c. 2007 Religion News Service
Judge Says California Parishes Belong to Episcopal Church
(RNS) Three California parishes that have left the Episcopal Church cannot keep church buildings or other property, a California appeals court ruled Monday (June 25).
A three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal overturned a lower court’s rulings and found that the Diocese of Los Angeles and the national Episcopal Church essentially own the buildings and property.
“I believe this is a conclusive statement that the property will come back to us,” Los Angeles Bishop J. Jon Bruno said in a statement.
“Now we can get about the business of healing and about the business of being a church. It’s been a long ordeal,” he said.
The three breakaway parishes _ St. James Church of Newport Beach, All Saints Church of Long Beach and St. David’s Church of North Hollywood _ left the Episcopal Church in 2004 and sought to place themselves within the Anglican Church of Uganda.
As the 2.2 million-member Episcopal Church deals with fallout from its controversial decision to consecrate an openly gay bishop in 2004, battles over the often valuable church property assume increasing importance.
On June 18, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego filed property suits against three parishes that have split from the Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Church maintains that each of its 7,400-odd parishes holds its property and buildings in trust for the local diocese and the national church.
The courts have generally taken a hands-off approach to property disputes in hierarchical denominations such as the Episcopal Church, letting church rules hold sway over secular law.
In Monday’s decision, Justice David G. Sills of the appeals court wrote that “the right of the general church in this case to enforce a trust on the local parish property is clear.”
Sills said that “readers will look in vain in this opinion for any indication of what religious controversy may have prompted the disaffiliation. … That controversy is irrelevant to this action.”
A lawyer for the churches told the Los Angeles Times they may soon decide whether to appeal the decision.
_ Daniel Burke
Evangelical Covenant Church Passes `Creation-Care’ Resolution
(RNS) Members of the Evangelical Covenant Church have added their voices to those of other evangelicals who have addressed the issue of environmental protection.
A “resolution on creation-care” was passed during the annual meeting of the small, Chicago-based evangelical denomination in Portland, Ore. The meeting ended Sunday (June 24).
“There is an urgency for improvement and change in how we practice creation-care for the air we breathe, the oceans we fish, the land we cultivate, and the water we drink,” reads the statement. “So that we and the generations to come might live in sustainable and productive relationships with all of creation and fulfill our call to be good stewards.”
Pastor Adam Rohler, a delegate to the meeting from a New York City congregation, proposed the statement on behalf of a small group called the Young Pietists, which he said promotes a “holistic biblical commitment to justice.”
He hopes the statement will serve as a way to communicate with people outside the denomination who are concerned about environmental issues.
“I now have a document that says not only do I think that faith and Scripture have something to say but also there may be a denomination (that) may be willing to think it through with you,” Rohler said.
The statement notes that church President Glenn Palmberg co-authored an article earlier this year that called for “a financial commitment from the wealthiest nations to combat global warming.”
The resolution urges members of the Evangelical Covenant Church to practice recycling, carpooling and “advocacy for God’s creation” in churches, workplaces and governments.
_ Adelle M. Banks
Questions Linger as Bush Announces Envoy to Islamic Countries
(RNS) Hoping to improve America’s negative image in the Muslim world, President Bush said he will appoint a special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a political group of 57 nations home to more than 1 billion Muslims.
But at least one expert warned that while many Muslims will welcome the envoy, others will see it as just another empty gesture from an administration they say is at war with Islam.
“Some will say the damage done is far more complex and the solutions go beyond just setting up an envoy,” said Qamar-Ul Huda, a senior program officer for religion and peacemaking at the United States Institute for Peace, a think tank.
Speaking Wednesday (June 27) at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., Bush said the special envoy “will listen to and learn from representatives from Muslim states and will share with them America’s views and values.”
While much of the Islamic world sympathized with America after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, that support has plummeted in recent years over Iraq, Afghanistan, and U.S. policy toward the Israeli/Palestinian disputes.
But the envoy, Bush said, would also advocate for American views and stress what the United States has done in the Muslim world. Indeed, Bush used the announcement to remind Muslims of American help to Indonesia, Pakistan and other Muslims countries struck by devastating natural disasters in 2005.
