wfn.org | Episcopalians: News Briefs

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May 14, 2002

2002-120

Episcopalians: News Briefs

Poll finds Canada may be experiencing a period of spiritual 
renewal 

(ENI) A recent survey by Canada's foremost religion pollster 
suggests that the country may be experiencing a period of 
spiritual renewal--one not limited to churchgoers.

A survey of 3,500 Canadians revealed that weekly church 
attendance had increased, the core membership had stabilized, 
and those who attend church infrequently were not "deserting the 
ship." The trend was particularly obvious among mainline 
Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Canada, and 
Roman Catholic churches.

"If we use cold marketing language, there has been a demand for 
religion," said Reginald Bibby who teaches sociology at the 
University of Lethbridge in Alberta. He has monitored religious 
trends in Canada every five years since the 1970s. His most 
recent survey suggests that a 30-year downward trend in church 
attendance has been halted and that attendance of youth has 
rebounded.

More than 80 percent of those polled said that the believe in 
God, 75 percent prayed at least occasionally, 73 percent 
admitted to having spiritual needs, 68 percent believe in life 
after death, and 65 percent believe in heaven.

"God continues to do well in the polls," said Bibby. He admitted 
that he was surprised by the recent results because earlier 
surveys had pointed to a waning religious influence in Canada. 
"Groups like the United Church and the Anglicans may be joining 
the evangelicals in experiencing revitalization," he said. The 
renewed interest among youth may be the result of direct efforts 
by the churches to reach out. "Religious groups are doing a much 
more aggressive job of targeting and ministering to young 
people," according to Bibby. "Churches are making youth 
ministry, ministry to young adults and to children, a much 
higher priority than in the past."

St. George's in Jerusalem offering special youth program

(ENS) In spite of the violence that grips Israel and the West 
Bank, St. George's College and the pastorate committee of St. 
George's Cathedral in Jerusalem are sponsoring s special 
"education for peace" initiative for Jewish, Christian and 
Muslim children.

In early July a group of 12 Palestinian and Israeli youth, aged 
11 and 12, will travel to Texas to be special guests at Camp 
Allen, an Episcopal summer camp and conference center near 
Houston, in a program called "Kids4Peace 2002." They will 
explore each other's realities, traditions, languages and 
dreams, according to an announcement. Planners hope that, in the 
neutral and supportive atmosphere of the summer camp, the youth 
can escape the tensions of their world and lay the foundation 
for their role as "pioneers of peace," showing the way to a 
better and more peaceful future in the land they share.

It is hoped that follow-up projects, involving the parents of 
the youth, and future "education for peace" initiatives will 
determine the real value of the program in the long term, 
according to Henry Carse, director of special programs at the 
college, and the Rev. Suheil Dawani of the cathedral staff. They 
point out that the staff and parents share a common commitment 
that recognizes that youth are tomorrow's leaders and that 
education for peace can turn the hearts of the people in the 
Holy Land toward a just and peaceful resolution of the current 
conflict.

More information on the program is available on the web site of 
the college and cathedral or the independent website at 
www.kids4peace.org. 

Survey reveals Americans want government to be even-handed in 
Middle East conflict

(ENS) A survey released May 8, shortly after Congress passed 
resolutions expressing support for Israel's incursions into the 
West Bank, show that the American public wants its government to 
be more even-handed in the conflict--and only 22 percent believe 
that it currently plays that role.

The poll of 801 people by the Program on International Policy 
Attitudes (PIPA) found that both the Israelis and 
Palestinians are equally to blame for the current situation with 
over 60 percent in favor of withholding aid to both Israel and 
the Palestinian Authority if they fail to agree to a cease-fire 
and return to the negotiating table.

Only 17 percent of those who responded see Israel's conflict 
with the Palestinians as part of the war on terrorism launched 
by the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 
11. About 63 percent also endorsed President George W. Bush's 
call for Israel to withdraw.

"What this poll makes clear is that recent actions by Congress 
are out of step with the American public and their views on the 
crisis in the Middle East," said Steven Kull, director of PIPA. 
"Americans clearly hold both sides equally responsible for the 
current situation and are willing to increase pressure on both 
sides to achieve a peace deal." An overwhelming 82 percent 
support an international conference to reach a peace agreement. 

About 76 percent reject suicide bombings as a legitimate form of 
resistance but 62 percent also think that Israel's recent 
actions have increased the likelihood that the bombings will 
continue.

