AROUND THE COMMUNION Archbishop General Convention: At a glance wears many hats The Standing Commission on Ministry ■ In collaboration with the Standing When the Most Rev. Rowan Williams Development (SCMD) was assigned several Commission on Constitutions and Canons, was enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral tasks by the 73rd General Convention to to study the system for adjudication of dis- Feb. 27 as the 104th archbishop in St prepare for the 74th General Convention, putes and due process for Licensed Lay Augustine's succession, he began a rich and which takes place this summer in Persons, and develop appropriate canons varied ministry that extends throughout the Minneapolis. The commission devoted most for lay persons and their ministries. ■ Anglican Communion. of its time to a revision of Title III. The group In collaboration with the North American THE ANGLICAN Archbishop Williams is the bishop of the looked at how today's Church understands Association for the Diaconate, to review COMMUNION Canterbury diocese. Although he will dele- and is ordered to engage in ministry. They the current role of deacons in the Councils a community of gate many of his duties to the suffragan offer several proposed changes that would of the Church, in the dioceses, and the 70 million Anglicans bishop of Dover, he has ultimate pastoral impact ordinations and the role of lay people congregations and issue a report. ■ in more than authority of the diocese. in the work of the church. Other tasks To receive annual reports from seminar- 160 countries He also becomes metropolitan for the include: ies about funds received from dioceses ■ Southern Province and will confirm the To receive diocesan plans for continuing and congregations and report on this. ■ elections of diocesan bishops and will be the education of all clergy and lay profession- In collaboration with the Youth Ministries Resources for principal consecrator of every bishop in the als, present guidelines for minimum hours Cluster, to study the programs of youth min- national and Southern Province. He will chair the Crown or days of continuing education, and make istry at all levels of the Church, to use this world news: Appointments Commission, which is recommendations. study to inform the SCMD's review of Title III, The Episcopal responsible for submitting two names to the ■ To conduct a study of the theology of and to issue a report that includes recom- Church, USA Prime Minister for any vacant diocesan confirmation, and the relation of confirma- mendations for how to develop and support www.episcopal bishopric in the Church of England. tion to evangelism, baptism, adult mem- of youth ministry. church.org The Archbishop of Canterbury, acting bership, church leadership, and eligibility For more information about these reports, with the Anglican Consultative Council and for election to church office and issue a go to: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ the primates, also has certain responsibili- report. ministry/2003convention/bbreport.html ties for deciding whether a particular over- Anglican seas church is in communion with the Communion: Church of England. looked upon as the spiritual leader of more than icy, who attended the meeting. www.anglican In addition, the Archbishop is the appel- 75 million Anglicans around the world. In that “This is an ideal time for me to conclude communion.org late authority in such circumstances as the capacity, he will visit the provinces of the my deanship,” Baxter read from a letter. depositions of clergy, the cancellation of Anglican Communion as a pastor, leader and “Together we have accomplished much of licenses for clergy or lay readers. ecumenical ambassador. His predecessor, what I had set out to do, and I now want to Around the As Primate of All England, Archbishop Archbishop George Carey, visited some 90 explore new opportunities and challenges." Communion Sources: Williams has the right of crowning the countries, and it is expected that Archbishop Baxter, selected as the cathedral's chief admin- Anglican Communion kings and queens of England. He is respon- Williams will follow the same lead. istrator in 1991, said in the letter that a new capi- News Service, Episcopal sible for the coronation service, and he will tal campaign, as yet unscheduled, and a centenni- News Service administer the oaths as required under the National Cathedral dean resigns al celebration in 2007 make this an appropriate Coronation Oaths Act of 1688. The Very Rev. Nathan D. Baxter announced time to find a new dean. He did not elaborate By virtue of office, though not a peer, he his resignation in January as dean of Washington on his plans or reasons for resigning. is a Lord of Parliament with a seat in the National Cathedral, one of the country's most The Rev. Nan Peete, former canon for House of Lords. influential churches, effective June 30. Baxter ministry for the Diocese of Southern Ohio, Archbishop Williams is president of the made the surprise announcement at a scheduled will be involved in the search process for a Anglican Communion, and as such, he is meeting of the cathedral's senior staff, said the new dean. She serves on the executive staff Rev. Alan Geyer, canon for ethics and public pol- of the Diocese of Washington, D.C. SCHOLAR’S CORNER about 50 years, Version (NT 1979, OT 1982), and the I have heard about the King James Bible my whole life. THE REV. the Authorized New Revised Standard Version (NRSV, Sometimes I have heard it referred to as the Saint James WILLIAM G. Version replaced 1989). Bible. Is it the bible I should buy? its rival, the All of these revisions of the KJV are GARTIG Geneva Bible inherently conservative in that they Well, the King James Bible was the This practice enables us divide up (1560), even seek to retain the earlier language English bible for Protestants about 300 English bibles into two groups: those that with Calvinists, except where they think a change is years ago -- and it is King James, not are in the “Tyndale/King James whose theology necessary. Saint James, since it was under King Tradition’’ and those outside that tradi- was shown Before 1952, most churches, James I of England in 1611 that it was tion. You see, not only have there been clearly in the including the Episcopal Church, used first published. The King James revisions of the King James Version, but Geneva Bible’s the King James. Between 1952 and Version (KJV) still has the unswerving also the King James itself is a revision of footnotes. 1989, non-fundamentalist churches loyalty of many. You’ve perhaps heard earlier English bibles. In the English- The KJV used the Revised Standard Version. the joke about the old man who wasn’t speaking world, we have a venerable tra- then reigned Now we all use the New Revised interested in trying out a newer transla- dition of bibles, each translation being a supreme as the Standard Version. But most people do tion, saying, “If the King James Bible revision of the one before it, going back English Bible not realize the Bible they hear every was good enough for St. Paul, it’s good to William Tyndale (c. 1494 - 1536). He until 1881, when the New Testament of Sunday in church follows a long and enough for me!” translated the entire New Testament and the Revised Version was published. The venerable tradition back to William So dominant and beloved was the the narrative books of the Old Testament Old Testament of the Revised Version Tyndale. King James Bible that a number of before he was executed for translating the appeared in 1885. Other revisions of bibles are revisions of it. Knowing how Bible, which was a crime at the time but the KJV have followed: the American The Rev. William G. Gartig, attached people were to the King was soon to be legalized. Tyndale’s work Standard Version (ASV, 1901), the who holds a doctorate in Bible, will James, scholars thought an entirely was used, with modifications, in the Revised Standard Version (RSV, New answer your questions about the Bible, new, fresh translation that would be Coverdale Bible (1536), the Great Bible Testament 1946, Old Testament 1952), Episcopal life and other religious sub- very different from the King James (1539), and the Authorized Version of the New American Standard Version jects. Send questions to 2146 Cameron wording would have no chance of suc- 1611, known in America as “the King (NASB, 1971), the King James II Ave. Apt. 5, Cincinnati, OH 45212-3631 cess. James Version,” and “The KJV.” After Version (1971), the New King James or at [email protected]. 11