c. 1997 Religion News Service
Episcopal Church apologizes to American Indians for colonial atrocities
(RNS) The Episcopal Church apologized Saturday (Nov. 1) in a reconciliation ceremony for the atrocities English colonists committed against American Indians.
In an address at Jamestown Island in Virginia, the site of the first permanent English settlement in America, Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning asked American Indians to forgive the English colonists who referred to natives as”infidels and savages”who lived in”darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God.””It is painful to read the language in which the first Jamestown Charter was rendered in 1606,”said Browning.”It is not surprising that Christians who know this history are outraged by it. It is certainly an outrage.” The Episcopal leader was joined by Chief Webster Custalow of the Mattaponi tribe to sign the”New Jamestown Covenant”at a shrine devoted to the colony’s first Anglican minister.
The event was sponsored by the Native American Ministries office of the Episcopal Church and included American Indian music, religious ceremonies, prayers, and dances. The service was led by bishops, priests and lay people of the Navajo, Cherokee, Choctaw, Sioux and other Indian tribes and was joined by bishops whose dioceses have large Indian ministries.”It’s never too late to apologize,”said Bishop Frank Vest of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, the Washington Post reported.”Our mistreatment of Native Americans began as soon as we got here, and we have much to repent for.” The apology comes 400 years after King James I of England granted English businessmen a charter to colonize Virginia for the Church of England.”Four hundred years ago native people had no say about the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus, and centuries of Anglocentrism followed,”said Bishop Steve Charleston, an Oklahoma Choctaw, prior to the event.”In Jamestown, we, together, will sign a new Covenant of Faith.”
Graham meets with Chinese president at close of U.S. visit
(RNS) Evangelist Billy Graham met Sunday (Nov. 2) with Chinese President Jiang Zemin shortly before the end of the Chinese leader’s eight-day visit to the United States.
The private meeting in Los Angeles, originally scheduled at 15 minutes, lasted for half an hour. Graham kept most of the details of the meeting private, but said the two discussed religious freedom and other human rights issues in China.”I found the president to be very warm and personable,”Graham said in a statement.”He is highly intelligent and curious about our country, and has clearly learned much during his trip here.” Graham was accompanied by his son, the Rev. Ned Graham, president of East Gates International, a Seattle-based ministry that has assisted churches in China.
Graham said he also made a point of sharing his Christian faith with Jiang.
His time spent with the Chinese leader is in marked contrast to other religious leaders who protested Jiang’s presence in the United States.
American-Islamic group blasts Robertson for criticism of Muslims
(RNS) The Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked religious broadcaster Pat Robertson to apologize for recent remarks he made on his”700 Club”TV program criticizing Muslims.
According to transcripts of the Oct. 27 show, Robertson said:”To see Americans become followers of, quote, Islam, is nothing short of insanity. … Why would people in America want to embrace the religion of the slavers? … You say, `What’s going on in America, when we welcome into our society and give rights to people who are persecuting Christians around the world.'” Nihad Awad, executive director of CAIR, criticized Robertson’s remarks as a display of misinformation and bigotry.”These deeply offensive and inaccurate statements are just the latest examples of anti-Muslim religious bigotry that is becoming all too common in certain circles,”Awad said.”Mr. Robertson owes an apology to the American Muslim community and to viewers of the `700 Club’ who have been so sadly misinformed by his bigoted remarks.” Patty Silverman, a Robertson spokeswoman, said Robertson’s comments pertained to a Middle East”radical fundamentalist Islamic group”that was the focus of a news story about Christian persecution that had aired immediately prior to his remarks. “He didn’t give his feeling about Muslims in general,”said Silverman, public relations director for the Christian Broadcasting Network, which airs”The 700 Club.””He was merely commenting on the story that was made. Any religious persecution of any kind is wrong and this happens to be a Muslim faction that is persecuting Christians. It is not the entire Muslim population and that is not what he said.” The American Jewish Congress and People for the American Way, a frequent critic of Robertson’s Christian Coalition, also were critical of the religious broadcaster’s words.”Robertson’s complaints about the persecution of Christians are right on target,”said AJC Executive Director Phil Baum.”His defaming another religion, however, is not only off the mark, it is off the wall. If anything, Robertson’s remarks demonstrate that at least one Christian leader is guilty of religious intolerance of his own.” Officials of People for the American Way, which distributed a transcript of Robertson’s comments, also urged Robertson to apologize.”This display of religious intolerance and distortion of the facts shows Pat Robertson’s true colors,”said Carole Shields, president of People For.”He owes an apology not only to Muslims, but to all Americans who believe in religious freedom.”