'Green Patriarch' honored for his environmental work

(ENI) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I of Constantinople, 
spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, 
has been honored by a Norwegian foundation for his work on 
environmental issues.

The patriarch received the Sophie Prize in recognition of his 
"pioneering efforts in linking faith to the environment," said 
the announcement from the Sophie Foundation. Bartholomeos, who 
became patriarch in 1991, has been called "the green patriarch" 
because of his environmental concerns.

The foundation's announcement said that the patriarch "has 
spoken out against injustice and inequity, challenging the 
present economic globalization that widens the gap between rich 
and poor and leads to excessive consumption."

The prize, which carries a stipend of $100,000, was established 
in 1997 by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder, author of the 
best-selling novel, "Sophie's World." It is awarded annually to 
an individual or group that has promoted alternatives to 
prevailing models of development.

"The name sophie means wisdom. Although we knew nothing 
about the patriarch before the nomination, the more we learned 
the more certain we became that he was the right recipient," 
said Anette Langtvet, director of the foundation. She said that 
she hoped the honor would encourage other church leaders to 
"make environmental concern part of their faith."

African Lutheran leaders confess past sins in dealing with 
AIDS

(ENI) Lutheran church leaders in Africa have publicly 
acknowledged the serious shortcomings in the response of their 
churches to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

At a recent meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, they condemned the role 
played by the church in stigmatizing and discriminating against 
those who are living with the disease, admitting that "our 
churches have not always been safe or welcome places."

In repenting of those sins, the church leaders said in a 
statement at the end of the meeting, "In some cases Holy 
Communion has been refused to people living with HIV/AIDS, 
funerals of people having died from AIDS have been denied and 
comfort to the bereaved has not been given."

Organized by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the meeting 
included bishops, presidents, pastors and youth leaders from 27 
member churches in Africa, as well as participants from Asia, 
Europe, Latin America and North America.

Bishops from Zimbabwe and South Africa, with some of the world's 
highest infection rates, urged the conference to support the use 
of condoms as a way to avoid AIDS. In the past many church 
leaders have argued that promoting the use of condoms means 
promoting promiscuity.

"The fact that the infection rate keeps rising in most of our 
countries is a sign that a large number of people are not 
heeding our message of abstinence from sex before marriage and 
faithfulness in marriage in obedience to the will of God," noted 
Bishop Ambrose Moyo of Zimbabwe where at least 2,000 people die 
each week of AIDS-related illnesses. "Many choose to disobey but 
their lives are also very precious before God."

Bishop A.N. Phaswana of South Africa reported that between 4.7 
and 6 million people in his country are living with the 
disease--and as many as 53 percent of the mothers receiving 
prenatal care in Soweto's largest hospital were HIV positive. He 
urged his colleagues to take practical steps to teach their 
congregations about the value of nutrition in helping those who 
are infected, pointing to a link between HIV and poverty.

The LWF on May 6 announced the launch of a Global Campaign 
against HIV/AIDS. "Silence and all forms of myths about the 
reality of HIV/AIDS amount to an affront of what God has 
achieved for us in Christ," said Dr. Ishmael Noko, LWF general 
secretary.

Study finds 'generational' shift to Protestantism among 
Hispanics

(RNS) A major new study has found that while a strong majority 
of Latinos in the United States are Roman Catholic, there has 
been a generational shift to Protestantism. But the study also 
found that Hispanic Catholics and Protestants shared many of the 
same views on public issues. 

According to the study, "Hispanic Churches in American Public 
Life," the number of Protestants in the American Hispanic 
population increased from 18 percent to 32 percent across three 
generations while the number of Catholics declined from 74 to 59 
percent over the same period. Overall, 71 percent of Hispanics 
are Catholic. 

The three-year study was funded by a $1.3 million grant from the 
Pew Charitable Trust and overseen by a group of predominantly 
Hispanic scholars from major American universities. Researchers 
said it had a margin of error of 1.1 percent. 

Some Hispanic members of the audience attending the May 3-4 
conference in Washington, DC, at which the report was released 
attributed the shift to aggressive outreach efforts by 
Protestant churches and more opportunities for youth 
involvement. 

Despite the shifts, however, Hispanic Catholics and Protestants 
share similar views on issues such as education, the public role 
of the church and the role of women in the church. Most 
Protestants and Catholics who were asked about prayer in schools 
said they support such a policy. In a separate question, a large 
number of respondents from both groups voiced support for school 
vouchers to be used at private schools. 

