VOLUME. 69 NUMBER. 11 NOVEMBER 1986 publication. and reuse for required Permission DFMS. / Bill & Polly Spofford

Church Paul Valliere

Episcopal Mary Lou Suhor the of And other Soviet

Archives sojourners... 2020. Copyright Letters

pre-marital sex, adultery and homo- tragic that a number of sincere What P.B. might have said sexuality, do offer a basic expres- women and men who have offered Here is what Bishop Browning might sion of God's love, acceptance and themselves to Jesus Christ in the have said about homosexuality, in re- redemption. Nor does the Bible form of church ministry since then sponse to the Editorial Board of THE condemn simply so-called "hot" have been — how shall I put it? WITNESS (September issue): sins; it speaks even more strongly clobbered — in the ordination My Dear Friends: against the so-called "cold" sins of process itself. Your Open Letter is particularly self-righteousness and Pharisaical I look forward to growing more welcome to me because of its time- condemnation of others on the conversant with this issue, and will liness. As we all know, there are basis of "spiritual legalities." resolutely enter into dialogue with countless gay men and lesbians I hear you asking me for a pas- a number of gay and lesbian mem- who are devout, responsible mem- publication. toral response. bers of the church, both clergy and bers of the church, a number of laity, in order to further the process and First, I believe that no one should them in the clergy (including the of information, dialogue, and mutu- episcopate) and in key lay roles. presume or dare to stand between a

reuse ally growing closer together. Too little is still known about person and Jesus. Who among us

for I pray that the process ahead will homosexuality. What part does it is, in any case, able to cast the first be conducted by the Holy Spirit play in God's plan of creation? stone at another? We confront this working through us as instruments Why are there gay people? Clearly, reality within the Eucharist in the required of God's will. to be gay goes far beyond "what General Confessioa Your Presiding Bishop one does in bed." There is a gay Second, I believe that the church ethnicity, a gay sensibility, that can must be a witness of reconciliation The above is my fantasy offering. I always, everywhere. Of course, hope to be writing for THE WITNESS Permission be traced through human history. What does it mean? one cannot speak lightly or glibly of soon about related, real-world matters. The majority culture has long reconciliation. Sometimes it is also Malcolm Boyd

DFMS. Santa Monica, Cal. / consigned homosexuals to life in- necessary to witness prophetically side a maligned ghetto. The majority to shatter a false peace, or an unjust (Malcolm Boyd is writer-priest-in- culture has done the same thing to system, as a very part of the process residence at St. Augustine-by-the-Sea Church Blacks, Latinos, Asians and others, of reconciliation itself. Episcopal Church. His 22nd book, Gay even as it has exacted from women Third, I believe that Jesus' sacri- Priest An Inner Journey, has just been a grim duty to follow prescribed fice for our sins puts our guilt and published by St Martin's Press. — Ed) Episcopal roles if they would be admitted to self-rejection within the healing the positions of power by the established presence of hope and grace. This Quote out of context of patriarchy, and on its own time- places a severe yoke upon those, Bishop Browning in the September table. for example, who condemn gay WITNESS quotes me as follows: "The No ghetto is healthy. Neither is a people and act out that condemna- Christian tradition over the centuries has Archives majority culture that consigns peo- tion in hostility, coldness and re- affirmed the heterosexual, monogamous, ple to a ghetto. jection. If Jesus' sacrifice for our faithful marital union as normative for 2020. The church has understood and sins brings our self-rejection into the divinely given meaning of the inti- taught that marriage is the norm of the realm of hope and grace, it falls mate sexual relationship." The quotation sexual expressioa Yet, with half upon the church — claiming to be is accurate, but in isolation from its con- Copyright the marriages in various locations Christ's body — to offer an ap- text it has been misunderstood ending in divorce, and untold proximation of that same hope and First, it was clearly intended to be a numbers of women and men living grace without equivocation, luke- historical observation, not a moral judg- together outside of marriage (es- warmness or smugness. ment As a matter of historical record, pecially prior to marriage itself), The resolution concerning the the Christian tradition over many cen- clearly the church has a responsi- ordination of homosexuals which turies justified slavery, male superiority, bility to address these people in a was passed at the 1979 General divine right of kings, and many other loving, nurturing, pastoral way. Convention mistakenly dealt with beliefs and practices later reconsidered. The biblical texts, which in selected procedure instead of the deeper To record such traditions is not to argue passages seem to pass judgment on question of inclusiveness. It is for them

THE WITNESS Second, the statement was preceded even worse, hidden? church's ministry. by a criticism of the kind of judgment- The church that demands us to lie, be In exercising the ministry of compas- alism that often victimizes homosexual nice cuddly curates and not advocate sion, Bishop Browning asserts that the people. lesbian/gay rights is one in need of pur- church musf'foster reconciliatioa" We Third, the statement was preceded by gation, love and forgiveness. are faced with the danger, though, of a sentence saying: "Christian judgments The Rev. Zalmon O. Sherwood premature reconciliation in which by pur- on human conduct are subject to change." Jackson, Mich. suing the via media, we avoid the painful Fourth, the statement (first printed in confrontation of the issues. Reconcili- 1969, then reprinted without my knowl- Community impaired ation cannot take place in the presence of injustice. Without justice there can be no edge in 1980) called on Christians to I am one of the two people to whom the peace. In the same manner, the church look for "new sources of information first lines of THE WITNESS' Open publication. cannot be a " community where love and and insight" If I were writing on the Letter refer. I want to make clear that the

and grace abound" if lesbians and gay men subject now, I would take account of new issue of ordination of open lesbians and are continually asked to hide who we are information and insights that have be- gay men is larger than either Zal Sher-

reuse in order to be acceptable. Until General come available since I first wrote. But wood's case or my owa Our particular

for Convention endorses the acceptance, that is another task. For the moment I situations are the result of a heterosexist ordination, and deployment of qualified wish only to correct misunderstandings and homophobic world/church which lesbians and gay men, our relationship to of the sentence that Bishop Browning impacts heavily on the day-to-day lives required one another in the church community is quoted I do not accuse him of distorting of lesbians and gay men. Indeed, it is seriously impaired May we all become my meaning, but I have been shown how church tradition and teaching which too movers from the land of fear and faith- easily the sentence, in isolation, can be often is used to justify social policies misunderstood. lessness to the land of love and faith-

Permission which discriminate against us. Note, for fulness. Roger L. Shinn instance, the recent Supreme Court de- Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics cision on sodomy as well as the current Anne Gilson

DFMS. Union Theological Seminary New York, N.Y.

/ AID S phobia which permeates our lives. In such a context, to fail to pursue Church needs purgation proactive measures to rectify the in- 'Normative' code word Church I was surprised to read that Bishop justices perpetrated against lesbians and Bishop Browning was present, I believe, Browning is "not familiar" and knows gay men in the church is to continue to for the installation of Desmond Tutu as "no details" about my forced resignation abide in a land of "fear and faithless- Archbishop of Capetown and heard the Episcopal from a North Carolina parish. One week ness." prophet say that "Many years ago we the following my resignation, I wrote him in I found Bishop Browning's points in [Blacks] were thought to be human, but of vivid detail and included four newspaper response to the Editorial Board, while not quite as human as White people, for accounts of the controversy. important, to contain some serious limi- we lacked what seemed to be indispens- Five weeks later, Bishop Browning tations. able to that humanity, a particular skin Archives replied to me, urging me to exercise If we are to foster relationship among color. Have things changed? Yes and no. "prudence" in any future ministry, and ourselves, God, and Jesus, then that re- I am sad to say that I believe that the 2020. to seek "reconciliation" and a "pastoral lationship must be, as Bishop Browning fundamental attitude that 'Blacks are relationship" with my North Carolina points out, guided by a ministry of com- human, but...' has not changed We do rector and bishop. passion. But that compassion must entail not express it with the same crudity, but Copyright Bishop Browning, you and other bish- a passion with — a standing with — it remains all the same." ops surrender your capacity to be pastors those who are oppressed— in this partic- As a gay person, as an ordained person, to me and other gay/lesbian clergy, be- ular case, lesbians and gay mea This I read in Bishop Browning's September cause you have administrative control requires a willingness on the part of the response to the WITNESS an attitude, over parts of our lives and ministries. church to cease discriminatory actions perhaps not even conscious, that sees How in the world can lesbian/gay per- and hold open the doors of the churches gay and lesbian people as somehow sons ever be ministered to by religious for the oppressed. A ministry of com- human, but not quite so. The humanity homophobes when parts of our basic passion ultimately fails if it does not — the suffering humanity in specific in- selves are denied, ridiculed, considered include the presence of self-affirming to be evil and needing to be exorcised, or lesbians and gay men in all aspects of the Continued on page 24

November 1986 EDITOR Mary Lou Suhor

IOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Robert L DeWitt

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Richard W. Gillett Carter Hey ward James Lewis publication. Manning Marable

and J. Antonio Ramos reuse STAFF for Ann Hunter Susan Small Table of Contents required

PUBLISHER Summer in the Soviet Episcopal Church Publishing Company 6 Paul Valliere Permission Building bridges twixt adversaries PC BOARD OF DIRECTORS 10 Bill and Polly Spofford DFMS. / CHAIR Kwasi A. Thornell ] A Soviet influence today

Church VICE-CHAIR Mother Church/'Mother Russia': The double burden of peace J. Antonio Ramos 18 Mary Lou Suhor SECRETARY Episcopal Human rights debated Gloria Brown the 22 John P. Burgess of TREASURER Carman St. J. Hunter 2 6 Vignettes from the U. S.S.R.

Archives ASSISTANT TREASURER Robert N. Eckersley 2020. John H. Burt Otis Charles Cover, Beth Seka, TSI Visuals; graphic p. 6, Citizen Exchange Council; Migdalia DeJesus-Torres map pp. 14-15, Center for Defense Information; photo p. 21, Mary Lou Suhor. Copyright Steven Guerra William W. Rankin Chester L Talton THE WITNESS(ISSN0197-8896) is published monthly except July/August by The Episcopal Church Chris Weiss Publishing Company. Editorial office: P.O. Box 359, Ambler PA 19002. Telephone: (215) 643-7067. THE WITNESS is indexed in the American Theological Library Association's Religion Index One: Periodicals. University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI, reproduces this publication in mi- croform: microfich and 16 mm or 35 mm film. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 1986. SUBSCRIPTIONS: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR $15 per year, $1.50 per copy. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise of changes at least 6 weeks in advance. Include your label from the magazine and send to: Subscription Dept, THE WITNESS, P.O. Barbara C. Harris Box 359, Ambler PA 19002.

THE WITNESS Editorial

Baiting the Red bear publication. and Rkonald Reagan returned empty- that We have been preaching to opposite is the case. After World reuse handed from the Reykjavik summit them for a long time on the virtues War II the Soviets had significant for Apparently he fervently believes, of arms control. But now we are in influence in 9% of the world's "The Lord is my Shepherd... but a period of nationalism in our life, nations. They peaked at 15% in the just it case... I'll keep Star and as a result, nothing is coming late 1950s, dropping back to 11% required Wars." of it" today. Of the 164 other countries His failure to deal with Mikhail In view of the recurring failures in the world, the Soviets have Gorbachev after the Soviets had at the top, the U.S.-U.S.S.R significant influence in 18." (See Permission offered a briefcase-full of creative people to people visits such as map pp. 14-15.) motions toward peace affirms, those described in this issue In a speech following the

DFMS. sadly, what Sovietologist Marshal become more and more vital to summit, President Reagan said that / Shulman said earlier this year demystifying the Russian threat In he has always regarded the When it comes to bargaining addition, these visits have unveiled American people as "full Church around nuclear arms control, the a vital faith in that country, where participants" at the bargaining United States and the U. S. S.R are Christians alone far outnumber the table. "out of sync." 19 million members of the It will take the best efforts of Episcopal "In the 40 years I have studied Communist Party. peace activists and other grass- the the Soviet Union, I have not seen a Further, a recent issue of The roots citizens to say "Deal us out of time when they were more Defense Monitor, published by the We want no part of the Star Wars interested in trying to negotiate Center for Defense Information, holdup."

