wfn.org | Episcopalians: News Briefs

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

February 20, 2002

2002-044

Episcopalians: News Briefs

Washington office offers training for poverty activists

(ENS) The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations will 
participate in a consultation on domestic poverty reducing 
programs, to be held in Washington, D.C. March 13-15.

In 2002, the U.S. Congress must reauthorize three critical 
domestic poverty reducing programs that serve families and 
children living in poverty in the United States: Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Food Stamp Program and 
the Child Care Development Block Grant. 

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church and the Executive 
Council have passed a number of resolutions supporting these 
programs, including a 1997 resolution (A050a) which directed the 
Office of Government Relations to "urge members of Congress to 
be responsible for the passage of welfare reform legislation 
which would aid poor people rather than penalize them and to 
increase funding for welfare programs."

The Episcopal Church is a member communion with the National 
Council of Churches of Christ, the sponsor of the event. Staff 
from the Office of Government Relations and from the Episcopal 
Church Center in New York will participate and lead some of the 
programs and events planned. Participants will have an 
opportunity to receive media and lobby training and issue 
briefings, meet with legislators and staff on Capitol Hill to 
advocate for poverty reducing programs, and develop strategies 
for congressional debate and grassroots activities at home. 

Registration for TANF Action Days for Poverty Reduction is $50 
and includes the cost of materials and dinner on Wednesday and 
lunch on Thursday. The National Council of Churches website 
includes a page on reauthorization of TANF and related programs 
that is frequently updated at 
www.nccusa.org/publicwitness/tanf.html. Deadline for 
registration is March 5, 2002. To register, contact the Office 
of Government Relations at 1-800-228-0515 or email 
kbull@episcopalchurch.org.

Zimbabwe police arrest Anglican clergyman for public peace 
prayers

(SAPA) The South African Press Association reports that 
Zimbabwean police on February 16 arrested 11 people, including 
an Anglican clergyman, at a meeting held in the western city of 
Bulawayo to pray for peace in the run-up to next month's 
presidential elections in Zimbabwe.

Church officials told the African Christian Democratic Party 
(ACDP) in South Africa that the Rev. Noel Scott from the 
Anglican Church in Zimbabwe and other church leaders from all 
denominations were headed for regular prayer sessions when Scott 
was arrested.

An ACDP statement said that Scott had earlier asked for 
permission for the "Peace Prayer Procession" but police denied 
him permission, citing what they called "unruly elements" which 
could disrupt the session.

A SAPA correspondent reported that the church leaders were 
charged under security laws with "disobeying the command of a 
police officer," which carries a maximum penalty of five years 
in jail.

The ACDP said the Zimbabwean church leaders notified the party 
of the arrests in a letter which stated: "What usually happens 
is that here in Hillside, the prayers begin at the Catholic 
Church, after a church service and prayers, everybody then walks 
on foot in procession to the next church which has been the 
Anglican Church.

"The procession, involving hundreds of people, then walks onto 
the next church which has been the Presbyterian Church. From 
there the final leg of the peace/prayer walk ends at the 
Methodist Church."

After Scott was denied permission to lead the churchgoers to 
walk to various churches, the members decided to drive. Police 
then arrested Scott and charged him with failing to comply with 
the prohibition.

David Coltart, an MP in the city for the opposition Movement for 
Democratic Change, told SAPA that the arrested were detained at 
the Bulawayo central police station.

The ACDP, however, said church leaders in Zimbabwe had been 
denied access to Scott, who has a heart condition which requires 
medication three times a day.

Those arrested along with Scott were: the Rev. Graham Shaw of 
the Methodist Church, the Rev. Kevin O' Doherty of the Roman 
Catholic Church, Peter Botright, Ron Marillier, Trevor Leonard, 
Palany Rojah, David Marolong, Barry Dickenson, as well as John 
Stakesby and his wife Joan, who are both teachers at Girls 
College.

Borsch named interim dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale 

(ENS) Retired Los Angeles bishop Frederick H. Borsch has been 
appointed interim dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and 
associate dean of Yale University Divinity School, beginning 
March 1, 2002. 

Chris Sonne, chairman of the Berkeley board of trustees, said, 
"I am thrilled that Bishop Fred Borsch has agreed to serve as 
interim dean. He brings extraordinary qualifications as a 
prominent Episcopal Church leader, scholar, administrator and 
pastor. I can think of no person better equipped to lead 
Berkeley during this time of transition." 

