Episcopal Press and News
News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. February 3, 2003 [2003-021-1]
TV spot features Methodist bishop questioning war on Iraq
(UMNS) United Methodist Bishop Melvin Talbert, appearing in a 30-second commercial for cable television, asserts that an attack on Iraq "violates God's law."
As the ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops, Talbert's remarks questioning Iraq's war policies are aimed at U.S. policymakers. The commercial is expected to air on CNN and Fox cable news in New York and Washington and during CNN's "Larry King Live" program. Talbert appears with actress and political activist Janeane Garafalo.
The bishop says there is no need for an attack on Iraq and that the United States has no authority to remove dictator Saddam Hussein from power. "No nation under God has that right," Talbert says. "It violates international law. It violates God's law and the teachings of Jesus Christ."
Sponsored by the National Council of Churches, the commercial is one in a series developed by a group of religious and civic groups questioning the need for war. "Iraq hasn't wronged us. War will only create more terrorists," Talbert said. The bishop has a long history of advocacy for peace and the innocent victims of war. He visited Iraq in 1991, before the Persian Gulf War, and more recently participated in an ecumenical peace mission there. On that December 29-January 3 trip, he witnessed the impact that years of sanctions have had on Iraq's citizens.
"I don't see that small nation as being the kind of threat to our nation that the media portrays," he said. "War will result in the suffering of masses of children, among others. And what will happen to the rest of the Arab world? Waging war will remove the influence of the more moderate element and put the future in the hands of the more radical elements."
Further, he says, the Arab world will associate U.S. military action with Christianity in general, undermining ecumenical efforts like the peace mission, coordinated by the National Council of Churches and hosted by the Middle East Council of Churches.
US religious leaders want to meet Bush face-to-face to warn about war
(ENI) Forty-six US religious leaders have urged caution about a US war with Iraq and are seeking a face-to-face meeting with President George W. Bush to press their case.
"War is not only--or even primarily--a military matter," the Protestant and Orthodox leaders said in a January 30 letter to the president, who in recent weeks has argued that there may be a need for war with Iraq if its leader, Saddam Hussein, refuses to fully disarm his country. "It is a moral and ethical matter of the highest order," said the signatories, who came from 11 denominations and four organizations.
Acknowledging their activities "to slow the rush to war and our continuing uneasiness about the moral justification for war on Iraq," the leaders said they wanted, "with the utmost urgency," to meet with Bush, a member of the United Methodist Church, and to have a "pastoral opportunity" to bring their message to him in person. The leaders said they were seeking "a way toward peace that is both prophetic and practical."
In their letter, the leaders said they were in touch with their counterparts "in Europe and elsewhere around the globe." Christian leaders from all over the world in recent months have warned against war with Iraq.
The letter, circulated by Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches who is a former US Democratic congressman, is one of a series of public pronouncements in recent weeks by mainstream Protestant leaders urging a cautious approach toward Iraq.
Edgar returned from a visit to Iraq after Christmas and urged Bush "to slow this rush to war." The US administration had not yet made the case for war with Iraq, Edgar said then. In announcing the current letter, Edgar said he and other church leaders have "become all the more alarmed as US military activity keeps escalating." He said: "We want to meet with the president before he decides to go to war with Iraq."
Besides Edgar, signatories to the letter included Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA); Richard Hamm, president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Archbishop Dimitrios, the primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; and Bishop Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Welsh Anglican Bishops issue statement on Iraq
(ACNS) The bishops of the Church in Wales, along with the bishop-elect of Monmouth, submitted a statement to the British House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee on January 31, in which they argue that the justifications suggested so far by the US and UK administrations in support of war against Iraq remain 'far from convincing.' A copy was also sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair ahead of his meeting with President George W. Bush.
In their statement, the bishops emphasize that, despite the report of chief weapons inspector Hans Blix to the United Nations, they are still not convinced that "there is sufficient evidence of Iraqi intent, or threat to use whatever weapons of mass destruction (WMD) it has in its possession. Until such evidence is produced, we have to oppose the idea of such a war. In Christian terms the moral case for a just war are very strict indeed."
The principles of a just war are:
- There must be a just cause
- The use of force is the only way left of effecting change
- There must be a properly constituted authority to pursue the war
- There must be a clear and achievable goal
- The amount of force used must be no more than is strictly necessary
- Reconciliation and the establishing of a just peace must be the ultimate end of the conflict and not conquest and subjugation.
The bishops continued, "Even if possession and intent could be proved, there would still be issues to address from within these criteria, not least how pre-emption can be proportionate. Despite the claims of smart technology for limiting civilian casualties, we are concerned that the loss of innocent life in Iraq would be excessive. If 'regime change' is a war aim as well as the destruction of WMD capacity, this 'collateral' damage is likely to be particularly severe.
"We urge members of the British Government and the American administration, along with other members of the Security Council, to draw back now at the last minute from military intervention, unless and until substantial new evidence of intent as well as possession is available or it can be shown that such a war would improve regional and international security rather than undermine it, particularly with the risk of more terrorism."