Archives with the United States," Shulman Washington, D.C. is most helpful Then the United States can told 140 peace pilgrims prior to in examining the role of fear and quickly forsake, with the U.S.S.R,

2020. their departure for the U.S.S.R how it influences foreign policy: this immoral nuclear arms buildup under the aegis of the National "Many Americans fear that and get on with feeding a hungry Council of Churches. "But the Communist subversion and world — both materially and Copyright United States is out of phase with conquest are on the increase. The spiritually. •

November 1986 Summer in the Soviet by Paul Valliere

publication. K-iev was an anxious city last sum- to attend as the representative of the of international peace and also to let and mer. The streets were washed every Archbishop of Canterbury. A few other U.S. Christians explore first-hand the morning to keep down the dust Plastic Westerners were there, too, but the questions they have about religion in the reuse sheets protected the merchandise in the majority came from the Soviet Union Soviet Union. for better stores. Umbrellas were ubiquitous. and other Eastern European or Eastern My first impressions of church and Few bathers ventured onto the Dnieper Orthodox lands. society in the Soviet Union today were required beaches. Chernobyl was a constant topic The event was rewarding intellectually much the same as during my earlier visits of conversation and newspaper articles. and also because of the opportunity it in the 1970s. I was impressed by the Kiev also suffered from wounded pride. provided to celebrate the glorious eccle- extraordinary fervor of the believers, The Kievans were stung by the negative siastical heritage of Kiev, where the especially in worship. The services are Permission press, the bad jokes, the decline in visi- Russian people under Prince Vladimir as long as ever (two to four hours), the tors and the exodus of some of their accepted baptism. It was moving to ex- attentiveness of the worshipers as sturdy,

DFMS. fellow citizens. As for the Christians of / plore the subterranean network of tunnels their chief complaint also the same: The Kiev, they were praying hard for the wel- and cells of the Kiev Caves Monastery, priests "nowadays" abbreviate the ser- fare of the city. to view the remains of the saints who vices, which are "much too short!" Church And so did we — the participants in an passed their lives there, and to reflect on Again I was impressed by the social International Conference on the Millen- the ironic security of the place in contrast and cultural diversity of the Orthodox ium of the Baptism of Russia — hosted to the anxiety above ground in the sum-

Episcopal Church and by the religious diversity of by the Russian Orthodox Church and mer of Chernobyl. On another day, we the Soviet Unioa Young and old, men the had Sunday dinner at the Pokrovsky of chaired by Metropolitan Filaret of Kiev. and women, well-to-do and poor, sophis- The July conference featured scholarly Convent, feasting on Ukrainian home- ticated and simple, ascetics and worldly papers and discussion concerning the cooking and sampling tasty wines in folk — one finds them all at church Archives baptism of Russia in 988 and its legacy, copious portions. Thanks to Mikhail services. To be sure, there are regional down to the present day. I was privileged Gorbachev's campaign against alcohol- differences. One sees a more balanced 2020. ism, "dry" meals are now standard in the cross-section of the population in church Soviet Unioa But nuns march to a dif- in provincial centers such as Tbilisi, the ferent drummer. capital of Georgia, and Kiev, the capital Copyright Dr. Paul Valliere is dean Earlier in the summer I also had the of the Ukraine; less of a mix in Leningrad of University College at Butler University and a good fortune to represent the Diocese of and Moscow, where at many services member of Christ Church Indianapolis in a travel seminar in the older women still form the large major- Cathedral, Indianapolis. Soviet Union sponsored by the National ity. One senses that Moscow especially He has traveled to the Council of the Churches of Christ It was is "up tight" religiously, as well as in Soviet Union five times the fourth such seminar in as many years, other ways. The unrivaled center of a to doacademic research and to participate in ecu- although the first in which I participated. highly centralized society, Moscow runs menical seminars and The seminars serve to forge ties between the Soviet Union, and the Muscovites conferences. U. S. and Soviet Christians in the interest can't seem to forget it They take the

THE WITNESS rules of their system very seriously and Moscow— a fitting witness to faith in the to see him " halt traffic" on the busy side- avoid public displays of frivolity or Living God, who makes all things new. walk as every third or fourth person nonconformism — such as letting them- The property is a very large one, in- stopped to receive a blessing. Afterwards, selves, in a moment of forgetfulness, cluding many buildings and an elaborate back in his apartment, he showed us drop in to church. surrounding wall, so its complete renova- souvenirs from a recent trip to the United And then, as always, I was impressed tion is a project of years. We descended States, among them the " key" to the city by the immensity and beauty of the from our Intourist buses to find a group of of Tulsa. We asked the Metropolitan Soviet Union and how conspicuously monks in traditional habit awaiting us in whether there was a "key" to the city of churches dot the landscape. Our group the arch of the main gate. Above them, Tbilisi "I don't know," he replied. "I had the chance to admire the gold onion- built into the gate, was a small church need no keys in this city." We believed cupolas of Moscow, the neoclassical where the liturgy was being sung. Behind him. domes of Leningrad on the edge of Scandi- them through the gate we could see the Soviet Christians' new spirit of con- navia, and the gold cones of the churches monastery courtyard — a construction fidence brightened our perception of their site heaped with bricks, piles of lumber publication. in the mountainous, republics of Georgia situation but did not close our eyes to its and Armenia. Even so, we visited only and excavated dirt. The spectacle of negative aspects. All the churches are and three of the 15 republics of the Soviet ancient tradition standing against a back- still constrained to exist within extremely ground of new construction, of young narrow limits by Western standards of reuse Unioa Our travels reminded us to be

for careful about making generalizations. monks directing the "hard hats," was religious freedom Open worship is al- one of the most hopeful sights I have ever lowed, but almost all other activities are Still, the citizens of the Soviet Union, seen. disallowed. Furthermore, worship is required Christians included, are part of one sys- The Orthodox Church hopes for the permitted only in registered houses of tem, and certain trends and moods were return of more of its secularized proper- worship, and the number of these is kept evident wherever we went Some of these ties in the future. A cathedral dean, artificially low as a matter of state policy. were new to me. Among Christians prob- Permission speaking at a plenary session of our group Then, too, not all religious denomina- ably the most striking difference was in at the Leningrad Theological Academy, tions share equally in improvements. the level of confidence expressed about said "Our architecture and singing bear The smaller communions, such as the DFMS. / the place of the church in Soviet society witness to the word of God. We have Lutherans, the Baptists and the Old and its prospects for the future. Clergy always had a feeling of responsibility for Believers, have a sharper sense of vul- and laity, in private conversation and in Church how the word of God is spread. Those nerability than the Russian Orthodox. public, directly and indirectly, put out a monuments will someday belong to us The situation of religious Jews remains message that may be summarized as agaia" The assertiveness of his last sen- critical. follows: "We Christians are getting Episcopal tence startled and encouraged us. So, During our four-day visit to Armenia, stronger, not weaker. When we have the the too, the confession of a young woman we toured splendid monuments, ate with of chance to do something, we do it well; we curator who took us through the collec- monks, met the Patriarch, but never got have a future here." tion of religious art in the Tbilisi Art to church. The capital of Armenia, A scene that embodied the message in Museum, a state institutioa During the Yerevan, is a city of well over a million Archives a poignant way remains in my mind from tour her reverence for the objects in her people with only five open churches.

2020. the day our group visited the Department care showed so plainly that one of our Four of us found one of them about a mile of External Church Relations of the group was moved to ask her, "Are you a from our hotel on a back street in a Moscow Patriarchate at their new offices believer?" "Oh, yes, of course!" she humble neighborhood We arrived about

Copyright in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. answered. "Besides, everyone believes 7 p.m. in the hope of sharing in vespers. Shortly before he died, Leonid Brezhnev in something." These were not lines she The priest was there, but unfortunately authorized the return of this monastery learned in curator's school. vespers had "just ended." The next to the control of the church. The gesture Another memorable example of eccle- evening we arrived at 6 p.m. Vespers was laden with symbolism, as the Dani- siastical self-confidence came when, as a again had "just ended." After the third lov was the first monastery founded in translates I accompanied a group leader try, at 5 p.m., we gave up. Still, even on Moscow in the early days of Russian on a private call to Metropolitan David, those undistinguished expeditions "the Christianity. It now has the paradoxical Bishop of Tbilisi. We had occasion to beauty of holiness" surrounded us. It status of being at one and the same time walk a couple of blocks in the open air was pleasant to sit in the small, cool the oldest and newest monastery in with the Metropolitan and were surprised church and watch believers stop in on

November 1986 their way home to light a candle and and "missionary idealists." The realists, mir is the patron saint of Kiev's metro- pray. We could hear the voices of neigh- always in good control of the historical politan cathedral. Again and again the borhood children playing in the church- facts and sources pertaining to their case, choirs sang the hymn of the saint that we yard. White doves roosted in the cupola. emphasized the distinctiveness, solidity, conferees, too, had sung at the start of Walking back along the main avenue we even self-sufficiency of Orthodoxy. Not each day's work: could admire Mt. Ararat, its snowy cone too interested in ecumenical relations You are to be compared hanging in the sky as if suspended from and at times a bit nationalistic, the realists to the merchant who sought heaven rather than resting on the saw in Kievan Russia an example of the the pearl of great price Armenian plain. Orthodox Church's capacity for being glorious ruler Vladimir, My summer in the Soviet Union ended the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic seated on the high throne with the Kiev Conference. The scholarly church" in a very public way, in integral of the Mother of Cities, Kiev, discussions were hard-hitting, particu- association with state and society. Mis- protected of God larly the debates among the Russian sionary idealists, on the other hand, saw Seeking to establish the Orthodox Orthodox themselves. This made the in Kievan Russia an example of bold Faith you sent envoys to the publication. conference especially stimulating be- activism on the frontiers of church and Imperial City and cause it afforded insight into differences society. Less interested in celebrating and you found the pearl of great of approach within the Russian Ortho- the solidity of Orthodoxy than the realists, price, the Christ reuse dox community. While the debates may they extolled an Orthodoxy that sought He has chosen you to be a second for have appeared to be concerned only with to transcend its customary limits and to Paul, and has shaken off your the interpretation of events in Kievan open new fields of endeavor for the blindness in the holy font, required Russia centuries ago, one had the strong church. blindness of soul and body. sense that the interlocutors were also The conference was planned to end Therefore we as your people celebrate voicing their views on the issues facing July 28, the Feast of St. Vladimir. your sacred elevation. the Russian Orthodox Church in their During the last two days we spent no Pray for the salvation Permission own day. The main antagonists could be fewer than 16 hours in liturgy. The ser- of your Russian state, its rulers, characterized as "historical realists" vices were especially splendid, as Vladi- and the multitude of subjects. • DFMS. /

Church Churches in the U.S.S.R.?