The Rev. Rebecca Chopp, dean of Yale Divinity School, said, "I 
am delighted to welcome Bishop Borsch as interim dean of 
Berkeley and associate dean at Yale Divinity School. Bishop 
Borsch brings wonderful pastoral skills, strong links to the 
Episcopal Church and connections to other denominations, 
expertise in the world of theological education and a great 
commitment to the education of leaders for the church. I look 
forward to working closely with him." 

Borsch, a specialist in New Testament studies, taught at the 
University of Birmingham, Seabury-Western Seminary, the General 
Theological Seminary and the Church Divinity School of the 
Pacific, where he served as dean and president from 1972-81. 
Prior to his election as bishop of Los Angeles in 1988, he was 
dean of the chapel and religious life and professor of religion 
at Princeton University. He is the author or editor of 16 books 
and numerous articles, and has written extensively on 
contemporary issues in theological education and the ministry. 

A member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of 
Biblical Literature, Borsch served as chair of the theology 
committee of the House of Bishops from 1988-2000. He co-founded 
the Los Angeles Interfaith Environmental Council and has held 
numerous leadership positions within local, national and 
international charities and organizations. 

New York PBS affiliate honors Phoebe Griswold for 'making a 
difference'

(ENS) Phoebe Griswold, wife of Presiding Bishop Frank T. 
Griswold, was among the "Women Who Make a Difference" honored at 
WLIW21 New York Public Televisions sixth annual Awards in 
Excellence Gala, held February 13, 2002 at the Garden City 
Hotel. 

Griswold was honored as Humanitarian of the Year for 2002. Other 
honorees included the popular British singer Petula Clark (PBS 
Entertainer of the Year); Nina Lewis Demuth, president, PDA 
Foundation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Inc. (Excellence in 
Community Leadership); Janice Reals Ellig, corporate executive 
and co-author of "What Every Successful Woman Knows: 12 
Breakthrough Strategies to Get the Power and Ignite Your Career" 
(Excellence in Economic Development); and Connie Schwartz, 
director and chief curator of the Nassau County Museum of Art 
(Excellence in the Cultural Arts). 

"These extraordinary women embody the mission of public 
television with contributions to our community in the arts, 
business, education and volunteerism," said WLIW21 president and 
general manager Terrel L. Cass. "Their leadership and 
accomplishments are an inspiration to us all."

A one-hour broadcast with highlights of the evening airs in New 
York on Thursday, February 21st at 10:00 PM and Sunday, February 
24th at 4:30 PM. WLIW21 New York is the fourth most-watched 
public television station in the United States, reaching a 
weekly audience of 1.9 million households. 

Episcopal bishop featured in previews of new TV version of 
'The Protestant Hour'

(ENS) Two special previews of a new television version of The 
Protestant Hour will be broadcast March 3 and March 24 on the 
Hallmark Channels America at Worship Sunday morning 
programming block.

The featured speaker for the two programs is the Rt. Rev. J. 
Neil Alexander, bishop of Atlanta. Comments from representatives 
of other participating denominations are also featured.

America at Worship is broadcast from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays, 
and The Protestant Hour segment will be included in the 10:00 
hour. The Hallmark Channel is available on many cable systems 
and DirecTV and reaches 43.5 million homes.

The Protestant Hour, a cooperative outreach of the Episcopal 
Media Center, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Methodist Church, is 
in its 57th year of ecumenical radio broadcasts. The TV version, 
produced in association with Faith and Values Media, will begin 
airing on a weekly basis this summer.

Education program focuses on seeing the unseen and exploring 
hard questions

(ENS) Summer continuing education programs at the Episcopal 
Seminary of the Southwest in Austin will focus on seeing the 
unseen and exploring hard questions with which the Episcopal 
Church and many other denominations are struggling.

Nora Gallagher, noted author of "Things Seen and Unseen: A Year 
Lived in Faith," will team with visual artist Marie Schoeff in 
presenting "Seeing the Unseen" during morning sessions. The Rev. 
William Seth Adams, liturgics and Anglican studies professor at 
the seminary, will engage participants in a discussion of three 
current and difficult theological issues during the afternoon. 

Writer Gallagher and painter Schoeff will lead drawing and 
writing exercises to explore ways to observe and honor the 
sacred within and around us. The focus is on the process of 
seeing, not on creating a product. Adams' offering, "Hard 
Questions: Whatever to Say?" centers on three current issues 
that express themselves in liturgical terms: lay presidency at 
the eucharist, the blessing of same-sex unions, and the question 
as to who is welcome at the eucharistic table. 

Registration deadline for the June 3-7 continuing education 
program is May 28. Detailed descriptions of the offerings are 
available at www.etss.edu/ConEd02.html. 

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