 
profound change in America's religious practices," said Frank M. Newport, editor 
in chief of the Gallup Poll. "It looks like people were treating this like a 
bereavement, a shorter-term funeral kind of thing, where they went to church or 
synagogue to grieve. But once past that, their normal churchgoing behavior passed 
back to where it was."

     The return to religion as usual is a stark contrast to the spiritual 
thunderclap after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Stunned 
Americans flocked for prayer and comfort not only to their local houses of 
worship, but also to sports stadiums, public plazas and convention centers. 

     But the evidence from churches and synagogues, combined with several polls, 
now indicates that for most people the spiritual storm has passed, except perhaps 
in New York, where the pain of the attack is most intense.

     For the last three decades, the percentage of Americans who told the Gallup 
Poll that they had attended church or synagogue in the previous week has hovered 
between 39 and 43. In May 2001, the figure was 41 percent. In the 10 days after 
September 11, it climbed to 47 percent--a noticeable rise, but no more than what 
is usually seen during the Christmas or Easter seasons. By early November, 
attendance had dropped back to 42 percent.

     The result, said Robert Wuthnow, director of the Center for the Study of 
Religion at Princeton University, is that the terrorist attacks have not 
undermined the nation's basic religious equilibrium: one-quarter of the 
population devout, one-quarter secular and one-half mildly interested.

     "We are in some ways a very religious country, especially compared to 
Western Europe," Mr. Wuthnow said. "But we're of two minds, and the other mind is 
that we really are pretty secular. We are very much a country of consumers and 
shoppers, and we're quite materialistic. And as long as we can kind of paste 
together a sense of control through our ordinary work and our ordinary purchases, 
we're pretty happy to do that." 

     

National educators group plans annual conference

     (ENS) The National Association of Episcopal Christian Education Directors 
(NAECED) will hold its annual conference January 17-19, 2002 in New Orleans. This 
year's conference will focus on professional development, including such topics 
as serving on a staff, salary negotiations, thriving in transition, and 
establishing a support base. Keynoter and presenter will be the Rev. Linda Grenz 
of LeaderResources. The group will also hear from the Rev. Bill Morris of the 
Diocese of Louisiana, as well as representatives from the Church Pension Fund.

     NAECED is a small organization moving into its fourth year as a grass-roots 
support group for Episcopal Christian educators. The membership includes laity, 
clergy, and bishops. 

     "The goals of NAECED are small but significant," said NAECED president Heidi 
Clark. "We offer an annual gathering with quality presenters for people in this 
field to come together and share their successes and their challenges. We provide 
a directory which the members use to keep in touch with each other and to share 
ideas. We also send out a semi-annual newsletter with resource reviews and other 
articles of interest to the professional Christian educator." 

     For more information or a brochure, contact Laurie Bailey at 504-895-6602 or 
email her at ccc2919@email.msn.com.

     

'Canon visionary' named in Central New York 

     (ENS) Newly ordained Episcopal bishop Gladstone B. 'Skip' Adams has 
appointed the Very Rev. Paul J. Kowalewski to the full-time position of "Canon 
Visionary" for the Diocese of Central New York.

     In his new position, Kowalewski will assist the bishop in developing and 
articulating a vision and reshaping the church for its mission in Central New 
York and the 21st century. He also will be responsible for developing programs 
for training deacons, assisting parishes for mission strategy and leadership, and 
developing continuing education and training for clergy and laity to help meet 
the needs of a changing church in a changing culture.

     Acting upon the recommendation of the diocese's long range planning 
committee in making the appointment, Adams said, "The role of a 'Canon Visionary' 
is an innovation in the larger church. The establishment of a staff position for 
the world of 'vision' and mission strategy is a significant action for our 
diocese and our time. Our Visionary complements and supports this episcopate's 
goal of hosting a spirit of hope and harmony--and helping it happen in and 
outside the church."

     Kowalewski has served as rector of Saint David's in Dewitt, New York, for 
the last eight years and as part-time dean of the diocesan School for Ministry 
since 1999. He officially assumes his new post January 1, 2002.

     

Episcopal deacon leaves parish to switch genders

     (AP) In the past few months, Paula Schonauer has left the parish where she 
was an Episcopal deacon. A few friends have abandoned her, and some that remain 
have trouble using her first name. That's because Paula Schonauer was once known 
as Paul, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound Gulf War veteran who is an Oklahoma City police 
officer.

     Under pressure from the congregation at St. James Episcopal Church, 
Schonauer quit the parish after deciding to wear a brown shoulder-length wig, 
makeup and dresses--and live life as a woman.

     But while the 35-year-old Schonauer has left St. James, she has not 
renounced her faith or given up her title. And she has not ruled out taking 
another assignment as a deacon someday.

     Schonauer is thought to be the first Episcopal deacon in the United States 
to change gender and remain with the church, said James Solheim, spokesman for 
the church's national headquarters in New York.

     Indeed, it was after counseling from Bishop Robert Moody and a therapist 
that Schonauer decided in September, after a long internal struggle, to live as a 
woman. "It's not strength," Schonauer says, after walking into a coffee shop with 
a purse over her shoulder. "It's surrender."

     Since age 4, Schonauer felt that she was a woman trapped in a man's body. "I 
got caught playing with my mom's cosmetics and scarves," she says. "I remember 
staring in the mirror while I was doing this and asking myself, 'Why am I me?'"

     When parishioners learned of Schonauer's decision, they asked Moody to 
remove her. But Schonauer left her post before the bishop acted formally. "It 
still hurts because I wasn't able to explain my situation, although it probably 
wouldn't have made any difference," said Schonauer, who served for two years as a 
deacon, an ordained minister who participates in some sacraments. Unlike many 
deacons, Schonauer was not on track to become a priest, intending rather to stay 
in her role.

     Officials from St. James did not return repeated calls from the Associated 
Press.

     Schonauer, who recently divorced a wife of 13 years, continues to live in 
Oklahoma City because of their children--an 11-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl. 
They have a joint custody arrangement. "I think that if I went away that would be 
more unforgivable than my transition," she said. "It takes some fortitude to stay 
here. But I don't want to deny my past anymore than I want to deny who I am."

     Schonauer's ex-wife has long known about his gender conflict and they have 
remained friends. She was one of 32 people, including church friends and members 
of a transgender support group, who attended a church ceremony for Schonauer in 
September. The service, which was informal and did not include a blessing from 
the bishop, marked the start of Schonauer's transgender journey.

     Schonauer said she tried to fight her inner feelings for years by acting 
masculine. As a man, Schonauer earned a black belt in karate, joined the Army, 
served in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm and became a police officer. "I tried 
to keep it pressed down," she said.

     Schonauer said faith in God and service to the church kept her from turning 
to drugs or alcohol to deal with depression from her conflict. But she struggled 
until recently about whether being transgender was sinful or shameful in the eyes 
of God. "The Bible teaches all of us fall short of the glory of God," she said. 
"My challenge is to realize what I am and find a way to live into it and make 
peace with myself."

     Schonauer now attends St. Paul's Cathedral, the bishop's congregation, where 
most members do not recognize her, she said. Moody has been supportive of 
Schonauer. "This is a man who for a long time has felt uncomfortable in his 
body," the bishop said. "He was a woman trapped in a man's body. This is not 
something that just happened." Moody says he hopes the church will be "as 
compassionate as the Oklahoma City Police Department has been."