Episcopal MeLost people express utter amaze- were functioning. Under Khrushchev's was the first Christian nation, isolated the ment that there are functioning churches, regime, however, these were cut to ap- from both Byzantium and the Western of mosques and synagogues in the Soviet proximately half, to bring the figure to churches by the Council of Chalcedon in Union today. Actually, its borders en- those which exist today. A small number 451. The history of the Armenian people compass four major religious traditions of monasteries remain open and there are and churches is marred by the genocide Archives — Christianity, Judaism, Islam and five seminaries with an enrollment of of some half million Armenians in the Buddhism. The main branches of Chris- approximately 2,000. Since a priest can- early 1900s. The Georgian Orthodox 2020. tianity are represented not be ordained without being assigned Church is Byzantine in tradition and re- • Some 40 million Russian Ortho- to a parish, the number of seminarians cently celebrated its 1500th anniversary. dox trace their history back to 988 when are calibrated to church needs. The peo- St John Chrysostom's relics are retained Copyright Prince Vladimir of Kiev was baptized ple support their own clergy. Secular by this church. His liturgy is celebrated and established the Greek Orthodox priests and married clergy, however, are in all Eastern Orthodox churches today. Church as the national religioa entitled to draw a pension from the state Counting heads in these ancient churches The number of active, functioning like other citizens, saving the church the is often deemed superflous. Armenia Orthodox churches in the U.S.S.R. is financial burden of operating a pension adopted Christianity in the year 301; much the same as about 20 years ago: fund. some say that to be Armenian is to be a 7,000 to 8,000. In 1939, most of the • Two other ancient churches with Christian. As a government tour guide churches had been shut down; only a few large memberships are the Armenian in Georgia remarked, "Even the atheists hundred remained open. By 1949, after Oriental Orthodox Church and the say this is a Christian natioa" World War II, some 15,000 to 20,000 Georgian Orthodox Church. Armenia • Some 2 to 3 million Roman Cath-

THE WITNESS been able to eliminate racism against minorities. What Soviets call "democra- tization" of the country is an on-going process, and their revolution is only 70 years old, they point out The Council of Religious Affairs handles all matters re- lated to the churches. Clearly, being Christian does not en- hance one's career. But there are today more Christians with more responsibility in the government As one NCC official put it, "It would be dangerous to assume too much from this, but uninformed not to assume anything."

publication. And Jim Forest, peace activist/editor has pointed out that" The churches, even and when reduced to museums like St Basil's in Moscow, remain a kind of sacrament reuse They are architectural channels of grace, for wordless but articulate evangelists... More important than the outer shape are

required the icons withia Often every surface but olics are found mostly in the Baltic re- Central Asia. During the '70s, some the floor is covered with them. Entering publics, principally Lithuania and in the 260,000 Jews were allowed to leave, but one of the Kremlin's cathedrals, you pass Western Ukraine. emigration was severely curtailed in under a newly restored icon of the Last • Baptists are the largest group of 1980, after the invasion of Afghanistan. Permission Judgment, a solemn reminder that a final Protestants in the U.S. S.R., the official The lack of available Hebrew language weighing of hearts awaits us, but only at figure listed as 500,000, but it is sug- study remains a severe restriction in the end of time, when the final conse- DFMS. gested unofficially that the actual figure Jewish religious life. / quences of every life, for good or ill, can is closer to 2 to 3 million. They trace their Approximately 40 million Moslems be knowa The church is dedicated to the origins to the German Baptists in the live in Central Asia, European Russia summoner of judgment, the Archangel Church 19th century and also to English influence and Siberia, Ciscaucasia and Transcau- Michael, and inside, many of the Czars, in St Petersburg in the early 1870s. casia By the year 2000 some dramatic including Ivan the Terrible, await the • 1 million Lutherans are second shifts in the Soviet population could great trumpet blast in their stone boxes."

Episcopal largest of the Protestant bodies, chiefly occur. Rising birthrates show that the — M.L.S. the in Estonia and Latvia Turkic and other traditionally Islamic of Other groups of Protestants include Central Asian peoples could comprise as Mennonites, Methodists, Pentecostals, much as 25% of the population in less Resources Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's than 15 years. Soviet Believers, William C. Fletcher, Archives Witnesses, and a Hungarian church of Buddhists, organized under a lama, the Reformed tradition. The Old Be- live in the autonomous republic of the Regent's Press, Lawrence, Kans. 1981.

2020. lievers, begun by a schism in the Russian Buryat-Mongols, in Kalmyk and Tuva, An Imperiled People: A History of Orthodox Church in the 17th century, is and around Chita and Irkutsk. Soviet Jewry, Nora Levin, New York solely of Russian origin. Article 124 of the Soviet Constitution University Press, 1986.

Copyright The Jewish and Muslim communities states that "the church in the U. S. S.R. is Fodor's Soviet Union 1986, Fodor's have been visited by NCC delegations to separate from the state," and that Travel Guides, New York and Londoa demonstrate respect and concern for their " freedom of worship is recognized for all Islam, Religion in the Middle East, citizens." While the legal system pro- situations. To authorities, Soviet Jews VoL II, Chapter 7, "Islam in the USSR" are considered a nationality. Almost 2 claims this, it hardly means that discrim- million Jews live in the U.S.S.R., the ination has disappeared from the lives of Cambridge University Press, London, majority Ashkenazim who moved east- the populace. The most optimistic inter- 1969. ward from Central Europe in the Middle pretation is that the U.S.S.R. is in good NCC U.S.S.R Travel Seminar Brief- Ages. Smaller communities are in the faith but hasn't been able to flush op- ing Manual, National Council of Caucasian mountains in Georgia, where pression out of its system, much as in the Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, New they speak in an Iranian dialect, and in United States, Civil Rights laws have not York, N.Y. 10115. •

November 1986 Bridge-build ing twixt adversaries by Bill and Polly Spofford

Bill and Polly Spofford were among adults accompanying 28 high school students commissioned from the Washington National Cathedral by Bishop John Walker as a peace delegation to the U.S.S.R this summer. They took sections of the Peace Ribbon which had hung around both the National Cathedral and the Pentagon, as well as materials from the Boise Peace quilters, Ploughshare lapel pins, and the new Russian language edition of "What of the Children" by the Parents and Teachers for Social Responsibility of Vermont In the following pages are impressions of the trip by the publication. Spoffords and two students, Jennifer Wilder and David Hutchinson (see vignettes). and reuse for M. here is a Russian proverb which has often proved true is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, but per- historically, militarily, and politically: Space is our enemy, haps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest" space is our friend. There seems to be still much truth in this observation. But it required Visiting four major metropolitan centers hardly qualifies as also applies to all nation-states, whether one is referring to the more than an appetite-whetting exercise in a landmass as U.S.S.R., the United States, or developing countries in the broad and culturally diverse as the Soviet Union. Except for a Third World

Permission brief visit to Zagorsk, the heart of Russian Orthodoxy through Of course, the human and physical devastation of what the the centuries, we visited no rural or farming communities. We Soviets call The Great Patriotic War is a living and vital

DFMS. were in three different Soviet republics but there are 12 more memory in the present and a component of their anxiety about / we never touched. the future. All cities which we visited are officially designated Even with the efficient, ever-present service of U.S.S.R. Hero Cities, each having parks and monuments with "living Church Intourist guides, it is always difficult to travel to cultures flames" for the more than 20 million who suffered and died. where one does not know the languages, the in-depth history For us, the most moving was in Leningrad, seen from our of the people, their diets, the essence of their philosophies and modern hotel room, since it was located a stone's throw from Episcopal religions, and their mechanisms of social process, education the frontline bunkers in the siege of that city. the and control. It was to "feel" into these that we went to the We had uncomfortable feelings as we passed through an of Soviet Union, and, in a modest way, to be bridge-builders Orwellian "mirror" where, in our conversations and lec- between peoples and in current terms, between adversaries. tures, we were graciously treated but often seen as citizens of

Archives Our trip was pastoral rather than political, educational as the Evil Empire. In Moscow, it was strange, living in the opposed to polemical. It was limited in coverage and, at the mammoth 6,000 resident hotel next to the Kremlin, to

2020. end, one is left with impressions rather than with great knowl- realize that most of the other people there were from Arab/ edge. It is as though a Soviet citizen should visit New York Islamic nations, southeast Asia and African countries, along City, Washington, Tampa and Tucson briefly and claim that with some western Europeans and many Scandinavians.

Copyright the U. S. people, culture and history are known. Their lives whirled on a different axis than ours. They, too, On Oct 1, 1939, Winston Churchill uttered his famous had cameras, funny hats and lapel pins which revealed that commentary: "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It holidays provide an essence of human community that is beyond ideology. Each morning, black limousines picked up some hotel residents and sped off to various conclaves and trade negotiations as we, tourists, waited for our bus — The Rt. Rev. William B. Spofford, retired Bishop of Eastern exactly like Washington, D.C. Oregon, was assistant to the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker in the Diocese of Washington from 1980-1985. Pauline Spofford is a At times, it was difficult to make any real contact or to teacher and tutor, working with learning-disabled children and empathize, since the nature of our official meetings were with adults. adults (although the approved plans had called for contact

10 THE WITNESS with teenagers). Whether they were ecclesiastics or com- America. This action was known to everybody, it seems. We munity persons, they often seemed to be puzzled by the heard the name Stalin once, in a negative context, and never challenging openness of U. S. students and, generally, the heard the names Brezhnev, Khrushchev and others, indicat-

publication. students had a strong sense of being "talked down to." The ing their flexible view of history. official style was to "talk at" rather than to dialogue. Indeed, We were shown the gracious parts of communities, com- and the most angry exchanges we had were with the official peace plete with some good statuary, splendid fountains, restored

reuse committee in Odessa, which we are sure did little for peace- palaces and gardens. We participated in several Orthodox

for making and understanding. As Sydney Smith, the English church services, and viewed "museum" churches. The stu- cleric-wit, wrote years ago: "We were like two neighbors dents felt that we weren't being shown negative sides of life. arguing across their common fence... we were arguing from However, how often do Washington tour buses head to the required different premises!" It was always hard to get the premises Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials via the pain and sordidness clarified. But in the effort, we pray, will be the victory of of the 14th Street corridor? Never, we imagine, do nightmares understanding. mix well with dreams and ideals. Whatever the culture, dirty

Permission Their reference points seemed to be the past, symbolized laundry is seldom hung in public view. by churches, monasteries and museums, and the future The active churches we visited seemed reasonably lively. which, if there could be peace, might be built. Except in They were totally male-dominated as to liturgical officiating, DFMS. / novels, we felt that Russians don't appear very existential. In which for Washingtonians was off-putting. Of course, ser- novels, and they are a reading people, they make up for it vices were precise and sensually beautiful, especially

Church Everywhere, the present was obviously better than the musically. The power of iconography, so seminal in Ortho- immediate past and there was a great deal of building and dox spirituality, was obvious, although on occasion one expansion planned and in process. The totally devastated wished to see just one good icon, well-presented and lit In

Episcopal Leningrad has been, and continues to be, restored, with the churches, as well as in museums such as The Hermitage, one the result that the Venice of the North, with its many canals and saw much "forest," but it was hard to enjoy the "trees." of the Neva River, has to be one of the planet's most beautiful For the most part, the numerous worshipers were older — cities. (To read of the devastation, we commend the chilling we saw no children — and they actively participated in account of their seige, 900 Days, by Harrison Salisbury.) In singing the lay parts of the liturgies. We were always hosted Archives 1986 alone, Leningrad is expected to complete 60,000 graciously, especially in churches, monasteries and semi-

2020. apartments, complete with medical units, day-care centers, naries. schools and shopping centers. These mini-cities, in expand- The three monasteries and seminaries we visited had stu- ing suburbs, are significantly more attractive than develop- dent bodies of 300 to 400 and each contained rich cathedrals

