Episcopal Press and News
Coalition-14 Seeks $100,000 Allocation
Episcopal News Service. February 28, 1985 [85040]
Bill Patterson, Diocese of San Joaquin
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (DPS, Feb. 28) -- Coalition-14, a group of Episcopal dioceses drawn together to deal with common concerns and make a mutual commitment to the mission and ministry of the Church, is asking the 1985 General Convention to approve $100,000 for the "purpose of developing strategy leading into the 21st Century for Native American ministry and mission in the Episcopal Church". Funds would be jointly administered by Coalition-14 and the National Committee on Indian Work.
The resolution, which grew out of an historic consultation of Indian and church leaders held in Oklahoma City last October, noted that the Episcopal Church and its Anglican predecessors have been continuously committed to Indian ministry in North America since 1702.
Another concern expressed at the coalition's annual meeting, held in the Franciscan Renewal Center here Feb. 11-14, was over a sense of alienation and estrangement of Native Americans from the rest of the Church. Ignorance, much of which is based on an attitude of indifference and paternalism, was cited, as was the need to develop leadership among Native Americans to help them deal with tribal rights, race relations and economic justice, and gain a sense of wholeness so that they may share in the ownership of their lives and destinies.
Owanah Anderson, staff officer for Indian ministries at the Episcopal Church Center, said racism appears to be an underlying problem. The Rt. Rev. William C. Wantland, bishop of the Diocese of Eau Claire, cited inequities in legal and economic issues, noting rights given the Indians by treaties have been abrogated.
Penny Scheffler of the Minnesota Commission on Indian Work spoke of burn-out of clergy and lay people, and of alcoholism, domestic violence and suicide among Indians. She said Indian clergy are dying, and there is a need to link up and share information to preserve and develop leadership among Native Americans.
Supporting resolutions adopted by Coalition-14 include calling for the development of Native American committees or their equivalents, with budget involvement at the diocesan level; the formation of a Coalition-14 and National Committee on Indian Work task force; for diocesan reports to the joint task force on the needs and potential role of the diocesan committees; a broader consultation on Native American ministry, authorizing action on planning and approving in principle steps for restructuring NCIW as outlined in the Oklahoma memorandum. It also was recommended that specific resolutions be developed for General Convention, dealing with issues raised at the Oklahoma consultation.
A separate resolution to be submitted to the General Convention calls for the Church to direct all of its agencies to "advocate and support the honoring of all Indian treaty rights and the right to internal autonomy and self-determination of Indian nations and tribes, as well as appropriate measures for the legal, social and economic justice for Native American people, both within the Church and State."
Coalition-14 representatives discussed a resolution proposing the restructuring of a new province to include Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Utah, Eastern Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, Navajoland and the Diocese of Rio Grande, all which were said to have common concerns.
A budget of $1.325 million for 1985 was approved, although it was agreed each diocese should review its budget to see if requests can be reduced to help cover a contingency deficit. The matter will be reviewed at an executive board meeting in May.
The executive committee was asked to designate an ad hoc committee to review standards for defining a viable diocese.
Elected to the Coalition-14 executive committee were: the Rt. Rev. George Harris of the Diocese of Alaska, the Rev. Canon Victor Richer of the Diocese of Montana, and the Rt. Rev. Bob Jones of the Diocese of Wyoming. Re-elected as chairperson was the Rt. Rev. Harold Hopkins of the Diocese of North Dakota. The Ven. Robert Herlocker of the diocese of Idaho will continue as secretary. John Davis of the Diocese of South Dakota was chosen as assistant secretary, and Paul Chalk of the Diocese of Nevada remains as comptroller.
Members of the Episcopal Communicators who serve as diocesan newspaper editors attended the Coalition-14 meeting by invitation. Their observations were solicited, and among their comments was praise for the challenge process, which they saw as a valuable resource for establishing rapport between dioceses.