Vatican panel: sins against Jews are affront to God
(RNS) A Vatican symposium on anti-Semitism that ended Saturday (Nov. 1) called on Roman Catholics to seek forgiveness for their sins against Jews and said that”Christians who yield to anti-Judaism offend God and the church itself.” The brief communique issued by the Vatican following the three-day meeting of 60 scholars came after Pope John Paul II delivered his most forceful condemnation of anti-Semitism to date. He blamed”erroneous and unjust interpretations”of the New Testament for Catholic sins against Jews during the Holocaust and during 2,000 years of Christianity.
On Sunday, the Polish-born pontiff again referred to the Holocaust, saying to a crowd assembled in St. Peter’s Square that his”warmest prayers”were with victims of the World War II concentration camps.
The”reflection”on anti-Semitic roots within Christianity was shepherded by the pope in preparation for the Christian year 2000, when he has said believers must take stock of the past and seek forgiveness.
The communique said that Christians seeking to put their house in order needed to”know how to forgive and how to seek and receive forgiveness.”It said that continuing prejudices against Jews”offend God and the church itself.” It remained unclear when a promised Vatican-produced document on anti-Semitism would be produced. The communique said the symposium was intended to prepare a”dossier”on anti-Semitism for the pope but it did not indicate when the document, 10 years in the making, would be released.
Report: pope to visit Nigeria in March
(RNS) Pope John Paul II will visit Nigeria in March to beatify a Nigerian priest, the Associated Press reported.
The pope, 77, is expected to beatify a priest named Father Tansi, who died 10 years ago. Beatification is the final step before canonization, or sainthood.
The pope last visited Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, in 1982. Of 90 million people, 10 percent are Catholic, half are Muslim.
Nigeria has come under fire because the military government has ruled the country for 14 years, making the country renowned for human rights abuses.
Award name changed to honor Word publisher
(RNS) The board of directors of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced Monday (Nov. 3) that the Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year award will be renamed to honor Charles”Kip”Jordon.
Jordon, who died Thursday (Oct. 30) of liver failure at age 52, was executive vice president and publisher of Word. During his tenure, Word won the Gold Medallion Book of the Year award three of the six times it was given.”Kip was respected throughout the industry as a man of great integrity who loved Christian publishing,”said Doug Ross, president and CEO of ECPA.”Kip cared deeply about his authors and the meaning of their books.” Established in 1978, the ECPA Gold Medallion Book Awards honor the best in Christian publishing. Since 1992, one book has been singled out as the Christian Book of the Year. Beginning in 1998, the award will be called the Charles”Kip”Jordon Christian Book of the Year.
Jordon served as president of ECPA in 1987 and held a board post for ten years. ECPA is an international trade association that serves Christian publishers by promoting excellence and cooperation.
Entries for the 1998 Gold Madallions are due Dec. 1 and winners will be announced in July.
Quote of the Day: Timothy George, divinity school dean at Samford University
(RNS)”Martin Luther was willing to die because he believed there was something more important than institutional loyalty. Martin Luther had a message we need to hear in this the best of times, the worst of times. Grace by faith alone, by the saving work of Christ alone, to the glory of God alone should give us the courage and the conviction to stand for the eternal things of God.” Timothy George, dean of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala., speaking at an Oct. 30 chapel service at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary commemorating the Reformation that was sparked by Martin Luther during the 16th century, quoted by Baptist Press, the official news service of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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