Copyright ments post-World War II and we were told that, given peace and museums. In Odessa, the seminary museum had a com- and reduction in military security needs, plans could move prehensive ecumenical room, featuring many meetings of the ahead significantly. The people invariably seemed proud of World Council of Churches and other conclaves; pictures of how far they had come but concerned as to where the future various Archbishops of Canterbury and significant leaders of would lead. the ecumenical movement post-W.W. II, and various ex- At the same time, in conversations, history is repressed and change gifts which had been shared as tokens towards Chris- distorted. We heard, for instance, no mention of Afghanistan tian unity. We were also informed that the churches, whether or Angola. We heard nothing of dissenters or resisters. But congregationally active or redundant as museums, received there were strong feelings expressed on the day that the U. S. large grants for the restoration of buildings and their interiors. Congress voted $100 million in aid to the Contras in Central It seemed that when active churches had money for this, it

November 1986 11 was a matter of some speculation, if not suspicioa One exchange rubles for hard currency, or our clothing or jewelry seminary dean said that active churches raised all their own — an illegal act in the U.S.S.R The subsequent case of money but, for historic reasons, governmental grants were correspondent Nick Daniloff, highlights the wisdom of our offered to places such as Zagorsk as part of the Russian learning that word and, most often, the simple "no" did the heritage. trick. Despite the words of human equality, Black members of We were impressed with the Moscow Museum of Aero- our party felt an incipient racism in commercial and other nautics and Space, which is fully as rich and powerful as ours settings. They were not significantly aware of it in ecclesi- at the Smithsonian, and noticed how, as with Lenin, Yuri astical settings, although one Baptist pastor was obvious in Gagarin's pictures, statues and monuments are, shall we say, his refusal to acknowledge the Rev. Gayle Harris as priest, "divinized." Space, that proverbial enemy and friend, seemed always calling her "the teacher." No Orthodox cleric ap- part of their present and future in a real way. peared disturbed by relating to an Episcopal female priest Everywhere, especially in Odessa, persons referred to On occasion, out of ignorance or youthful enthusiasm, we "this summer of crisis," by which they meant the disaster at publication. are sure that we came across as "ugly Americans" but that is Chernobyl. The pioneer camp we visited was filled with

and hard to overcome in a culture that lives much by form, children from the Kiev area and the director told us that protocol and precedence. 250,000 children from the most afflicted area had been reuse We had all learned at least one word in Russian, nyet, to moved to such camps, at least for the summer months. He for say to the street people (youthful or otherwise) who wanted to reported that physical examinations indicated that there was required Peace from bottom up by Jennifer Wilder Permission

DFMS. X he first step in achieving a lasting We went with the idea that the Soviet the old, wrinkled widows, called babushki, / peace between the United States and the people must be normal and friendly, even who, although toothless and hunched Soviet Union is to have the people of if their government does oppose our over with age, could remain standing

Church each of these great nations understand beliefs about freedom. As we toured devoutly throughout a four-hour service one another. This summer, I was part of a Moscow, Odessa, Leningrad, and Tallinn, when our young, healthy group felt faint youth tour of the Soviet Union, spon- visiting museums, shops, churches, and after an hour. Their friendly smiles were

Episcopal sored by the Diocese of Washington. even the beach, we found some of our the warmest I had ever received, as they the The trip was aimed at educating high stereotypes confirmed and others dis- welcomed us and thanked us for coming of school students about the USSR. We proven. In general, we found that the to visit were given the chance to meet Soviet Soviet people are very much like us, and Although most of our personal en- people so that we might gain a better

Archives becoming friends with them might not be counters with Soviet citizens were posi- understanding of those we have come to so difficult after all. tive, we did find ourselves in some un-

2020. call "our enemies." We had hoped that The most memorable experiences I pleasant situations. In one incident, we this trip would allow us to discover the had were those with the Soviet churches. were supposed to have met with a group real Soviet Unioa The magnificent Russian Orthodox of Soviet young people at a Peace Com-

Copyright cathedrals with their golden domes, an- mission in Odessa. We were met instead cient icons, and musky incense were by two older men, and ended up debating breathtaking, but even more inspiring government policy rather than discussing were the believers who worshipped in person-to-person understanding. We Jennifer Wilder attends those churches. We saw many young also had some frightening encounters Richard Montgomery people, single men and women, or fami- with "the system." The schedule im- High School in Rock- lies who had given up their chances of posed on us by Intourist (the government ville, Md., and is a mem- ber of Christ Episcopal getting top government jobs by worship- tourism agency) was grueling, and the Church, where herfather ping openly. However, the majority of military guards stationed at our hotel in is rector. believers in the Orthodox churches were Moscow were intimidating. Many mem-

12 THE WITNESS no extraordinary elevation in radioactivity in their systems. toric events, combined with what Christians name sin, now But most obviously there was concern about the accident make this a failed dream. But, the persons we met, in Before the flight home, we assessed the two-week trip as churches, on the streets, in the markets, in formal and in- 70% positive. It was obvious, in Lutheran Estonia, as in formal settings, were concerned with what they call mir, and Orthodox Moscow, Leningrad and Odessa, that the people we call peace or shalom. Knowing that we were Americans, wanted and needed peace. Our small group, consisting mostly they surfaced the topic on all occasions and at every op- of future decision-makers and educators, had the privilege of portunity. We also saw it proclaimed on every city's bill- looking at things through some Soviet contacts, eyes and boards and buildings. persons. Most recognized that, although nuclear and other We landed at Kennedy airport July 6, just as the cele- armaments are the negotiating issues, the real concerns, built bration of Miss Liberty1 s 100th birthday was ending. There it on mutual fear and hope, are ideological and historical As was confusion, bustle, exuberance and New York chutzpa. It such they are related to communication, trust-building, in- felt good In fact, on a human level, it didn't feel too different creasing honesty and deeper empathy. from the people in the open market in Odessa or along the Throughout we were aware of being in a controlled and flower stalls in medieval Tallinn or, particularly, the vibrant publication. noncommunicative society. Early in what the Soviets re- crowds on Leningrad's Nevsky Prospekt during the White and minded us was the third Russian Revolution, Lenin wrote: Nights of early summer. " Soviet power is a new type of state in which there is no Maybe, with such small steps by church folk, and others, reuse bureaucracy, no police, no standing army." Obviously, his- the longer journey will continue. • for required bers of our group had luggage searched at ing about foreign countries all my life pagne, and stuck one another with red- Customs, or their visas scrutinized by without ever having the opportunity to white-and-blue bandaids. stone-faced guards trying to verify that see them. Now that the trip is over, each of us has Permission we were who we said we were. However, The main message that the Soviet peo- been asked to share our experiences and these tense experiences were over quick- ple we met asked us to carry home to our impressions, in hopes that what we DFMS.

/ ly and left us with only a taste of the churches and peers is the fact that the learned during our two weeks in the rigidity we associate with Communism Soviet Union wants peace, too. The Soviet Union will help others gain a bet- The most personal encounter I had in memory of World War II, when hun- ter understanding of our "rivals" in the Church the USSR was with a college student dreds of cities were destroyed and a USSR and eventually provide basis for a named Alexander. He is a student at a generation of men was killed is still alive lasting peace. university in Leningrad and was taking and vivid in every family of the USSR Although I would love to go back to Episcopal an English course. His professor had They never want to live through an ex- the USSR again, to meet more people the

of encouraged him to go out and find some perience like that again, and will do any- and visit more places, this trip has given American or English tourists, so that he thing to avoid a World War III, particu- me a better perspective of the Soviet could practice his English, and he had larly a nuclear holocaust Every person Unioa I was pleased by the good experi- Archives found me and two of my friends from the we talked to made it clear that he or she ences we had with friendly people who trip. He told us about the American lit- was ready to improve relations between welcomed us to their home. The negative 2020. erature he was supposed to study. Un- our two countries to insure peace and an experiences left me feeling disappointed fortunately, he had searched everywhere end to the threat of nuclear war. but they did bring me to realize that our for the books he needed but they were Although my two weeks in the Soviet governments may never see eye to eye, Copyright not available. He asked if we had brought Union were a priceless learning experi- so the best way to bring about better any with us. I wish I had packed some ence, I was very happy to be on my way relations is to start from the bottom up, popular American paperbacks. We also home. Seeing a country without democ- with personal friendships. When the discussed world travel. While my friends racy or capitalism had made me realize people of the Soviet Union and the peo- and I were free to travel anywhere we how much I take America and its ideals ple of the United States have become wished, even to the USSR, he would for granted During our Fourth of July friends, our governments will find it never be allowed out of his homeland He party in Tallinn, the day before we left much more difficult to disagree. World explained that seeing the world was like a the USSR, the entire group reflected peace may depend on friendships between dream to him. I could not imagine learn- these feelings as we sang, drank cham- the ordinary citizens of our two nations. •

November 1986 13 Top Recipients of Soviet Arms

1955-85 1980-85

Syria $16.3 Billion Syria $10.3 Billion Iraq $15.4 Iraq $8.2 Libya $11.2 Libya $5.8 Vietnam $9.0 Vietnam $4.9 India $8.2 India $4.8 East Germany $6.5 Cuba $3.9 Cuba $6.0 Algeria $3.6 Algeria $5.6 Angola $2.8 Poland $5.0 Ethiopia $2.6 Ethiopia $4.1 East Germany $2.5

Note: All figures are deliveries in current dollars I Billions). Sources: CIA, DIA, DoD.ACDA.CDI. publication. Chart prepared by the Center for Defense Information. and reuse for required Permission

DFMS. Soviet Military Advisors / in The Third World

Church Cuba 5,6( Syria 4,0( Vietnam 2,5(

Episcopal Libya 2,0(

the Ethiopia 1,7( of South Yemen 1,5( Angola l,0( Iraq l,0<

Archives Mozambique 8i Algeria 8(

2020. Laos 5( North Yemen 5< India 21

Copyright Others 5< TOTAL 22,650 * Reportedly declined to 600 during January 1986 upheaval. •• Includes: Peru (125-1501; CongollOOl; Madagascar 1100); Nicaragua 150-70); Seychelles 110); Benin; Cape Verde; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Mali; Nigeria; Sao Tome and Principe; Tanzania; Zambia. Note: Not listed are 118,000 Soviet troops in Afghanistan and 75,000 troops in Mongolia. Sources: DoD, State Dept, CDI. Chart prepared by the Center for Defense Information. SOVIET ENFLUE OvVlCl 11 CUllvS VJl Members of COMECON Soviet Defense TVeaties Friendship and The Council for Mutual Economic Cooperation Albania (abrogated 1968) Assistance (also known as COM- ECON or CMEA) is the economic al- BulgariI.'IM^IIJ 11a1 Egypt (5-27-71,abrogated3-15-76) China (expired 1980) liance created by the USSR, and India (8-9-71) Czechoslovakia East European nations. Iraq (4-9-72) East Germany Hungary Albania (dropped out in 1961) Somalia 17-11-74, abrogated North Korea Bulgaria 11-13-77) Mongolia Czechoslovakia Angola (10-8-76) Poland East Germany Mozambique (3-31-77) Hunt?arv Vietnam (11-3-78) Poland Ethiopia (11-20-78) Romania Afghanistan (12-5-78) Soviet Union South Yemen 110-25-79) Mongolia (since 1962) Syria (10-8-80) Cuba (since 1972) Congo (5-13-81) Vietnam (since 1978) publication. and reuse for '. *• » required Permission DFMS. / Church Episcopal the of Archives 2020. Copyright

