News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. November 15, 2001 [2001-331]
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."