Fifty-six percent of Protestants and 49 percent of Catholics 
surveyed agreed women should be ordained into the ministry. 
Additionally, at least half of the respondents surveyed from 
both groups said the church should be more involved in public 
life. In other findings, the study found 94 percent of Latinos 
identify themselves as Christian and 45 percent said they attend 
religious services once a week or more. 

Delbecq challenges church leaders to conversation on 
spirituality of organizations

(ECF) The decentralized business world of the future 
highlights the need for leaders who are not just trained in 
business techniques, but spiritually formed as well.

That's what Dr. Andre Delbecq told trustees and friends of the 
Episcopal Church Foundation at the Church Divinity School of the 
Pacific in Berkeley, California on May 2. Delbecq, professor at 
the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, is also 
a member of the advisory board of the Business Leadership and Spirituality 
Network (BLSN). 

"My experience with senior business leaders has taught me they 
are both salt and light in their organizations," Delbecq said. 
"They have accepted the Great Commission and are fulfilling it 
where they work."

Delbecq described the business environment of the new global 
economy as one where creativity and authority exists, not at the 
center of a command and control hierarchy, but in the edges--on 
the production line and at the junction of customer and customer 
service. For the first time since the beginning of the 
Industrial Age, he said, employers need employees who bring 
"whole selves" to work--employees who are creative, who take 
responsibility for the quality of products, and who care about 
the mission of their organizations as much as they do. 

Delbecq observed that 88% of the adult population spends the 
majority of their time at work. "The contemporary workplace is 
where one finds the neighbor Christ calls us to love," he said. 
"It is the new neighborhood. People do not leave their faith at 
home when they go to work." 

Delbecq challenged the Episcopal Church Foundation to confront 
the question of how the Church may enter into more meaningful 
and constructive dialogue with business leaders who are seeking 
guidance as they address the challenge of spirituality and 
business leadership. 

Congregational survey profiles US worshipers

(ENS) The results of a survey of 300,000 worshipers in over 
2,000 congregations in the United States show that two out of 
every 100 people sitting in worship services are attending that 
congregation for the first time.

The U.S. Congregational Life Survey, released in April, showed 
that 10% of U.S. congregations draw 50% of all worshipers each 
week, while another 40% of congregations have 39% of worshipers 
attending services each week. The remaining 50% of all 
congregations have only 11% of the total number of worshipers in 
any given week. The average Roman Catholic parish has 375 
attending Mass each week; other denominations and faith 
traditions average only 84 in worship each week. 

The typical worshiper is female, 50 years old, employed, well 
educated, and married. Average worshipers are well educated, 
tend to be "good neighbors" and "good citizens." About 83% of 
those in the pews attend almost every week, and most worshipers 
connect with their congregation primarily during worship 
services. Fewer men attend worship than women. Large percentages 
of worshipers are not currently living in a traditional 2-parent 
household and most (53%) do not have children living at home. 
Married couples with children are the "minority profile" in 
congregations, as they are in the general U.S. population. 

The majority of worshipers (63%) spend at least a few times a 
week in private devotional activities things like reading the 
Bible or other devotional materials, praying, or meditating. 
Half of all worshipers (55%) say they have experienced much 
growth in their faith in the last year, and the number one 
reason worshipers give for their growth in faith is their 
participation in the congregation. 

The turnover rate in the average congregation is fairly high: 7% 
of all new people are participating in a congregation for the 
first time; 18% formerly participated and are returning to 
worship attendance. Another 18% switched their religious 
affiliation from one denomination or faith group to another, and 
57% of move membership from one congregation to another of the 
same faith group. Transfers and switchers together make up 75% 
of new people and 21% of all worshipers. This means that 21% of 
worshipers changed congregations in the last five years. 

Newcomers are less likely to be involved in small groups, 
serving in a leadership role, or taking part in outreach, 
evangelism, community service, or advocacy activities. They are 
just as likely as long-term participants to give 10% or more, 
but more likely to give small amounts of money whenever they 
attend. They are younger than the average worshiper by eight 
years, and working full- or part-time is more common. About 40% 
hold college degrees or more advanced degrees. They are more 
likely than long-time worshipers to have never married or to be 
remarried after divorce. 

U.S. participants completed the U.S. Congregational Life Survey 
during worship services in April 2001. The survey was conducted 
by U.S. Congregations, a religious research group housed in the 
offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Louisville, 
Kentucky. Participating congregations came from the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist Church, Southern 
Baptist Convention, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church 
of Christ, Roman Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist, and 
Church of the Nazarene.

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