Soviet Union Significant Soviet Influence (Afghanistan, Angola. Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, East Germany, Hungary, Laos, Libya, Mongolia, Mozambique, Poland, Romania, Syria, Vietnam, South Yemen)

Other Countries

CE TODAY Map prepared by the Center for Defense Information. Short Takes

Fear youth's #1 enemy Shades of Chernobyl • U.S. children are being fingerprinted At the Fernauld uranium processing plant because of the fear of kidnapping. near Cincinnati, local residents learned in • Thirty-nine states indicate an increase 1985 that drinking water supplies were in reports of child abuse. contaminated with radiation 15 times • 22% of U.S. youth under 18 live in higher than EPA guidelines. The govern- poverty. ment and Fernauld management knew • Suicides among U.S. youth (ages 15- about the contamination for four years be- 24) have increased 300% in the last two fore alerting the citizens affected by it. publication. decades. Recent revelations also show that Fer- • The ultimate form of child abuse is war. nauld has pumped at least 215,000 pounds and From World War I to the present, civilian of uranium dust into the air and 170,000 casualties from warfare have risen from 5% pounds of uranium into the water over its reuse to 97% — mostly women and children. Of 30-year history. For years the secrecy was for the 25-30 million refugees worldwide, 15 Death penalty facts so great around the facility that even local million are children—mostly from theThird — Each year since 1975 at least one residents thought the weapons production World. country has abolished the death penalty. center was a cattle food production plant. required • One in three U.S. teenagers fears a — Iran, Iraq, China, South Africa, the So- In January, 1986, after an accidental re- nuclear war will take place in their lifetime, viet Union and the United States are now lease of uranium gas had killed one worker according to Dr. John E. Mack, chairperson the chief countries where the death pen- at the Kerr-McGee processing facility in of Harvard Medical School's Psychiatry De- alty is imposed. Oklahoma, the government permitted re-

Permission partment. He says: "They feel alone with — Georgia has the highest execution rate lease of the remaining radioactive gases. their fears and abandoned, isolated and of any state — and the highest murder rate The cloud floated over houses and an el- unprotected by the adult generation, in- of any state. ementary school within miles of the facility. DFMS.

/ cluding the nation's leaders." — Since Florida has resumed executions, No one from the company or the govern- Children of War flyer the murder rate has gone up. It jumped 14% ment warned the residents. Only after a Religious Task Force in the first six months after the death pen- worker made an anonymous call did any-

Church alty was reinstated. one know of the release. — For 13 out of 14 years, Illinois, with the Hiding the truth from people in Oklahoma Quote of note death penalty has had a higher murder rate To be moderate in matters of love is simply or Cincinnati is the same as hiding it from than Michigan without the death penalty. those in Kiev. Episcopal not to love. To be moderate in matters of Newsletter, Church of the Incarnation Billie Garde and Tom Devine the justice is to be simply unjust. Ann Arbor, Mich. Providence New Paper of John Howard Griffin Utne Reader 9/86 The Hermitage Journals Bishops defer to women Roman Catholic bishops have abandoned

Archives 1 st in feminist theology their plans to issue a pastoral letter on Facts about PACs For the first time in theological education, a women. Instead they will issue a "pastoral Our system of government is under threat

2020. doctoral level degree is being offered in response" on the subject next year. The by the millions of dollars political action Feminist Liberation Theology and Ministry change appears to reflect the will of women committees (PACs) are pouring into con- at Episcopal Divinity School. who told the bishops early on that they gressional races every year. In the 1984 Ecumenical in vision, the FLTM program didn't care to be studied as a problem. election, PACs contributed more than Copyright provides an opportunity to Inside the American $100,000,000 to congressional candidates • reflect on the experience of marginal- Religion Scene (RNS Newsletter) And those PAC contributions will pay off in ized people as a starting point for doing billions of dollars worth of government fa- theology, 700 B.C. advice vors for the corporations and other special • discuss the genealogy of race, sex, Go to the people. Live with them. Learn interest groups that are making them. and class oppression, from them. Love them. Start with what they "There's always been some corruption in • explore different directions in feminist know. Build with what they have. With the American politics. What has happened with studies and theology, and their implications best leaders when the work is done, the political action committees is we've insti- for ministry today. task accomplished, the people will say, tutionalized that corruption," said former For information write EDS, 99 Brattle "We have done this ourselves." U.S. Rep. John Cavanaugh. Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Lao Tsu (China, 700 B.C.) Common Cause flyer

16 THE WITNESS — the struggle ALutaContinua continues by Barbara C. Harris

The 'Mind of the House'

Ltroublesome resolution concerning must consent to the election and con- accept women in the episcopate? the election and consecration of women publication. secration of any bishop? If such consent With regard to the latter, at least one to the episcopate emerged from the re- is withheld, could this, in turn, lead to an discussion group asked if the present and cent interim meeting of the House of "irregular consecration" reminiscent of "conscience clause" (which permits Bishops in San Antonio. Even more the 1974 ordinations of the Philadelphia bishops to deny women ordination to reuse

for troublesome were the discussions that 11 to priesthood? Further, what new or priesthood solely on the basis of gender) led to its adoption, raising more ques- strengthened diocesan canons might does not already provide for their con- tions than answers, both for those "pro" emerge to "protecf' local autonomy and cern? If, indeed, it does, then a frighten- required and "con" women bishops. jurisdiction? ing situation arises for the whole church. How can you have a conscience clause While reaffirming the action taken at Beyond these procedural questions lie with regard to abishop. If a bishop can be the 1985 General Convention (advising some emotional issues that could again

Permission rejected by bishops, then certainly pres- that the House "would not withhold so consume the mind and energy of the byters and laity are in no way constrained consent to the consecration of any per- church as to push the consecration of any to accept that person or the sacramental DFMS. son as bishop on the grounds of gender women, if not their election, well beyond / acts of their office, such as Confirmatioa alone") a subsequent clause in the new Lambeth '88. Some indication of this As might be expected, missing from resolution seems to take a step back from was seen in the fact that permeating the

Church most of the discussions, or at least what that significant pronouncement It reads: small group discussions in the House was reported of the discussions, was any "Be it further resolved that while recog- was the "pain and agony" of the "Fond real mention of the women who will be nizing the right of any diocese to proceed du Lac 16" — some factious fathers in Episcopal affected by all this. And, of course, no with episcopal elections, the House of God who have gone on record as being the women were invited to share their per- Bishops does acknowledge the concern unable to live with the prospect of of spectives or their feelings on the matter. of the Primates for restraint in proceed- "mitered mommas." All of which leads me to answer one ing to the consecration of a woman as a A sampling of the questions raised in- important question that was not asked. Archives bishop before the 1988 Lambeth Con- cluded Would bishops who consecrated When we do"see the day come 'round" ference." The final resolve, "that this

2020. women be out of communion with other on which the first woman is admitted to action is in no way intended to imply that bishops such as the above or those in that august body, what survival instincts any Lambeth Conference could decide other provinces of the church who feel will she need? Answer a high tolerance such a matter for any autonomous

Copyright that apostolic succession has been de- for indecisiveness, an inordinate amount province," is not very helpful since the spoiled already by admission of women of patience with unimaginative leader- prior clause sends a decided and dan- to the priesthood? What would happen if ship, a low level of frustration at the gerous signal for delay. a person ordained by a woman moved to penchant for preserving the collegiality With, of course, no presbyters or laity another diocese whose bishop did not of the " club" at all costs and an appetite involved in the debate, an immediate acknowledge her consecration? But most for ambiguity. Lacking a cast iron back- question is: What chilling effect might prevalent was the question, How can the side, she might well have her cope and the resolution have on diocesan Standing House and church accommodate bishops miter lined with rhino hide as a hedge Committees, a majority of which also and those in their dioceses who cannot against insensitivity. •

November 1986 17 Mother Church, Mother Russia The double burden of peace by Mary Lou Suhor Motherland Piskarevskoye Cemetery publication. Leningrad and T and novels in which protagonists were motivated to act "for M. ake a country two and a half times larger than the United Mother Church and Mother Russia." reuse States. It encompasses 170 ethnic groups, 130 languages, for In contrast, the United States is portrayed in masculine and 100 distinct nationalities. What do you call it? images: Uncle Sam, the Founding Fathers, today's Rambo- Well, Ronald Reagan calls it the Evil Empire and says only mania and a macho President who plays out High Noon in required a Star Wars system can protect us from it. And some people foreign policy. In Leningrad, Motherland stands in vigil over say Russia, which is closer, but misleading. Russians com- those who died in the struggle against Hitler's "Fatherland" prise only 52% of the population. More properly, it's the of the Third Reich. Were we headed in a Fascist direction Soviet Union, which also contains within its borders Permission with these macho thrusts? Georgians, Armenians, Ukrainians, and Central Asian I filed this data to be explored at the end of our visit during a Uzbeks — all proud of their identity. It's a layered society dialogue with women from U.S.S.R churches, for which I DFMS. / (the onion domes of its churches are an apt symbol) informed had been asked to be co-facilitator. by a complex history going back hundreds and hundreds of Before we left home, our advisor, feminist-activist Sister years. Church Marjorie Tuite of Church Women United, had sketched out Russian is the dominant language, taught in schools to parameters for our discussion during orientation sessions: foster communication, which would otherwise be a problem. "The women's struggle for equality and justice takes For example, the Slavs use the Cyrillic alphabet (St. Cyril Episcopal place within a worldview of militarism which is acted devised it); the Georgians and Armenians have kept their old the out daily in a culture of violence against women... of Japhetic alphabets derived from Aramaic and Greek script; Militarism is rooted in patriarchy; that is, a pervasive and Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians have retained Latin pattern of ideological assumptions and social struc- script. One has to marvel how the Politburo makes the gosh tures that validate and enforce the subjugation of fe- Archives darn country work. male to male, of colonized peoples to racial overlords, From that introduction, I betray the fact that as ajournalist,

2020. of the whole People of God to male religious leaders. I am intrigued by language and the complexities it offers. But "A second factor is that the daily reality for millions the concept which puzzled me most during my summer trip to of women is a struggle for economic survival Within the Soviet Union with the National Council of Churches was

Copyright this framework, women of faith are seeking to formu- Mother Russia. late a theology based on their experience which will To be sure, the Politburo has no women in its ranks, and the reach beyond patriarchal traditions of existing social Russian Orthodox Church remains rigidly patriarchal. Yet and religious institutions." there is an almost mystical veneration for the word "mother." As Providence would decree, Marjorie fell ill and was to We came upon heroic statues called "Mother Georgia" and die in the United States before we returned, the news leaving "Mother Armenia." A sculpture called "Motherland" domi- us stunned and bereaved when announced in Frankfurt. But nates the memorial ensemble in the Piskarevskoye Cemetery her words had remained in my head as her memory will ever in in Leningrad, where more civilian victims of World War II my heart when 19 of us met in Moscow to dialogue with 10 are buried — mostly women and children — than all our Soviet churchwomen. WWII military casualties. I also recalled reading histories

