VOL. 65 NO. 6 JUNE, 1982 ECPC Award Winners Saying 'No' to the Nuclear Cross publication. George Regas and reuse for required Permission DFMS. / \ Church Episcopal the of Archives 2020. Copyright humanity ishanging t, on a nuclear cross. The world itself has become a cross of iron. -Jonah House Liturgy JjJSTTJSJid First Theologizing rejection and hate. From a practical point of view, your action is worthless Thanks for the March issue. I am one of because human minds are not overcome LETTERS the ordained Roman Catholic women — by repayment-in-kind. From a Christian ordained not irregularly, invalidly, perspective your resort to hatred and illicitly — but by the women I serve and rejection is no more righteous than T.THTTTH1 P ft who mutually serve each other. I love it! theirs. You are bound by law and Gospel IS Your articles are the first theologizing on no matter what others may do. our reality. Thank you! Furthermore, the sacraments are not Rosalie Muschal-Reinhardt the property of those administering WITNESS Copping Out Fairport, N.Y. them, but the activities and presence of God through the only media he chooses Gentlemen: I hope I did not Insult Used Issue for Meditation to use: imperfect human beings. If you anyone on your staff with that time- reject the holy sacraments you reject not honored salutation. With the heavy run New Jersey Women's Ordination priests but Christ! publication. of articles recently in your magazine on Conference warmly thanks you for the Your protest could be much more the various aspects of "women's rights," March, 1982 issue of THE WITNESS and effective were you to work within the whatever those might be, I am just a little concerning the movement within our community rather than outside and reuse gun-shy about using that term in this church for justice for women, for against it. State publicly that you accept for case. renewed priestly ministry and for the ministration of the sacraments, in As I read your magazine and sense the ordination of women. love and Christian charity and with full gyrations in quality and thrust, I cannot During the prayer at our March confidence in the understanding grace required help but wonder how that can be. And meeting many excerpts from this issue of God as explained in Article XXVI (in why is it that my Episcopal friends, were read and reflected upon. Again, the Book of Common Prayer): "Of the especially some clergy, dislike your thank you! unworthiness of the ministers, which magazine to such an extent? As a Jeannine Toscano Permission hinders not the effect of the Roman Catholic, working on a covenant WOC Steering Committee sacraments." Work positively within the team with a local Episcopal church, I Verona, N.J. fellowship, not negatively by withdraw- DFMS. now frequently attend services in this / ing from it or sinfully by adopting the church and have learned the truth of the (Editor's Note: Dom Christopher Jones, attitude of those you oppose. saying that the Episcopal Church is prior of Transfiguration Retreat Thomas C. Weller, Jr. Church indeed more Catholic than the Roman. I Monastery in Pulaski, Wise, issued a Mechanicsburg, Pa. fail to see that, however, in your statement of conscience recently which magazine. You have several things in said that his chapter would refuse the Episcopal common with Connecticut politicians — sacramental ministrations "of any A Word of Warning the neither you nor they are talking about deacon, priest or bishop who rejects and The more I get pontifical letters from of the bread and butter issues. Why is it denies the validity of our sisters who are "Spikes" the more I am afraid for our that a group like Clergy and Laity Con- ordained in the priesthood." The letter church. It becomes obvious that Spikes cerned can address those issues and must see to it that the Episcopal Church Archives which follows from Thomas Weller your staff cannot? Should not your responds to that statement. In February invalidates women priests — and they magazine be offering a vision for the 2020. the Bishop of Fond du Lac wrote to do try their damndest. What I wonder is, church's life that holds promise of new Jones withdrawing permission for any do women realize that these people are social possibilities in a time of great fear, priest of the diocese to minister to the out for their throats? It would be dis- insecurity, and danger? A vision deeply community except In extremis. See astrous if women think that because our Copyright rooted in worship and practice of per- "What to do With Hungry Sheep" in the church ordains them they are safe. sonal disciplines? Is not the Gospel to April WITNESS. Dom Christopher has Believe me, sisters, the legalists among be good news to the poor? Are not the since received a number of supportive us are after your