October 1995
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OCTOBER 1995 ACAZISE Of OF COMMON P INSIDE: Bishop o . F-W lin P, CONTENTS 3 From the President:/o/ira Rhein brings us up-to-date on the move ofthe PBS from Florida to Philadelphia, and speaks of plans for the future. 4 Go Edmond Go: A new association calls for the resignation ofthe Presiding Bishop. The Church Pension Fund: Episcopalians United investigates. Dixon Ordains Homosexual: Jane Dixon ordains non-celibate lesbian in Washing BOARD OF DIRECTORS ton National Cathedral. ESA statement onWomen's Ordination: r/ie^SAwswes stofemenrcowceraOTgpro- The Rev'd D. Barrington Balms, Memphis, TN posed changes to Canon law. Church ofthe Good Shepherd Mr. D. Kirke Erskine, Carmel, CA 5 Reflections from the Editor's Desk: Dr. Toon ponders the significance ofthe near Treasurer obsession with the word "community" in the House of Bishops. The Rev'd Joseph S. Falzone, Whitehall, PA St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 6 Choose ye this day: The Rev'd Jerome Politzer makes suggestions as to the character and beliefs ofthe next Presiding Bishop. The Revd Gordon D. Griffitli, Santa Rosa, CA Dr. Janet Hildebrand, W! Monroe, LA 7 Dear Bishop Browning: A letterfrom the Editor to the Presiding Bishop about what the latter understands to be the identity and meaning of "God". Mrs. Leo (Bree) Kelly, Atlanta, GA The Rev'd David C. Kennedy, SSC, Lantana, FL 8 Prayer Book Studies: Basic Questions addressed to the 1979 Prayer Book-Who is God? Church ofthe Guardian Angel Is He the same God as the God of the 1928 Book? The Rev'd A. Darwin Kirby, Jr., Pittsboro, NC 9 Nashotah's Loss! An interview with theRev'dDr. Charles Caldwell as he leaves Nashotah Mrs. Jan Mahood, Huntington, NY House to take early retirement in Florida. The Rev'd Dr. David A. Ousley, Philadelphia, PA Church of St. James the Less 10 Bishop On Itial: William Murchison explains what the trial of retired Bishop William Righter is all about. The 76 Bishops who consented to the Trial are listed. Mr. John H.W. Rhein, III, Garden City, NY President 12 No F-Word in Beijing: Jan Mahood describes the ideology of the UN Conference of Mr. Robert Robinson, New Canaan, CT Women and the involvement of the ECUSA in it. Mrs. Jerry (Marilyn) Ruzicka, Clifton Park, NY 13 Sexuality and Homosexuality: Collection of pieces on sexuality and homosexuality. The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon, Oconomowoc, Wl Vice-President 14 Getting the Words Out: The PBS and Preservation Press join hands to propagate the Mrs. Alfred (Nancy) Von Klemperer, Mill Neck, NY Gospel. Secretary Mr. Luther D. (Dan) Wallis, Pebble Beach, CA 15 Sense and Nonsense: The Rev'd Dr. William Ralston calls for the parallel use ofthe 1928 and 1979 Prayer Books within the ECUSA. Mr. Joseph Warren, Chicago, IL EMERITUS AND HONORARY DIRECTORS 16 Making and Equipping Disciples Today: Mrs. Cris Fouse and the Rev'd Dr. Will iam Blewett have suggestions. The Rt. Rev'd Clarence R. Haden, Ret. Emeritus and Honorary, Lake Oswego, OR 17 WhyWe Support the Prayer Book Society:/m andNormaWhitacre explain their The Rev'd John Hildebrand commitment to the Prayer Book Society ofthe Episcopal Church. Honorary, Ft. Worth, TX The Rev'd Jerome Politzer 18 WillYourWill Be Done? Howyou can help the Prayer Book Society. Emeritus and Honorary, Carmel, CA 19 Colin Powell Mourns the Loss of the Traditional Liturgy: in his best-selling The Rev'd Herbert Ward Honorary, Boulder City, NV book. My American tourney, the four star general writes emotionally ofthe 1928 BCP (Bp. Righter photo - Amy Toensing \ New York Times] MANDATE —Vol. 14, No. 3 Editor: The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon; Managing Editor: James T. Whitacre; Typesetting and Design: Preservation Press, Inc. © 1995 by The Prayer Book Society ofthe Episcopal Church. AU rights reserved. MANDATE is published six times a year by The Society for the Preservation of the Book of Common Prayer, Inc., a non-profit organization serving the Church. AU gifts to the Prayer Book Society are tax-deductible. Subscriptions: $28 tax-deductible donation for a one year sub scription. Editorial Correspondence: EO. Box 35220; Philadelphia, PA 19128; 414/569-7721; Fax 414/569-7418; E-mail [email protected]. Advertising and Subscriptions: PO. Box35220, Philadelphia, PA 19128; 609/467-4597, Fax 609/467-4621. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Prayer Book Society, EO. Box 35220, Philadelphia, PA 19128-0220. Following our Lord's MANDATE: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matt. 28:19 2 MANDATE: October 1995-Speclal Issue The Prayer Book Society ofthe Episcopal Church From the President John H.W. Rhein III CALLED TO PHILADELPHIA hen a Director of the Prayer Book Society suggested Philadelphia area, and the transportation facilities are among establishing a House of Studies to serve as a tradition the best in the nation. And coincidence of all coincidences, we Walist theological "think tank", he thought a city with found our new ZIP code is 19128. deep, historic Anglican roots might be the ideal place for us to We are grateful to God that parishes in and around the city locate. use the Cranmer-Seabury Liturgy. However, we cannot forget It was further proposed that our House of the illegal ordinations of eleven women in Studies, Cranmer-Seabury House, must be 1976 and of homosexual persons recently in easily accessible: served by a world class JOURNAL the city. airport, super highways and railroad trunk PROCEEDINGS We can never fully express our gratitude to lines. It should be near a top-notch seminary Q T Ti! E those who stood by us during this period of or university, and it must be in a community Bifliops, Clergy and Laity, transition, with thought, prayers, and where one or more parishes still worship from OF THE contributions. We promise we will continue to the 1549-1928 Cranmer-Seabury Liturgy. Proteftant Epifcopal Church fight to retain the doctrine, discipline and Further, if such a place would be appropriate IS THE worship so beautifully expressed by the 1928 for the Society's House of Studies, it would be UNITED STATES Book of Common Prayer. We seek to bring the equally desirable for the national office ofthe Living Past into the Present for the Future. AMERICA, Society itself. During our transition, we discovered We found Philadelphia to be the answer to CONVENTION instances in which we had been unresponsive all we were seeking, including our new HELD IN THE to some of our supporters, letters that had not Administrative Executive, Jim Whitacre. Jim's CITY ot PSIIADELPHIA, been answered and requests improperly f K O M spiritual home is St James the Less in Tutsn.Y, Sift'*6*' 19l',' to F"°*Y. O*'*"- l6th' handled. To any subjected to this lack of follow Philadelphia and his rector is the Reverend through on our part, we truly apologize. We Doctor David Ousley, a director of the Prayer promise we are going forward -wehaveawar P JI J L .1 1> E C ? 11 I 4: Book Society. P,r-ItD Bt HALL A^H SELLfcHi. to win, and will need the support of all who Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, take their rehgion seriously if we are to win it. embraces philosophically the genuine Now that we're in Philadelphia, we're inclusiveness we have found so sadly lacking in the ECUSA. It looking forward to our new beginning, and we're excited about was the birthplace of the first American Book of Common the future. We shall be there to welcome the 1997 General Prayer [1789; see inset]. What's more, freedom to choose the Convention. rites used in worship goes hand in hand with the place where the Liberty Bell resides. Several universities are in the May our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in his gracious love. PHILADELPHIA — Christ Church (1695-1995), first parish church, site ofthe first General Convention ofthe Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, which approved the first American Book of Common Prayer. The Rt. Rev'd William White, ninth rector of Christ Church, Chaplain of the Continental Congress, and first Bishop of Pennsylvania The Prayer Book Society ofthe Episcopal Church MANDATE: October 1995-Special Issue 3 'Go Edmond Go," cries the CCLEC ESA deeply disappointed and angry with the recommendation ofthe ad hoc Committee for A new, vocal, activist and growing group is calling for the resignation of the Presiding Dialogue on Canon III.8.1. Bishop. A booklet,^ Catalog of Concerns: The ECUSA under Edmond Lee Browning, is This Committee, established by the General Convention of available from Concerned Clergy and Laity 1994, has been discussing how Canon III.8.1 which permits the of the Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 36433, ordination of women can be implemented in the whole of Grosse Pointe, MI 48236. Send a large S.A.E. with $2.50 in stamps ECUSA. On July 7,1995, by a 5-4 vote the Committee adopted a for the booklet. series of proposed changes to canon law which would forbid The Prayer Book Society shares many of the concerns of consideration of the sex of the candidate in matters of CCLEC and also prays that Bishop Browning will repent (do a postulancy, ordination, consecration and the calling of clergy U-turn) and embrace the Gospel of God concerning the Lord to the staffs of parish churches. Jesus Christ as set forth in Holy Scripture and the Common The Episcopal Synod of America has made the following com Prayer Tradition ofthe Anglican Way.