18 THE WITNESS We did not know quite what to expect. Our previous meet- mothers. Working professions included teachers, journalists, ings with patriarchs, archimandrites, monks, seminarians too counsellors, homemakers, interior decorators, clergy, church- often had been characterized by long, formal presentations workers, and a speech therapist, computer programmer, hotel allowing little time for questions, making for limited and administrator, songwriter. One woman, unemployed, was reserved exchanges. At worst, this was interpreted as church job-hunting. people frustratingly dodging the opportunity to dialogue on Half our size, the Soviet delegation represented an im- important issues; at best, it was interpreted as Soviet "style," pressive array of Orthodox and Baptist women from Moscow complicated by a long history. and Leningrad and included educators, translators, church- Natalia Chernyh, a knowledgable ecumenist, explained it workers, ecumenists, and a chemist — some married, some this way: "Suppose you had two books, one a 200-page divorced, some grandmothers. Nina Bobrova, co-facilitator history of the United States, and another the history of the for the Soviet side in welcoming us outlined our commonali- U.S.S.R., of 1,000 pages. Can you imagine spreading out ties: We were all sisters-in-Christ, seeking peace while 200 pages at once to try to find an answer to a question? Even threatened by nuclear war, fearful of a future which endan-

publication. that would be difficult. Now imagine consulting 1,000 pages. gered the lives of our children and the ecology of,the planet. If we hesitate in response to a question perhaps it is because From there on the accent was on sharing, as we exchanged and we are simply trying to determine what page to consult, ideas, analysis, and anecdotes from our lives. Discussion

reuse seeking the most precise answer. I invite you to be tolerant." centered around marriage and the family, justice and eco-

for Against former experiences, the women's dialogue turned nomic issues (including women and their work roles); peace out to be remarkably free of rhetoric. Ironically, the sign on education, ecumenism, and how women provide Christian the Intourist bus which transported us to the meeting il- witness in church and society. required lustrated one recurring theme which we dealt with: The sign Both U.S. and U.S.S.R. participants were acutely aware read Women Problems, and some U. S. men were heard to that no grave social problem — whether related to war or say that they wished their wives were on that bus. The sign peace, poverty and hunger, marriage and the family, etc. — is

Permission was quickly edited to Women's Concerns. the exclusive concern of women. These are human problems, We noted that our official Soviet guides waited outside as and need the best efforts of humankind to resolve them. The the five dialogues took place, the Orthodox church having women's dialogue focused on human problems from a DFMS. / provided translators for the discussions on peace and dis- woman's point of view. At the same time we were painfully armament, youth, liturgy, and human rights, in addition to sensitive to the fact that there is no justice issue which does

Church ours. not touch women's lives, that often women are the victims of Brief introductions indicated that our 19-member U.S. global injustice. Since we represented many Christian de- delegation ranged in age from 29 to over 60, and included nominations from both countries, the very fact of ecumenism

Episcopal widows, married women, divorced and single women from was important in broadening our perspectives. the various states. Some were grandmothers, some great-grand- Natalia Chernyh of Moscow said that thinking in ecu- of Archives 2020. Copyright

Nina Bobrova, Soviet facilitator, opens the U.S.-U.S.S.R. women's dialogue sponsored by the Na- tional Council of Churches as part of its'86 peace pilgrimage. Left to right are Ludmilla Gibbons of Los Angeles; Donna Porter, Kansas City, Mo.,; Mildred Moser, Alta- dena, Cal.; Tatjyana Orlova, Mos- cow, Bobrova, and Mary Lou Suhor, editor of THE WITNESS.

November 1986 19 menical terms made her feel less of an outsider. Many per- theme of social importance and value. Soviet working women ceive her country, she said, as an atheistic, socialist state. benefit from maternity leaves with pay, but home responsi- (And U.S. participants might add that the United States is bilities are still a problem. Unlike Socialist Cuba, the perceived as a capitalist state.) Chernyh cited the World U.S.S.R. has no family code which cites that husbands must Council of Churches' new program thrust, "Justice, Peace help wives with housework when both study or work. Women and the Integrity of Creation" as helpful for breaking through are hoping that the new Soviet 5-year plan will ease these stereotypes and making connections. The greater the reali- tensions. Meanwhile, they are still chiefly responsible for zation that we belong to the same planet and share its destiny, work in the home. the better we can work towards global unity and avoid the Soviet women expressed grave concern about divorce. At destruction of creation, she said. first, they said, the war "divorced" most women, who lost She also said that her work makes her think of life in ecu- their husbands. (Statistics show that in 1970 there were menical terms as well, and this moves her more and more to 1,170 females for every thousand males in the U. S. S. R., the look into the social process which goes on in her own highest recorded imbalance in the world.) But now one in

publication. country. three marriages ends in divorce, and every fifth woman is not A Baptist woman, Claudia Pillipuk, reflecting on that married. Divorced women in the U.S.S.R. lead fragmented and process, noted that the Socialist society places a high value on lives, torn in priorities between their work and family, and

reuse work, the right to work, and equal pay for equal work. A frequently lack a sense of dignity, they said. This sounded

for common theme proved to be how work in the U.S.S.R. and familiar to U.S. participants. the United States helps women to realize their potential and U.S. delegates explained Social Security, welfare benefits best capabilities. and public assistance based on income, and how the process required The discussion evinced that the role of mother is deeply of applying for assistance is sometimes difficult. They also respected in Soviet society, and maternity has become a explained how churches pitch in with day care and other

Permission Soviet women yesterday and today DFMS.

/ • In 1908 a Russian newspaper mothers to work; by legal protec- high birthrate. This is partially due estimated that it would take at least tion and material and moral sup- to better medical facilities and the 280 years for every woman in the port for mothers and children, in- consequent decline in infant mor-

Church country to be able to read and cluding paid leaves and other ben- tality, together with better nutrition write. Before the 1917 Socialist efits for expectant mothers, and and health care, but also to the Revolution, 85% of the women gradual reduction of working time survival of the tradition of large were illiterate. By 1950, illiteracy for mothers with small children." families. Asa result, Central Asians had been almost eliminated. Episcopal • Three out of every four Soviet are growing four times faster than the rest of the population and soon

the • Before the Revolution, illit- physicians and teachers are women; Va of the Soviet military will be of eracy was practically universal every third engineer and lawyer, among Central Asians in the every other technician and de- Moslem. U.S.S.R. In 1920 only 25 or so signer is a woman. Some 40% of • More than 90% of adult women Turkmen women were able to read. all Soviet scientific workers are in the U.S.S.R. either work or study.

Archives Today literacy is universal and a women. The first woman in space Women constitute 51 % of all those substantial proportion of the pop- was a Soviet woman — Valentina employed in the national economy.

2020. ulation has been through higher Tereshkova — in 1963. It is rare, however, for a Central education as well. Asian woman to pursue a career. • About 500 women (some'A of • Today the position of Soviet • Young women constitute more the membership) are deputies to than half of all students at secon- women is expressed in Article 35 the Supreme Soviet, the national Copyright of the Constitution: dary technical schools and one parliament. In 1980, half of all half of all students at institutions "Women and men have equal those elected to local government of higher learning. rights in the U.S.S.R. Exercising bodies were women. • The pensionable age is60 for these rights is insured by accord- • The predominant methods of working men and 55 for women; ing women equal access with men birth control are"the pill" and "the 50 for women with five or more to education and vocational and loop." Abortion is common, al- children. Pensionable age for professional training, and in social though prohibited by the church. farming men is 65, for women, 60. and political and cultural activity, Characteristically Russian families Resources: Fodor's Soviet Union and by special labor and health have only one or two children. On 1986; SovietWomen'sCommittee. protection measures for women; theotherhand, CentralAsian Mos- 1981; Update U.S.S.R. February/ by providing conditions enabling lem women have a staggeringly March 1986.

20 THE WITNESS programs for women, and for unemployed youth. clothed its millions, constructed housing, provided for the Our deliberations stressed that the pursuit of justice is widow and the orphan — in short, accomplished tasks tra- intimately tied to the works of peace. We were mutually ditionally considered a mandate for Christians. And women concerned about the equal distribution of the world's goods, play a vital role in that process. (See box.) Holy Mother about who has the power of decision-making in our families, Church, is, more aptly, Holy Father Church. Although in our nation, and globally. Orthodoxy emphasizes wholeness, it is male-dominated, At the dialogue's end, Nina Bobrova, reflecting on the prohibits women behind the iconostasis. The highest role it suffering which took 20 million Soviet lives during World allows a woman is choir director. Women seem to enjoy a War II, told U.S. women: "We have witnessed how horrible more "liberated" role in the secular society. This in turn may war is. We don't want you in the United States to have that influence the church, as indeed, the spiritual dimension of the experience. We feel a double responsibility for peace since church may influence the future of Soviet society. we have lived through war — a responsibility for us and for One National Council of Churches training manual for our you, that you never have to go through that." trip contains a statement: "The Message of the Gospel is not The U.S. women made a Christian commitment that their confined to any particular culture, ideology or economic publication. Soviet sisters would never stand alone in shouldering that system." We must now struggle to add, "or sex" to that and double burden again. incomplete sentence. Rest, Marjorie. • Were Marjorie Tuite alive, she would want an accounting reuse of how her analysis stood up in the women's dialogue. Marge For Sister Marjorie Tuite, June 28, 1986 for would never send you across town for a meeting without A thin New York rain because you were never wanting a report — much less across the world. "Well, how on your coffin. too tired for El Pueblo, The Dominicans follow, for las hermanas, required did it go?" she would ask gravely. Then, "And this better be forty years of catching up. for the bag-ladies, for the folks. good!" as her six foot frame would rock with laughter. Here So you are still, But I think you were goes: a last ride across too tired, destructively tired, • The feminist analysis was right on target, Marge, but a Manhattan's black mirror streets. tired almost

Permission Ada Marie pokes to incomprehension. bit heavy for this meeting. One got the feeling that it's hard a fist into the weeping air, But then I'd see you enough to be a Christian in this society much less a feminist shouting your name, drag that tiredness and we all cry "Presente!" one more step. DFMS. / Christian. Having experienced repression under Stalin and again and again, You'd move up to the line, Khrushchev, people in the churches walk a tightrope between until the hearse, and one, exquisite, seemingly what has been described as "discretion and valor." like a low rider chariot, last time, you'd step Church carries you to fire. over it Hurrah! • The church venerates many women saints, notably St. One consummation She did it again! Viva! Nena and St. Hripsime. These were strong women of ancient before the freeing. So Marjorie, adelante. times. Georgia even had a woman ruler — King Tamara, who Then, compa, you are Episcopal Right now light as breath, ruled wisely for 29 years. Somewhere we lost it — the we are stepping up the and can fall, as you wished, to their lines. of decision-making role — to the extent that in Georgia women on Nicaragua's soil. Watch us. in our group were admonished by the tour guide not to go out To lie in the grainy arms of a thousand mothers, — Renny Golden at night unaccompanied by a man. Not for reasons of safety, the holy embrace of martyrs, Archives but, "please, it is the custom." with Luisa Amanda Espinoza, • The political views of people in the churches seem to be with Sandino. 2020. A gringa, a nun shaped by having lived through a violent history over the past dug into an earth 70years — twoworldwars, aRevolution, acivilwar—rather that hums beneath banana trees, than by any Marxist-Lenist analysis (although their per- under the almond groves, Copyright below Lake Managua floating white herons, spectives do not exclude the latter). The U.S.S.R. has harmonizing with the frog — "institutionalized" peace in the Soviet process, in its political song of the rivers, structures, in education. Peace efforts in the United States are their monotone glory: everything lives, largely the burden of social activists, many involved in civil everything lives. disobedience. Oh you who never rested, • Holy Mother Church and Holy Mother Russia — a now in the dust of mango groves, paradox, indeed. "Mother Russia" while it falls far short on rest in peace. providing political rights, has to be given credit for its eco- Ada says your solidarity was nomic advances. This atheistic Communist state has fed and clear as blue sweetwater lagoons, Marjorie Tuite

November 1986 21 Human rights debated The 1986 travel seminar to the U.S.S.R sponsored by the National Council of Churches this summer featured Jive dialogues with Soviet churchpeople: Human rights, women, peace and disarmament, youth, and liturgy. John P. Burgess, ofDoane College, Crete, Neb., who spent the 1984-85 academic year in East Berlin, presented the account below on the human rights session. Other reports can be obtained from NCC, Room 880, 475 Riverside Dr., New York, N. Y. 10115.