Bush also blamed Islamic extremists for suppressing religious freedom in the Muslim world, and promised to help Muslims defeat them.
“We must help millions of Muslims as they rescue a proud and historic religion from murderers and beheaders who seek to soil the name of Islam.”
A State Department spokesman said he did not know if members of the Islamic group _ including nations such as Iran and Sudan that do not have diplomatic relations with Washington _ would have to approve accepting the envoy. The OIC’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York, as well as the Pakistani ambassador to the U.N., whose country now chairs the OIC, could not be reached for comment.
_ Omar Sacirbey
Catholic Bishops Unveil Pro-Marriage Ad Campaign
DENVER (RNS) The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a series of radio and television spots and a corresponding Web site aimed at anyone who needs help with marriage, with a special emphasis on Catholics.
During the launch of the multimedia campaign here on Wednesday (June 27), Archbishop Charles Chaput cut into a white wedding cake while onlookers sipped champagne.
“We’re calling people to be for their marriage and committed to their spouse, family and the institution itself,” said Chaput.
The campaign is part of a larger marriage initiative approved by the bishops in 2004 as a response to debate about same-sex unions, a high divorce rate, the declining rate of marriage and a rapid rise of non-married cohabitation.
The lighthearted radio and television spots feature responses to the question, “What have you done for your marriage today?” The answers range from taking care of the baby to sending a love e-mail to not yelling at a spouse.
Interviews were done on the street in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Providence, R.I., and Austin, Texas.
The first batch of 30- and 60-second spots are available to television and radio stations across the country immediately and the rest will be rolled out over the next 18 months. Since they are public service announcements, the campaign is relying on radio and television stations to play the messages, although some dioceses may purchase local airtime.
The Web site (http://www.foryourmarriage.org) provides practical help to couples, said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the bishops’ conference. The site offers video footage of the interviews, articles on marriage and links to other marriage resources.
_ Susie Ma
Methodists, Presbyterians, Brethren Report Lower Numbers
(RNS) Three mainline Protestant denominations _ the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Church of the Brethren _ have experienced steady decreases in U.S. membership rolls, continuing long-term trends, according to separate June reports.
A “state of the church” report issued by the UMC said its U.S. membership fell to 7.9 million _ a loss of nearly 6 percent _ from 1995 to 2005. In Africa and Asia, however, Methodist numbers are growing, with 200 percent increases on each continent during that decade.
UMC membership dropped about 1.4 percent in 2006, according to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.
Active membership in the Presbyterian Church (USA) fell by more than 46,000, to 2.27 million in 2006, according to the church’s Office of the General Assembly. Almost 1,000 fewer adults, and 230 fewer children, were baptized by the church last year, the church said.
Several large congregations have left the PC(USA) this year, choosing to affiliate with the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church instead.
The Church of the Brethren reported a 1.4 percent decrease in membership last year, to about 128,000. Membership fell by a similar percentage in 2005, the church said.
_ Daniel Burke
Mennonite Farmer Settles With State Over Animal ID Tags
(RNS) A Mennonite farmer from Pennsylvania does not have to comply with a state animal identification program after arguing that numbering his ducks would bring about his “eternal damnation.”
Pennsylvania officials now say the identification program, which is designed to protect against disease outbreaks among fowl, is not mandatory.
James Landis, of Lebanon County, Pa., had argued that the program’s requirements would force him to violate his religious beliefs.
“He sincerely believes that if he, as a Christian, were to participate in such a numbering system, it would result in his eternal damnation,” Landis’ lawsuit said.
Leonard Brown, Landis’s attorney, said the settlement “is a victory for all farmers and for people of faith in this country.” Brown is affiliated with Alliance Defense Fund, a network of conservative Christian lawyers based in Scottsdale, Ariz.
After international outbreaks of mad cow disease and avian flu, some state and federal programs ask farmers to track and number their animals. Amish dairy farmers in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have objected to programs that would have forced them to number their cows.
They say the Bible’s book of Revelation warns of a numbering system from the Antichrist that “causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.”
