Episcopal Press and News

Summary of Actions of the Executive Council

Episcopal News Service. February 17, 1977 [77062]

GREENWICH, Conn. -- The 41-member Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting here Feb. 16-17, acted on the following items of business:

• Adopted a resolution expressing" its love and concern to those Anglicans and all other persons suffering persecution in Uganda," following the death of the Most Rev. Janani Luwum, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, while in government custody Feb. 16. (See DPS release #77054.)
• Authorized proxy votes in support of stockholder resolutions filed by others, seeking change in strip mining policies (with the Pittston Co.) and televised violence (with Proctor and Gamble), while deciding to abstain from supporting resolutions with various companies which sought to force disclosure of policies in support of a secondary boycott spurred by the Arab nations' call for a boycott of Israeli goods. (See DPS release #77055.)
• Heard a progress report on its three-year Venture in Mission renewal and fundraising program, especially the plans for visits to the dioceses this spring, and approved additional recommendations of the program's Executive Committee for setting up a Case Committee and for a second visit to the dioceses next fall. (See DPS release #77057.)
• Heard a report from the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief that the board had approved the disbursement of more than $150,000 in relief, rehabilitation, and development grants in Africa, the United States and Latin America, as well as ratified several emergency grants made between meetings. (See DPS release #77063.)
• Appointed a committee, consisting of Council members Bishop Hal R. Gross, chairman, Mrs. Eleanor Robinson, Bishop Donald Parsons, and Dr. Bruce Merrifield, and staff members the Rev. David Birney, the Rev. David Perry, John C. Goodbody, and Mrs. Jeannie Willis, charged with creating the actual presentation of the Executive Council that will begin the Partners in Mission consultation set for the Gait House, Louisville, Ky., April 27-30, following nine simultaneous consultations in the provinces, April 19-23.
• Heard the Rev. James R. Gundrum, Executive Secretary of the General Convention, report that the Planning and Arrangements Committee is beginning preparations for the 1979 Convention in Denver, Colo., Sept. 8-20, 1979. (See DPS release #77060.)
• Heard Mr. Matthew Costigan, Treasurer, report that assets and income are up, but the margin is thin; that 19 dioceses overpaid their apportionments in 1976 while only 11 were unable to meet the assigned figures; and that 11 dioceses pledged more than their quotas for 1977, while eight jurisdictions indicated they are unable to pledge the full apportionment, and 17 have not yet reported. (See DPS release #77059.)
• Heard a report by Bishop Milton L. Wood, Executive for Administration, on federal grand jury subpoenas which were served on national executives at the Episcopal Church Center in an investigation into certain recent bombings in the U.S. by alleged terrorists. (See DPS release #77058.)
• Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin appoint the Rev. Robert R. Parks, New York City, to chair a joint committee of two representatives each of the Board of the Church Hymnal Corporation and the Board of the Seabury Press "to provide for the best possible cooperation and coordination of these two publishing agencies of the Church. "
• Referred to its Administration Committee Presiding Bishop John M. Allin's suggestion that the Council authorize him to appoint "an ad hoc committee to evaluate present and future facility and location needs of the Church Center," now located in New York City. (See DPS release #77057, p. 6.)
• Approved the renewing of the retaining contract with the law firm of Davies, Hardy, Ives and Lawther as the legal counsel, and with Price Waterhouse and Company as the auditor, for The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, for 1977.
• Ratified the action of Matthew Costigan, Treasurer, in executing and delivering a quit claim deed of donation which conveyed to the Diocese of Alaska the national Church's interest in a particular piece of real property in the First Judicial District of the State of Alaska.
• Authorized the sale or lease of the property occupied by the former Seminary of the Caribbean in Saint Just, Puerto Rico, at the best possible price.
• Elected the following to be members of the Trust Fund Committee: The Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, president; Mr. Elbridge T. Gerry, Sr., chairman; Mr. Matthew Costigan, secretary; Mr. Thomas D. Cunningham, Jr., vice chairman; Gen. Frederick G. Atkinson; Mr. John S. Buckley; Mr. Edward B. de Selding; Mr. Frank Foster; and Mrs. Douglas T. Yates.