JL he human rights discussion took order for Christians from East and West not always gauge the spirit in which the place at the publishing headquarters of to come to greater mutual understanding, Soviets made their remarks. For example, the Russian Orthodox Church. Twenty- we believe that there must be a greater Dr. Osipov of the Moscow Theological five Americans and 12 Soviets were in flow of information between our lands, Seminary questioned how the church publication. attendance. more opportunities for travel to each could survive in a society which rests on and I began with a brief overview of the other's nations, and more contact with a freedom. In the United States freedom questioa First, different conceptions of diversity of people in both countries. for freedom's sake has created a materi- reuse human rights are emphasized in East and Third, we Americans came to this dia- alistic, pagan society. Several Americans for West Political rights (such as freedom logue not to ask about restrictions on the responded that the individual must learn of press and assembly) stand at the fore- church, but to learn of the church's possi- to use freedom responsibly. To limit required front in the West Economic rights (such bilities in its society. We wanted to share freedom, however, is to limit the power as right to work and housing) receive our vision of the role of the church in the of the Holy Spirit The Soviets answered more emphasis in the East From another United States too. that our American concept of freedom angle, human rights can be defined as Bishop Clement, the Soviet co-mod- rested on Enlightenment presuppositions. Permission individual or communal. In the West, erator, who heads the Partiarchal Par- Christians believe, however, that the political rightsprotec t the individual from ishes in the United States and Canada, soul is not essentially good, but a battle- DFMS.

/ state interference. In the East, political asked the Rev. Vitally Borovoy to re- ground between good and evil forces. rights provide for the participation and spond. He emphasized the different his- Society must limit and define freedom integration of the individual in society. It torical development in the two nations. for the sake of guaranteeing a full life. Church is important to note, however, that both There are historical roots for the dif- Some Soviets questioned Osipov's posi- political traditions make a claim to pro- ferent priorities in the discussion of human tion; it seems to me that the Soviet under- vide for both political and economic rights. The top priority, however, must standing of freedom lacked a great deal Episcopal rights and for both individual and com- be the right to life, including but not of nuance, and seemed more like an ac- the cusation than a questioa (I do not be- of munal rights. limited to economic rights. Borovoy as- Second, the common Christian com- serted that the guarantee of the right to lieve that it helps to say that the Soviets mitment to greater contact, conversation, life would require great changes in cap- or the Russian Orthodox simply have a Archives and justice in East-West relations de- italistic society. different concept of freedom.Dostoyev - pends on a common commitment to The two delegations then had the op- sky, for example, offers a sensitive and 2020. human rights.Durin g our brief stay in the portunity to pose questions to each other. nuanced discussion of the complexity of USSR, we Americans were struck by the Often we could do no more than express freedom in The Brothers Karamazov.) state's accomplishments in providing our concerns, as the time was too limited I fear that the way we Americans Copyright housing, health care, and food for all its for a full discussion of each point The brought up the question of the status of citizens. These accomplishments are dialogue was open and candid — diplo- Jews must have seemed more like an particularly impressive, given the vast matic language by which to acknowledge accusation than a question to the Soviets. destruction which the nation suffered that the conversation was sometimes Their answers were defensive and, at during World War II. We have also been emotional; differences of opinion were least to my ears, quite troubling. We struck by the sense of openness under apparent, yet a common commitment to were told that the Soviet Union is a vast, Gorbachev, particularly in the area of continuing discussion held sway. diverse country in which the key issue is arms negotiations. Yet, other factors in As was often the case in our conversa- how to unify different peoples and give the Soviet system have disturbed us. In tions with Soviet church leaders, I could them a sense of equality. The Russian

22 THE WITNESS Orthodox Church has always been the state secrets. When this knowledge be- preserve peace. spiritual and moral force of the natioa It comes obsolete, they will be allowed to Future discussions of human rights was the church which brought peace to emigrate. must attend to this central concern. The medieval Russia by encouraging warring As the discussion proceeded along right to life raises a profoundly theo- princes to lay down their arms and to these lines, I sought to put the question of logical question: what constitutes the full unite their forces. It is the church which the status of Jews in a larger context In life? Attention to human rights can help today strives to bring peace and unity to the United States, I said, there are people contribute the answer. Life in the fullest the Soviet natioa Some Jews, however, who sometimes find themselves on the sense, depends on both political and still think of themselves as the chosen outside because they experience dis- economic rights, individual and com- people. They are to blame for the con- crimination or hardship. The American munal rights. Life depends on physical sequences if they do not wish to integrate churches have attempted to reach out to preservation, but physical preservation themselves into Soviet society. We were these people. How, I asked, do the Soviet alone does not constitue the full life. The told that the problem could be seen not as churches reach out to people who find freedom to develop individual personality oppression of Jews, but as oppression of themselves on the outside of their soci- is also crucial. Both American and Soviet publication. Russians. Jews constitute only 0.7 per- ety? I never received an answer more Christians can celebrate the sacred gift and cent of the population, yet they had 10 to concrete than "prayer and service." of life, the image of the God in whom we 20% of the top positions in the Soviet The Soviets emphasized that individual have our being. Future dialogue should reuse economy. Finally, we were told that the rights exist for the benefit of society. No explore a definition of the full life, lived for West has overemphasized problems of right may take precedence over the right finally for the sake of neither society nor Jewish emigration. When Jews are not to life, hence the Soviet concern not only the individual alone, but in service to allowed to leave, it is because they know required to guarantee economic rights, but to God. (From NCC Newsletter MIRror).

A STUDY PACKET Permission " The Case for Divestment" by Manning DFMS. / THE CASE FOR Marable; the exchange of correspondence between a reluctant Church Pension DIVESTMENT Fund and the Diocese of Newark, com- Church mitted to divestment; backgrounders on the situation in South Africa, and a rich supply of resources. The packet was de- Episcopal "W signed for study and action.

the Tie face a catastrophe in this of land and only the action of the inter- national community by applying pressure can save us." One — Four Copies $3.00 each

Archives The Rt. Rev. Desmond Tutu Five — Nine Copies $2.25 each Ten and Over $1.75 each 2020. For those who would engage in serious Please send copies of THE CASE FOR DIVESTMENT Study study about whether some investments Packet at $ each. Enclosed is a check in the amount of _. Prepaid orders only

Copyright are morally intolerable, the Episcopal Church Publishing Company has pre- pared a study packet entitled The Case Name for Divestment Its contents supply a wealth of testi- Address mony to pray and think about, including a summary of the South African Kairos City Zip Code document, by William Johnston; a status Make check payable to: THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH PUBLISHING COMPANY and report on apartheid and an article on mail to: P.O. Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002

November 1986 23 Letters... Continued from page 3 ality is quite human, quite "normal." dence and sufficient popular appeal to Take another look at Jesus when you use pursue. Where is this great wave of " compassion" upon which he came riding stances of Zal Sherwood and Anne such words. in to the post he holds? Gilson is shunted aside, out of his pas- The Rev. Grant M. Gallup "I do not believe the issue will be re- toral purview — and what is affirmed Chicago, I1L solved quickly," he states. His "foot- instead of them is "tradition... hetero- dragging" here will be one very important sexual, monogamous, faithful marital Issue sidestepped reason why. union as normative for the divinely given I have read the Presiding Bishop's state- John Manola meaning of the intimate sexual relation- ments in THE WITNESS over and over Wilmington, Del. ship." Normative is a code-word for again and they continue to make little fully, truly human. It is a fairly new sense. All that I can derive from them is name, actually, for heterosexualism, but that a man who should, by virtue of his Church sexual ghetto its effect is to marginalize or demote to position, have detailed knowledge of, Dear Presiding Bishop: God says as She less-than-fully-human the lives and loves and openness to, the sufferings of 10% of makes the plumbing, "I love you." How of lesbian and gay persons. publication. his sisters and brothers lacks current in- can Genesis confuse you and choke you It is odd that no one notices that Jesus' formation on homosexuality, is unin-

and with so many polysyllables? own sexuality is by this definition mean- formed on how the sin of homophobia The unhealthiest sexual ghetto I visit ingless. Whether he engaged in intimate operates within church structures, and is reuse is the church. Women and men like me sexual relationships cannot be known to unwilling to use even the power of a sym- for serve at altars everywhere, but usually us. But we do know that the apostolic pathetic statement on his part to do jus- we must bow to hetero idols. witnesses record that he loved persons of tice to the oppressed homosexual mem- You beg for time and point to the his own sex — Lazarus, and the disciple required bers of the Body of Christ church's ignorance. The church's ignor- John — in a special way, and that he had As nearly as I can make out, he is ance threatens far less than the church's relationships, unique for his time, but sensitive to the presumed feelings of pride. In an instant the church could quite common today for gay men, with Diocesan Commissions on Ministry. humble itself, could again become a Permission women whose meaning for him was not But he is not responsive to the suffering place comfortable for Jesus. found in marital union nor in the males of gay and lesbian people who are trying Louie Crew they were related to through patriarchal to live out their call to ordinatioa The

DFMS. Hong Kong / institutions. Presiding Bishop hopes that his letter To faffle about "many exegetical will enhance "reasoned reflection and approaches" and "diverse professional

Church discussion." All it has done for me is to From 'healed' lesbian opinion" is to speak as the scribes, and provide occasion for marveling at his As a Canadian, I rejoiced upon hearing not with the authority of the liberating ignorance of the growing body of knowl- about the election of a liberal Presiding gospel of God. The privatizing, the edge about the nature and irreversibility Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA. Episcopal reduction of the gay experience to a of sexual orientatioa I was prompted to Bishop Browning's subsequent state- the "pastoral ministry which brings people reread James 2:14-16, for an example of ments on Nicaragua, the bombing of of to Jesus" while ignoring the most signifi- a man of presumed good will appearing Libya, and his WITNESS interview cant fact about the lesbian and gay move- to address an issue while deliberately showed him to be sensitive and alert to ment in our time — that God has raised sidestepping it justice issues. I am disappointed that his Archives up a community, a gentle, loving people The Rev. Dr. Anne C Garrison response to your correspondence was so who are fighting for our lives — is one- Assistant to the Bishop of Michigan atypically uncourageous when it came to 2020. dimensional, to say the least, a total E. Lansing, Mich. affirming gay and lesbian rights. As a failure of insight to say somewhat more. longtime victim of sexual oppression, I The Presiding Bishop can begin anew want to share my story with you. Copyright his dialogue with the gay and lesbian Foot-dragging appalling The church and the world condoned community by changing his language I am appalled bythe Presiding Bishop s my violent marriage because it was about us." Homosexuals" as a noun is an ambivalence, expressed in his reply to heterosexual and told me I should have unacceptable clinicism. We are gay and your open letter. His response surely stayed in it I have been accused by peo- lesbian people, just as "Negroes" and shows the power of rhetorical double ple of having a "pattern of running away" such terms are no longer acceptable talk. He is trying desperately to straddle from situations because I ran away from when speaking or writing of the Black the fence — not to offend any side of the a violent childhood, and then from an community. Begin, brother Edmond, by issue. He is not proving himself to be the even more violent marriage, to freedom recognizing the full humanity of us all champion of a cause which at present he and life. Yet those same people condemn Our lives are " normative" and our sexu- obviously feels still lacks enough evi- lesbian relationships like the one I thrive