Landis is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, a conservative spin-off from the more mainstream Mennonite Church. It has about 6,600 members.
Theological cousins of the Amish, conservative Mennonites such as Landis do not enjoy worldly pleasures like radio and television, and wear plain clothing and educate their children at small, private schools.
_ Daniel Burke
Orthodox Jews to Launch Kosher Cooking Channel
NEW YORK (RNS) You say potato pancakes, they say latkes. Now, Orthodox Jews will help viewers practice what they preach _ in the kitchen.
The Orthodox Union, which certifies most kosher food products, is preparing to launch a Web-based cooking channel this summer and is negotiating to provide programming for the Food Network and Jewish Life TV.
The channel will begin with a variety of culinary and kosher experts hosting weekly 5-minute Web video segments, highlighting OU-certified products and dietary staples ranging from horseradish to marinara sauce, OU officials said.
“It’s a Rachael Ray recipe-type program,” said Barry Mase, OU media sales director. “The idea is to take the old-view kosher, which is traditional and old fashioned, and be hip about the whole thing with new recipes using some of our products.”
The channel will launch in late August or early September, with a Simply Kosher show hosted by Jamie Geller, author of the upcoming “15-Minute Kosher Cookbook: Fast and Easy Recipes from the Bride Who Knew Nothing.”
“Hopefully, it will be in time for the Jewish holidays,” Mase said, referring to the Sept. 13 start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
One of channel’s first guest chefs, Ashley Farnell, has served as a personal chef to the British royal family, President Bill Clinton, Sir Elton John, Tina Turner, and The Rolling Stones.
The channel will be featured on the Orthodox Union’s Web site, http://www.ou.org.
_ Nicole Neroulias
Baptist Group Says Number of Women Clergy Up
WASHINGTON (RNS) The number of ordained women in prominent leadership roles in “moderate to progressive” Baptist groups has grown to more than 600, according to a report released Thursday (June 28) from Baptist Women in Ministry.
In its second “State of Women in Baptist Life,” the group found that 117 women serve as pastors, co-pastors or church planters (starters of new churches) in the Alliance of Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and moderate conventions in Virginia and Texas in 2006. In addition, the American Baptist Churches USA reported 490 women serving as pastors, co-pastors and interim pastors.
The total of 607 women is an increase from 2005. The first Baptist Women in Ministry report had found 102 women serving in top pastoral roles and the American Baptists reported 403 women pastors in prominent roles, for a total of 505.
“Although the novelty of women entering professions of law, medicine, and teaching has long since waned, ministry remains one of the last professions to be entered in any significant numbers by women,” states “The State of Women in Baptist Life _ 2006,” which was released during the group’s annual meeting in Washington.
Pamela Durso, a leader of Baptist Women in Ministry and co-author of the report, said her group was elated at the recent decision of First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga., to name the Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell as its senior minister on June 17. The historic church is affiliated with both the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the more conservative Southern Baptist Convention, whose members have generally opposed women clergy.
“This is Julie’s third church so she’s kind of broken through,” said Durso. “We see a slow but steady increase of the number of women who are pastoring.”
_ Adelle M. Banks
Update: Judge Says Portrait of Jesus Will Stay in Courthouse
SLIDELL, La. (RNS) Flanked by Slidell’s mayor and local clergy, City Court Judge Jim Lamz said Saturday (June 30) he will not remove a portrait of Jesus from the courthouse lobby, potentially setting the stage for a legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union.
With the portrait hanging above him, Lamz told a news conference he disagrees with the ACLU’s assertion that displaying the portrait violates the separation of church and state.
The portrait has been identified by local clergy as “Christ the Savior,” a 16th century Russian Orthodox icon. It depicts Jesus holding a book open to biblical passages, written in Russian, that deal with judgment.
The only portrait in the courthouse’s main foyer besides one of founding judge Gus Fritchie, for whom the courthouse is named, the image of Jesus hangs above the court’s billing window. Below the portrait are gold letters reading, “To know peace, obey these laws.”
The judge said he is resigned to a lawsuit over the portrait.