Third Gray to be recognized as bishop of Mississippi
(ENS) The Rt. Rev. Alfred Clark Marble Jr., eighth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, will pass his crozier to the Rt. Rev. Duncan Montgomery Gray III during a service of recognition and investiture at the conclusion of the 176th Annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, Sunday, February 9, 2003. Gray assumes his duties as the third generation in his family to lead the Episcopal church in Mississippi. While other dioceses of the Episcopal Church have seen father-son successions in the lines of the episcopate, no other diocese can claim such a unique group of clergymen.
Gray III succeeds Marble, who has served as diocesan since 1993. Marble succeeded Duncan M. Gray Jr., who served as diocesan from 1974 until 1993. Gray Jr., succeeded John Maury Allin, who was elected presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in 1973. Allin succeeded Duncan M. Gray, who served as bishop from 1943 until 1966.
All three Bishops Gray have deep ties to Mississippi. Gray Jr., Gray III, and Gray Sr.'s father-in-law, the Rev. Edward McCrady, all served St. Peter's, Oxford. The Duncan M. Gray Camp and Conference Center (popularly known as Camp Bratton-Green and simply, "Gray Center") flourished under their leadership.
And all three Bishops Gray have worked in the diocese towards racial reconciliation. "God made us for these times and God made these times for us," were the words of Gray Sr. at the 135th Annual Council in January, 1962. Shortly thereafter, Gray Jr., then rector of St. Peter's, Oxford, lived out these words as he and his chaplain, the Rev. Wofford Smith, attempted to bring peace and reason to the riots on the campus of the University of Mississippi--"Ole Miss"--on September 30 of that year. Most recently, Gray III has worked closely with Marble and a diocesan task force on racial reconciliation to plan a series of homecomings and celebrations at the four historically black Episcopal churches in Mississippi.
Royal seal of approval awaits new female bishop in Norway
(ENI) Norway's second female Lutheran bishop, a trained scientist, is to be consecrated on February 9 at a ceremony attended by Norway's King Harald V.
Laila Riksaasen Dahl will be ordained as bishop of the Diocese of Tunsberg, in southeastern Norway. The king is the constitutional head of the church, and his attendance at the ceremony is seen as a sign of the royal family's continuing support for female church leaders.
"The consecration will be a big day for the church as well as for the people. All the guests from far and near will show the general public that we are a part of a big family of churches," said David Gjerp, who is acting bishop of the diocese until Riksaasen Dahl takes over.
Scandinavia's first female bishop, Rosemarie Kohn, also from Norway, was consecrated in 1993. Kohn will also take part in the festivities to mark Riksaasen Dahl's consecration.
Today most Nordic countries have female bishops. In addition to Norway, Sweden has two, Denmark has one, and the Lutheran bishop of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, is also a woman. However, Iceland and Finland do not have women bishops.
Riksaasen Dahl was appointed to the Tunsberg diocese in September last year to succeed Bishop Sigurd Osberg, who retired in December after 12 years at the head of the diocese.
Riksaasen Dahl has served as a parish priest since 1995. She has university degrees in mathematics and chemistry, and has been a school teacher as well as a lecturer at the Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology.
The Church of Norway has 11 dioceses, each headed by a bishop. Today, about 15 per cent of the Church of Norway's pastors are women, but more than half of the theological students are female, Lutheran World Information reported. Women make up 40 per cent of the Church of Norway's national council.
African Church leaders share concerns on AIDS
(CAPA) More than 35 Anglican Church leaders from across Africa converged in Uganda last month for a crucial workshop on strengthening church leadership for HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
The meeting, which was the first of its kind in bringing together representation from all Anglican provinces in Africa, was aimed at enhancing the capacity of church leaders to plan and implement effective HIV/AIDS activities in their churches and communities.
Among the key points of deliberation were how to remove stigma facing HIV-positive people, encouraging home-based care and reduction of HIV prevalence through behavior change.
The workshop was officially opened on January 27 by the Prime Minister of Uganda, Apollo Nsibambi, who underscored the critical role of church leadership in the fight against AIDS.
"We as governments of Africa urge you, religious leaders, to continue playing your traditional and divine role of caring and providing spiritual support to those infected and affected by AIDS," he said.
He also called on the church to take a proactive approach in advocating HIV/AIDS preventive measures.
Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo of the Church of Uganda commended the government for working closely with the Anglican Church and other faith-based organizations, saying the church has the benefit of a good grassroots network and a captive audience.
The workshop was organized by the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) and drew resource people from Africa, America and Europe. All the Anglican provinces in Africa were represented in the workshop.
As the host nation, Uganda provided participants with a rich showcase for the progress it has made in addressing stigma, reducing HIV transmissions and promoting family based care.
The workshop deliberated ways of realizing the vision of the Anglican Church in Africa, which is to see future generations born and living in a world free from AIDS.