Episcopal Life Online Newslink November 29, 2007
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's ELO Newslink includes:
* TOP STORY - Committee on the State of the Church issues interim report * TOP STORY - Executive Council committee chairs respond to retired bishops' open letters * DIOCESAN DIGEST - WASHINGTON, D.C.: Online Advent Calendar offers meditations, art and song * WORLD REPORT - AFRICA: CAPA chairman delivers message for World AIDS Day * WORLD REPORT - ASIA: ERD responds to refugee crisis on the Thai/Burmese Border * WORLD REPORT - CANADA: Council of General Synod issues preliminary response to the draft Anglican covenant * WORLD REPORT - CANADA: Primate and Metropolitans issue pastoral statement, criticize Southern Cone action * WORLD REPORT - INDIA: Bishops demand end to Christian Dalit oppression * PEOPLE - South African theologian Steve de Gruchy to keynote 'Everyone, Everywhere' world mission conference * FEATURE - On the road in North Korea with the Presiding Bishop
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TOP STORIES
Committee on the State of the Church issues interim report
By Jan Nunley and Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] An interim report issued by the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/gc/ccab/ccab_21595_3134_ENG_HTM.htm) says the Episcopal Church needs "a plan for action" to address concerns related to its identity, mission and organization.
"Who are we?" the report asks. "What does it mean to be an Episcopalian? What are our core values? How are we differentiated from other Christian faith traditions? What are our strengths and weaknesses? Where are our opportunities?"
Described as a "brief assessment of facts and trends," the report points out that "marvelous work goes forward at all levels of our church, often understated, and not fully appreciated, but truly transforming in nature."
A pdf of the report is available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/11-2007_StateOfTheChurchFinal.pd f.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_92205_ENG_HTM.htm
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Executive Council committee chairs respond to retired bishops' open letters
[Episcopal News Service] The chairs of two Executive Council standing committees have responded to a pair of open letters written last summer by a group of retired bishops, demanding a "public report" of the cost of litigation over breakaway groups attempting to take the Episcopal Church's property.
Josephine Hicks, chair of Administration and Finance, and John Vanderstar, chair of National Concerns, released their reply to the letters November 29.
A pdf of the letter is available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/11-29-07_Response_to_open_letter s.p df.
The retired bishops who signed the July 14 letter are C. Fitzsimons Allison (South Carolina), Maurice M. Benitez (Texas), Alex D. Dickson (West Tennessee) and William C. Wantland (Eau Claire). Milton L. Wood, suffragan of Atlanta, added his name to the second letter, released August 27.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_92203_ENG_HTM.htm
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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DIOCESAN DIGEST
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Online Advent Calendar offers meditations, art and song http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_92202_ENG_HTM.htm
More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm
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WORLD REPORT
AFRICA: CAPA chairman delivers message for World AIDS Day http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_92196_ENG_HTM.htm
ASIA: ERD responds to refugee crisis on the Thai/Burmese Border http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_92197_ENG_HTM.htm
CANADA: Council of General Synod issues preliminary response to the draft Anglican covenant http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_92198_ENG_HTM.htm
CANADA: Primate and Metropolitans issue pastoral statement, criticize Southern Cone action http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_92199_ENG_HTM.htm
INDIA: Bishops demand end to Christian Dalit oppression http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_92200_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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PEOPLE
South African theologian Steve de Gruchy to keynote 'Everyone, Everywhere' world mission conference http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_92192_ENG_HTM.htm
More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm
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FEATURES
On the road in North Korea with the Presiding Bishop
By Neva Rae Fox
[Episcopal News Service] North Korea is among the most difficult countries in the world to visit. Nonetheless, representatives from throughout the Anglican Communion were welcomed for a peace trip November 14 and to provide humanitarian aid to a destroyed village.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori led a delegation from the Episcopal Church to the international Anglican peace conference Towards Peace in Korea (TOPIK) in Seoul, South Korea and, prior to its November 15 start, to the pre-conference journey at Geumgangsan in North Korea.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_92201_ENG_HTM.htm
More Features: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78936_ENG_HTM.htm