Episcopal Press and News
News Briefs
Episcopal News Service. January 10, 1985 [85006]
(DPS, Jan. 10) -- This fall, a historical marker was placed at the site of the first black Episcopal Church in the United States. Founded in 1794, St. Thomas' African Episcopal Church was cited by W. E. B. DuBois as the first regularly organized religious body of blacks in the United States. Now located in West Philadelphia and called St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, it grew out of the Free African Society organized in 1787 by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen after they were denied opportunity to worship in a local church. Jones later became the first black Episcopal priest.
(DPS, Jan. 10) -- More than $11,000 was allocated for the ministry of the printed word by the Church Periodical Club's National Books Fund Committee during its fall meeting. The announcement of the grants was made by Barbara Braun, Diocese of Eau Claire, chairman of the National Books Fund Committee. All of the grant money will be allocated from contributions made by various parishes and dioceses. The Club sees this as part of its ongoing mission to provide free literature, both secular and spiritual, wherever it is needed throughout the world. Among the grants approved by the committee were $1,000 for books to St. Bede's College in Johannesburg, South Africa for training black clergy for the black Homeland; $500 to the Council for Women's Ministries to assist in the publication of its Journal; and $1,500 to help provide magazine subscriptions to clergy and missionaries around the world who could not normally afford periodicals of general news interest, particularly in the English language.
(DPS, Jan. 10) -- "A.D." (Anno Domini) is a 12-hour miniseries dramatizing the birth and growth of the Christian Church. It will air on NBC-TV Feb. 10-14, 1985. Events in the book of Acts are dramatized in the context of Jewish and Roman culture and history.
(DPS, Jan.10) -- Cathy Wilson has been hired as Youth Staff person for the Appalachian People's Service Organization. A native of North Carolina, Wilson is a registered nurse with extensive experience in youth work and summer camps. Wilson lives here along with her husband, a 1984 graduate of the School of Theology, University of the South. Date and places for the 1985 APSO Youth summer workcamps should be finalized soon. Details may be obtained from Wilson through the APSO office.
(DPS, Jan. 10) -- Two Episcopalians were among the thirteen Christian leaders from eight different denominations elected to serve three-year terms on the national board of directors of Bread for the World, beginning in 1985. They were the Rev. Steven Commins (re-elected), coordinator, Development Institute, UCLA African Studies Center; and the Rev. Jack Woodard, rector of St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church here. Bread, which identifies itself as "a U.S. Christian citizen's hunger lobby" has an interdenominational membership of more than 44,000 people.
(DPS, Jan. 10) -- Several thousand Episcopalians from all over the 14-county Diocese of Central New York are expected to gather here on Saturday, Jan. 12 for a Eucharist and rally to launch the diocese's Venture in Mission campaign. Presiding Bishop John M. Allin will preach. By the end of March, the Diocese hopes to raise $1.8 million to fund a variety of projects, both domestic and foreign. These include providing x-ray equipment for a Church-sponsored hospital in its companion diocese, Egypt; hunger relief funds; aid to hospice care in Cayuga County; and various educational projects. Over 60 dioceses have already participated in Venture in Mission and, according to Central New York's Bishop, the Rt. Rev. O'Kelley Whitaker, the result has been an upsurge in membership and in lay involvement in the life of the Church, as well as significantly improved stewardship.
(DPS, Jan. 10) -- Officials of the Andrew W. Mellon and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundations have announced agrant of $150,000 to the University of the South. The grant is to be matched by the University's raising $450,000 over the next three years. The resulting $600,000 will be used to establish a permanently restricted endowment to be known as the Edward McCrady Presidential Discretionary Fund, income from which is to support institutional renewal, primarily in the form of faculty and curricular development. Individual University trustees have already given $41,624 toward this goal. The Fund is named to honor Sewanee's eleventh vice-chancellor, who first came to Sewanee as a teacher of biology in 1938. Current vice-chancellor and president Robert M. Ayres, Jr., commented: "Stewardship of talent and intellect were the foremost marks of Ned McCrady's abounding energy. This Fund...opens a new vista on our part."
(DPS, Jan. 10) -- The Very Rev. James Parks Morton, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine here, has confirmed that the Cathedral Board of Trustees has voted the Rev. Canon Lloyd Stuart Casson Canon and Sub-Dean of the Cathedral. Morton cited Casson's leadership and involvement in the struggle for human rights, in community development in poor neighborhoods, with the peace and disarmament movement, and in inter-religious dialogue. As Sub-Dean, Casson will be the second-ranking cleric at the Cathedral when he begins his new ministry in early April 1985. He will be primarily responsible for the Cathedral's pastoral and program activities and will serve as representative of the Dean in the latter's absence. Currently Canon Missioner of the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Washington, he has also served at Trinity Church, Wall Street, here. He is past president of the Church and City Conference, as well as founder and first president of the Episcopal Urban Caucus, and is a member of the Union of Black Episcopalians.