24 THE WITNESS this Christmas send three qiftsfor tneprice ofone!

Spread the word this Christmas

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and • A friend • A relative Save yourself time, energy, and money, too. No need to reuse rush all over town or stand in long lines at the cash register. for • Your church or library Order three gift subscriptions, which may include your own • A colleague renewal, for the regular price of one — $15. Take care of required • A student your gift list and help THE WITNESS at the same time. Your gift subscriptions will be announced by attractive cards, hand-signed exactly as you instruct us, and mailed

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Gift subscriptions wilt begin with the January issue. Episcopal umnESS the of and grow in at present, and tell me I share my identity would jeopardize the This account is my own way of" sing- ministry to which God called both of us. ing the Lord's song in a strange land," to

Archives should run from it It saddens me to hear people pervert That is where we are unlike other op- a strange people, that you might know pressed groups who can fight openly for that this land is my land, too! 2020. the Gospel of love and tell us we are in a "sinful relationship," that being lesbian their liberatioa We dare not, or we will A Canadian minister is "sick" and that we "need healing." be doubly oppressed. That is the reality Name withheld upon request Our experience has been the opposite; it with which we are faced daily. One day Copyright is within our relationship that we experi- perhaps we will be strong enough to face More to come ence healing. And we are better ministers the crucifixion the church offers. But not Presiding Bishop Edmond L Brown- — with more energy, compassion and yet However, I did want you to hear the ing's openness to dialogue on the care to give to others because of what we other side — not the story of a hetero- subject of homosexuality in the have together. Why should we seek to be sexual" healed" from some homosexual September WITNESS has elicited "healed" from wholeness and love? experience; but the story ofone lesbian's a broad range of response by way I am saddened that my partner and I struggle from exile and brokenness, to of Letters to the Editor. The dia- cannot openly celebrate our love. And it the promised land of love and wholeness. logue will continue in next month's saddens me as well that I am forced to I am truly a healed homosexual and I pages. — Ed. write this without adding my name. To have been richly blessed.

November 1986 25 Vignettes from the U.S.S.R.

Media image distorted Russians were very accepting of the blacks the day. He then announced over the bus My trip to the Soviet Union was one of the as well as the whites. microphone that the bells had been a gift most memorable times in my life. The ex- We spent much time defending ourcountry from Howard University in Washington, perience made me see things in a different from vicious attacks about us not wanting D.C. He asked if anyone else had heard the light. I used to think of the people as being peace. Many members of the group felt that bell. No one had. As the impact of this small hard to talk with and not wanting to lend a young Russians are just as we are, but the miracle of the bell manifested itself, I was hand to anyone in need of help. Another of older ones don't care about Americans, and overwhelmed with the awesomeness of our my stereotypes was that the Soviets be- are influenced by communist propaganda journey. lieved that they were the best people in the I sometimes wonder aboutthe impression — Mildred Stafford world and thought very highly of them- we left. We were a little more hyperactive Calvary Episcopal Church, Cincinnati selves. But when I saw the reality, I felt bad than some other kids, and most of us were NCC Trip about how I had assumed these people visiting a foreign country for the first time. publication. were so terrible when they really aren't. Some members of the group believe that we were seen as ugly Americans because and I learned that the Soviets are just like Partaking of Agape bread other human beings, and that they are of the way we would chew gum, wear lots of it is Saturday evening before Pentecost in doing basically the same things we are to jewelry and run around in the streets. I be-

reuse Moscow's lovely old St. Pimen's Russian promote peace. I also realized that our lieve that while we did many of these things Orthodox Church: we have listened rever- for media has only shown us the faults of the we also did some things to show that we ently to the priests and choir as they've U.S.S.R. and I went on this trip believing were growing into mature young adults. intoned with chant and song the words of what the media had told us. I bel ieve the trip I hope to have another experience like the thousand-year-old Divine Liturgy. There required has shown everyone a new side of the this, so I can see other countries as they is a separating sadness though, in knowing Soviet Union, a positive side. really are and not only the way our media that we non-members will not be allowed to However, we were depicts them. participate in the climax of the Eucharist — disappointed that we — David Hutchinson taking to ourselves the bread and wine. Permission never got to meet St. John's College High School But what is this? young peopleourage. Washington, D.C. We are being directed Those we met with National Cathedral Trip toward a priest stand- DFMS. / were at least 20-30 ing at the side of the years of age. When sanctuary holding a we questioned this basket of communion

Church The bell nobody heard we were told that peo- Upon entering the walled Danilov Monas- biscuits. Word is whis- ple there are consid- tery in Moscow we were greeted by some of pered down the line ered to be young the 15 resident monks and escorted to the that, although this is

Episcopal adults or youth until church over the gate to witness a portion of not the actual Eu- the age of 30. The only time we came in charist bread, it is not the the on-going liturgy. The church was so of contact with children or teenagers was at small that our group of 25 filled it, hardly just any bread either, the Pioneer camp we visited. Even then we leaving room for the worshippers, most of it has been given a special blessing for us, really didn't talk, but sat around as they whom were babushki of indeterminate age. the visiting Christians from America. This sang songs, and later we sang for them. heart-warming gesture expressed for me Archives While listening to the chanting, I distinctly One thing I noticed about the children is heard a bell sound. The sound was familiar. the thoughtful and genuine cordiality with that they never smiled. The only kids that It reminded me of long ago when, as a child, which the 138 members of our National 2020. smiled were the younger ones ranging in I once heard the Liberty Bell struck softly. Council of Churches Travel Seminar, repre- age from 5 to 11. This steeple bell, too, seemed to have a senting 18 denominations from 30 states, The group that I traveled with became so crack in it. were received by both Protestant and Or-

Copyright close that I thought of them as family. If Wondering at the similarity in sound, I thodox Churches last June in the Soviet there was a member in the group who had a asked the Moscow seminary student trav- Union. problem, he or she could share openly with elling with us if he knew the origin of the Among the traveling group were eight anyone. We would even lend each other bells in the church tower. He asked how I Episcopalians from the Diocese of Los money. Except for minor disagreements, knew there were bells in the tower as we Angeles: the Rev. Canon Harold G. Hultgren the group had no problem living together had not seen them yet. I told him I had heard of the Diocesan staff; Ludmila Gibbons and for two weeks. There was never any racial one strike softly and I wondered at their Ted Hollis, Jr. from All Saints, Beverly Hills; incident. The Russians seemed curious origin. Were they cast in the Soviet Union? Gwen Felton from St Michael and All Angels, about our racially integrated group. They He didn't know, but said he would ask dur- Corona del Mar; with July Felton, Mildred tend to think that America still has the racial ing the time we were there. I heard nothing Moser, Cheryl Stilwell and myself from All problems it had many years ago. But the from him until we boarded our buses later in Saints, Pasadena.

26 THE WITNESS Our experiences were varied as we di- to each other's nations on TV this year was quently for Pravda. vided into small groups. All of us, however, a real breakthrough. Although they receive the major news- went to Leningrad, Moscow, Zagorsk, and Kortunov said that there are two different papers such as the New York Times, they at least two other cities (seven of our local visions of the United States in the U.S.S.R. have little access to provincial publications. group taking in Odessa, Kishinev, and Ros- One is that the United States is gloomy, They read the Congressional Record and tov on Don, while Ted Hollis saw Tbilisi and jobless, full of organized crime, military- only know provincial news from inserts in Yerevan), visiting at least a dozen function- industrial complex-dominated, and those the Record. The woman who is senior re- ing churches, monasteries and theological who believe this wonder, how the country searcher on the U. S. Peace Movement and academies. can survive. The second is that America is Women's Movement gets only four major — Dorothy Kilian ideal: everything is good, people are rich, publications, and made her address avail- All Saints, Pasadena all social problems are solved. able to us. NCC Trip The Institute publishes 20 to 25 books a — Lynn McGuire year, in printings of 100,000, and produces First Parish Church a magazine on U.S. policy, economics and Brunswick, Maine 'Ethics of survival' needed society. Members lecture and write fre- NCC Trip The major problem in U.S.-U.S.S.R. relations is to find a new social and political base for publication. detente, Andrei Kortunov, head of the and Foreign Policy Division of the U.S.-Canada Music hath charm f Institute, told a visiting delegation from the In addition to common bonds of love and a burning desire for peace, we shared some- reuse National Council of Churches in July. thing else with the Soviet people — a deep

for "The present state is not normal," he said. "We need to find some new principles and appreciation for music and its power to sus- perceptions. Parity does not provide sta- tain and lift the human spirit. I have never bility." experienced a more angelic sound than required Kortunov emphasized that the ethics of that of the women's choir of Tbilisi, singing survival must first be developed — no gen- antiphonally with a male choir, their pure ocide, no nuclear war. Then the two coun- tones inviting the worshiper into'Miturgical tries can move to the ethics of cooperation. transformation." There is a saying about Permission International law cannot be the basis of Orthodox liturgy: The first hour you will feel relationship, because treaties are not inter- only your aching feet; the second hour you will feel nothing; the third you will have

DFMS. preted uniformly, he said. It is only a min- / imum standard. wings. Early on in our visit, the Orthodox Church The U.S.-Canada Institute, academic in Orthodox guide, Zagorsk, publishing house in Moscow presented a

Church character, is a think tank with a staff of Intourist's Natasha, right about 350 persons, (200 scholars, 150 program featuring 12 men and women sing- staff). It is headed by Dr. Georgi Arbatov, a ing music from the 12th century to modern Our shining hour came after we had split member of the Central Committee of the times. Acknowledging our thunderous ap- into smaller groups, atGegard, a 13th cen-

Episcopal Communist Party, who frequently appears plause, Archimandrite Alexander told us, tury cave-monastery in Armenia. A priest- "We are sure that on our planet, the great- guide had shown us through the noted the on U.S. television. est thing after love is music. The time will of The Institute, founded in 1968, focuses spiritual center, with its cavelike monk cells its research on the United States and Cana- come when music will be looked upon the and khachkars (stone crosses), and we da. Its departments include foreign policy, same way that icons are looked upon." ended up in the main Cathedral hewn out of After those heady words, we unveiled our rock. To demonstrate its remarkable acous-

Archives politics, economics, American manage- ment, agriculture, sociology and public modest secret. Before we left the United tics, he chanted a psalm. We were mes- opinion. The U.S.S.R. is interested in public States, Michael Roshak, a deacon in the merized by his voice, the "stereophonic" 2020. opinion in the United States, Kortunov said. Orthodox Church and an outstanding tenor, ambience. Then all of us seemed to have The fact that Reagan and Gorbachev spoke had taught us to sing Mnogaya Leta, "God the same idea at once, as Lynn McGuire, grant you many years," well known through- our best vocalist, lifted her hand, hummed

Copyright out the U.S.S.R. Now Michael strode for- our harmony cues, and 25 of us burst into ward, gave us our three-note cue, and 138 Mnogaya Leta. In that setting, we sounded of us belted out our debut in Russian and like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. MOVING? English. As we accepted their enthusiastic We were so impressed with ourselves Keep THE WITNESS coming by send- applause, tears flowed freely. Even our In- that Lynn led us into Dona nobispacem and ing a corrected mailing label from a tourist guide, Natasha, until then unflap- other selections we had learned. Ourguide recent issue to: THE WITNESS, P.O. pable and serious in demeanor, told those practically had to tug sleeves to move us to Box 359, Ambler PA 19002. Please of us around her, "That was beautiful! Who an assembly room where the monks were send it at least six weeks before you trained you? Look," she pointed to her arm. waiting to serve refreshments. move. "Goose bumps" did not translate easily from — Mary Lou Suhor Russian to English. NCC Trip

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