• Established a new Consolidated Trust Fund, No. 806, a general endowment fund, in compliance with a resolution adopted by the General Convention in 1976 which said, "If during any year the amount actually received from legacies available for budgetary purposes exceeds the amount anticipated in the budget for that year, the excess shall be set aside in a new general endowment fund of which only the income shall be used for budgetary support."
• Received as information the minutes the minutes of the fall meeting of the Episcopal Asiamerica Strategies Task-Force (EAST), and a copy of the charter of that coalition of dioceses and ethnic convocations.
• Approved the appointment by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin of the members of the following Church in Society committees and commissions: Asiamerica Ministry Commission, the Coalition for Human Needs, the Episcopal Commission for Black Ministries, the National Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the National Committee on Indian Work, and the Executive Council Housing Organizing (ECHO) Sub-committee. (See DPS memorandum #77061 for membership lists.)
• Approved the charter for the Council's Standing Committee on Church in Society.
• Gave tentative approval to a suggested policy on police inquiry directed to the corporate and administrative officers of the national Church, with the provision that the paper be submitted to legal counsel before final approval.
• Expressed" its congratulations and best wishes" to the Episcopal Community Services in the city and Diocese of San Diego in "appreciation and thanksgiving" for its 50th anniversary of service.
• Approved an appropriation of $30,000 from the income of the Constable Fund for the completion of the editorial work on the New Church's Teaching Series from mid-March through the end of this year.
• Approved an appropriation of $3,000 from the income of the Constable Fund for the religious education office "to develop the first phase of a dialogue with theological education seminaries in the matter of the training of seminarians in Christian education."
• Approved an appropriation of $10,000 from the income of the Constable Fund for the office of religious education "to develop a consultation between diocesan directors of Christian education and regional and national education officers for purposes of sharing concerns and developing resources."
• Approved a $10,000 appropriation from the Constable Fund to the Partners in Mission project to help with expenses relating to the Executive Council Partners Consultation in April.
• Heard that the Rt. Rev. C. Shannon Mallory, Bishop of Botswana since 1972, has returned to missionary status, effective Jan. 1, 1977, in order to be eligible for certain financial benefits.
• Received as information an account from the Rev. David Chaplin of three Partners in Mission consultations in South America -- Arensa Region (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela), the Southern Cone Region (Argentina, Eastern South America, Chile, Bolivia and Peru), and the Province of Brazil -- at which the U.S. Episcopal Church was represented by Bishop George T. Masuda of North Dakota, the Rev. William J. Skilton of South Carolina, and Mrs. Jeannie Willis of the National and World Mission staff.
• Received as information a report from the Rev. Wm. Drew Dearnaley, assistant press officer, on communication plans for the Episcopal Church's Partners in Mission Consultation in April.
• Approved a resolution from a special committee appointed by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin on theological education for Latin America and the Caribbean, chaired by Bishop Lemuel B. Shirley of Panama and the Canal Zone, which recommended the disposition of the assets of the former Episcopal Seminary of the Caribbean, with endowment income to support a theological education program in the area, along with an expression of appreciation to the committee and an encouragement for continued development.
• Approved the report of the Development/Stewardship Committee which called for the committee "to do a study of the development and stewardship needs and opportunities in the church and prepare recommendations on the future function and staffing requirements," to be presented to the September Council meeting.
• Adopted a charter for its Standing Committee on Development/Stewardship.
• Heard the Development/Stewardship Committee announce: a pilot conference on Deferred Giving/Estate Planning for June 16-17, in Chicago, for Province V and other nearby dioceses; that sample packets of every member visitation materials to each congregation -- which will include material for youth; and children -- will be in the mail by May 1; a stewardship workshop in Birmingham, England, April 22-24, under the leadership of Oscar C. Carr, Jr., and his team; and the conducting of stewardship courses at some of the accredited theological seminaries this winter and spring.
• Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin announce the resignation of Oscar C. Carr, Jr., as Executive for Development/Stewardship, effective Jan. 31, and approved a resolution commending him "for his years of faithful service, thanking God for the gentle wit, fearless courage, constant good humor and Christian commitment that have been known and respected in Dr. Carr by the members of this Council. "
• Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin announce the resignation of the Rev. Everett W. Francis as Staff Officer for Public Affairs, and adopted a resolution which recognized his "discernment of the systemic issues which deny fullness and wholeness of life to the people of God" and his "work for human fulfillment and the upgrading of the quality of life for all people. "
• Heard from its Communication Committee that the Rev. Dr. Carroll E. Simcox is retiring as editor of The Living Church at the end of 1977; that communication plans in support of the Partners in Mission Consultation in April and of the three-year Venture in Mission program are developing; and that it expects to propose a special order of business at the September Council meeting "to report more fully our progress and plans over the triennium. "
• Heard Presiding Bishop John M. Allin announce the appointment of the Rev. Herbert Arrunatigui as Hispanic Officer, effective Feb. 1.
• Approved a process for preparing a proposed agenda for Council meetings which involves staff and committees making proposals to the Administrative Group, with a review by a member of the Council's Administration Committee before it is mailed to members, with the opportunity for that committee to make final adjustments the night before the meeting for proposal to the Council for amendment and adoption.
• Set the tentative dates for the 1978 meetings of the Executive Council -- with the possibility of changing one of the meetings to a weekend -- as follows: Feb. 15-17; May 17-19; Sept. 20-22; and Dec. 13-15; and reconfirmed the remaining 1977 meeting dates as follows: April 27-30, Louisville, Ky.; Sept. 16-18, weekend; and Dec. 7-9.
• Heard the Church in Society Committee report that guidelines for the Coalition for Human Needs will be presented to the Council in April for approval and that no grants are to be made by the Coalition until that action is taken.
• Approved the disbursement of the Good Friday Offering each year, 1977-1979 -- the offering in 1976 was $100,000 -- as follows: $20,000 for the Diocese of Jerusalem; 20 percent of the balance for Orthodox Church projects; $500 for Bishop Kenneth Cragg's travels; $2,000 for the Central Synod of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East; the balance to be divided among the Dioceses of Jerusalem, Egypt, Cyprus, and Iran.
• Accepted with appreciation for service the resignation of the Rev. Gerald McAllister, Bishop-elect of Oklahoma, as an Episcopal Church representative on the Division of Overseas Ministries of the National Council of Churches, and elected the Rev. Paul Washington, Philadelphia, Pa., to fill that post.
• Approved the National and World Mission Committee request that the Rt. Rev. Arthur A. Vogel, Bishop of West Missouri and a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, be invited to make a presentation to the Council in September on the recently issued agreed statement by that commission on authority.
• Accepted an invitation to attend an East Asia Partners in Mission consultation in Manila, The Philippines, in September, 1977, and designated the Rev. Winston Ching of the Church Center staff, and Mr. Hamilton Edwards, Council member from Upi, The Philippines, as the Episcopal Church's representatives.
• Heard a report on the dissolving of the trust fund of the Roanridge Training and Conference Center, Kansas City, Mo., and of the Presiding Bishop's appointment of a committee to evaluate the options on the use or disposition of the Executive Council's share in the division of the property according to the trust agreement.
• Joined in sending a telegram, composed by Mother Mary Grace, Peekskill, N.Y., to an absent Council member, the Rev. William V. Powell, Stillwater, Okla., whose son was recently murdered.
• Heard a report from the Rev. James R. Gundrum, Executive Secretary of the General Convention, that the 1976 edition of the Canons and Constitution is off the press and in the mail to those who ordered copies, and that the Journal of the 1976 Convention is expected to be available July 1 -- 1977, that is.
• Elected Betty Louise Stevens and Nancy Bumsted, both of the Church Center staff, as assistant secretaries of the Executive Council and of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
• Elected Matthew Costigan treasurer of the Executive Council and the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, to serve until the first Council meeting following the next meeting of the General Convention, which is scheduled to meet in the fall of 1979 in Denver, Colo.
• Adopted a process for the preparation of the 1978 general church program budget, to begin this spring and to be completed with its approval at the Dec. 7-9, 1977, meeting of the Council.