“Due to the display’s historical place in the courthouse, I explored options to obtain a definitive ruling on the constitutionality of the display without an adversarial court battle,” he said. “I could find none.”
Lamz said he consulted with a constitutional scholar at the University of Michigan, who he said has argued similar cases, before concluding that the portrait’s constitutionality remains an open legal question.
But the acting director of the ACLU’s Louisiana chapter said the question was settled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005.
“Our decision to take the case is based on an established Supreme Court precedent,” Vincent Booth said. “I expect that we will go forward with our suit to let a court decide.”
In the 2005 case, he said, the Supreme Court held that a government violates the First Amendment when it acts with the “ostensible and predominant purpose of advancing religion,” bearing in mind the nature, effect and legal history of such advocacy.
_ Jeff Muskus
Deal Collapses Between Boston Archdiocese, Hospital Chain
BOSTON (RNS) A proposed deal to hand over control of six hospitals that have burdened the cash-strapped Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston collapsed last week, forcing the church to begin exploring new options.
For four months, the archdiocese has been trying to reach terms for affiliating its Caritas Christi Health Care system with Ascension Health of St. Louis, which runs the nation’s largest Catholic health care system. For the archdiocese, a deal with Ascension Health had represented an opportunity to transfer responsibility for Caritas’ estimated $275 million debt.
But in a joint statement Thursday (June 28), both parties said efforts to reach agreement had failed.
“We approached the process with a clear understanding of the need for the parties to reach agreement on numerous terms in order to move forward,” the statement said. “While we hoped to reach a definitive agreement, regrettably, after months of good faith efforts, we have collectively determined that is not possible and we have agreed not to pursue an affiliation”
Neither side disclosed the sticking points that caused the talks to break down; both sides declined to expand on the written statement.
For the archdiocese, the collapse marks a setback in efforts to cut costs across the board since the clergy sex abuse scandal broke in 2002. More than 60 area parishes have closed as part of a massive restructuring initiative that began in 2004. In May, church leaders announced plans to sell archdiocesan headquarters to Boston College for about $65 million and relocate offices to suburban Braintree, Mass.
For Caritas, the Boston area’s second-largest hospital chain and employer of about 12,000, the breakdown in talks has triggered an “aggressive” search for a new chief executive. The post has been vacant since last year when Dr. Robert M. Haddad stepped down amid allegations that he had had inappropriate conduct with female employees.
_ G. Jeffrey MacDonald
Alabama Governor Urges Prayer for Rain
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) With the state’s weather forecasters not delivering much-needed rain, Gov. Bob Riley has turned to a higher power, issuing a proclamation calling for a week of prayer for rain.
Riley encouraged Alabamians to pray, starting Saturday (June 30), “individually and in their houses of worship.”
“Throughout our history, Alabamians have turned in prayer to God to humbly ask for his blessings and to hold us steady during times of difficulty,” Riley said. “This drought is without question a time of great difficulty.”
On Sunday, a series of strong thunderstorms brought torrential rain, flash floods and lightning to the area, but apparently not enough to bring much relief to the drought-stricken area.
“I don’t think it made a big dent,” said Patrick Gatlin with the National Weather Service’s Huntsville office. “… This is the most rain we’ve seen in quite some time but it definitely won’t get us back to normal.”
State proclamations for the national day of prayer and other broad, nondenominational religious observances are fairly common, said the Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. But government calls for intercessory-type prayer are rare, he said.
“He shouldn’t do these things that raise the specter of government promoting a particular religion,” Lynn said. “It’s just a bad idea.”
_ Stan Diel (in Birmingham) and Budd McLaughlin (in Huntsville)
Quote of the Week: Talking Hawk, a Native American
(RNS) “Earth Mother is fighting back _ not only from the four winds but also from underneath. Scientists call it global warming. We call it Earth Mother getting angry.”
_ Talking Hawk, a Native American from the Mohawk Tribe, preparing for a sacred ceremony to pray for the Earth. He was quoted by the Boston Globe.
END RNS Eds: Glenn in 7th graf of 2nd item is CQ
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