entrails. children of God to live in the world as letters, but angry ones as well, and sent More and more I realize the prophetic peace-makers? the response below to THE WITNESS.) reality of our stand. Indeed, the twisting I would suggest that your heavy of realities Spikes are prone to makes emphasis on women's position in the On Dom Jones' Sins them more, not less, dangerous. I fear church is a cop-out from the real issues we are innocent. We do not know their that face us today as human beings and Dom Christopher Jones, your sins are venom. as Christians. your confident self-righteousness and We set our directions. We wait for God Charles Riemitis your display of rejection and hatred Manchester, Conn. against those whom you find guilty of Continued on page 18 THE WITNESS THE EDITOR UllTRESS Mary Lou Suhor EDITORIAL SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Robert L. DeWitt CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Richard W. Gillett publication. Hugh C. White and reuse STAFF for Ann Hunter Can Middle-Class Stay Neutral? Susan Small Bonnie Spady required e are living in times when wills known. What has this to do Lisa Whelan W people across the entire earth with Christian faith? are changing their minds about Dorothee Solle, the German what is going on in the world. Two liberation theologian, says that the Permission PUBLISHER first step for Christians today is to Episcopal Church Publishing Company irrefutable facts — the threat of nuclear holocaust and the "break neutrality," a step most DFMS. increasing gap between rich and difficult for the middle-class. / poor, have thrust into prominence Middle-class people have been ECPC BOARD OF DIRECTORS the interdependence of the taught to be neutral, not one- Church CHAIR sided; to look at the other side; to H. Coleman McGehee people of planet Earth. Business simply cannot be carried on as listen to the experts and respect VICE-CHAIR the technological givens. Solle Barbara Harris usual in the fields of religion, Episcopal SECRETARY economics, politics, and human points out that this is not totally the Helen Seager rights. Those involved are forced wrong. But the danger is that the of TREASURER to reexamine their posture in the existing culture of injustice Robert Potter light of dramatic and often quick- dominates their perspective, Archives ASSISTANT TREASURER changing world events. rendering them incapable of Robert Eckersley The people of the East, the attacking the problem. If their 2020. Otis Charles Socialist Camp, are beginning to neutrality is broken, however, and Robert L. DeWitt show signs of questioning the they identify with those in need, then the openness of middle-class Steven Guerra domination of the Soviet Union; Copyright people, their freedom to listen to Suzanne Hiatt and the people of the West, the both sides, becomes a strength. Mattie Hopkins Capitalist Camp, are no longer Joan Howarth tolerating, sans critique, the The perspective of Christ is one- James Lewis domination of the United States. sided. He is on the side of the Joseph A. Pelham In the current conflict, victims. To be a Christian today consistent with the human means to look at the world THE WITNESS is published monthly. Editorial struggles of ages past (and with through the eyes of the victimized, office: P.O. Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002. Phone what Arnold Toynbee referred to to break neutrality, and to join the (215) 643-7067. Subscription rates $12 per year. as the recurring long high wave of struggle with that new vision. $1 per copy. Copyright 1982 by the Episcopal Church Publishing Company. Printed in U.S.A. history), people are rising up in ISSN 0197-8896 grass roots locales to make their (H. C. W. and the editors) "People are realizing that It It Irresponsible to allow the military, or any professional elite, to exercise a powerful monopoly over decisions which could determine survival for hundreds of millions, and the planet Itself." Saying 'No' publication. to the and Nuclear Cross reuse for by George Regas required Permission DFMS. / poll conducted several years ago in others, incredulous, asked, "Why would People are beginning to understand California revealed that 85% of the you invest so much energy, money and what happened at Hiroshima on Aug. 6, Church A people questioned believed there would resources in so hopeless a cause? The 1945. Jonathan Schell's brilliantly- be a nuclear war and that they would President and the Pentagon are in researched essays in The New Yorker in not personally survive it. The anger, the charge. You can't change that." February indicate this bomb was a very Episcopal rage at this movement of our nation small one by today's standards — a the It did seem rather foolish to think a of mere tactical nuclear weapon.