c. 1997 Religion News Service

Episcopal Church debates making female ordination mandatory

(RNS) A major Episcopal Church committee Thursday (July 17) recommended legislation that would force recalcitrant bishops to ordain women to the priesthood or face church trials that could oust them.

The joint committee of the church’s two policy-making bodies _ the House of Deputies and House of Bishops _ offered the recommendation at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention in Philadelphia. The 10-day meeting runs until July 25.

The proposal was sent to the House of Deputies for first consideration, which is expected Friday (July 18).

If approved by both houses, church law would enforce the church’s historic 1976 decision to ordain women to the priesthood. At that time, a “conscience clause” was approved allowing bishops opposed to female ordinations to block them in their dioceses.

After 21 years, the holdout dioceses have dwindled to four and various sections of the church have called for an end to the conscience clause.

One of the holdout bishops, the Rev. Jack Iker of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, said Thursday the legislation “won’t leave any room for us to coexist with them (the rest of the church).”

But Iker said that does not mean his diocese will necessarily leave the church. He did not elaborate further.

Iker said he believes “a small group of people,” who he identified as “feminists,” pressed the church to force the issue.

Iker, who believes the House of Deputies is likely to pass the measure, said, “If this passes the deputies, the bishops will be obliged to go along.”

The 900-member House of Deputies is composed of lay people and clergy below the rank of bishop. About 20 percent of the clergy deputies are women, and slightly more than half of the lay deputies are female.

The other dioceses in which bishops oppose female ordination are Quincy, Ill.; San Joaquin, Calif.: and Eau Claire, Wisc.

Senate threatens aid cutoff over Russian bill restricting religion

(RNS) The U.S. Senate has adopted an amendment that would suspend financial aid to Russia if President Boris Yeltsin signs into law a bill restricting religious freedom.

The measure _ already adopted by both houses of the Russian parliament and awaiting Yeltsin’s signature _ would severely restrict the activities of foreign missionaries and religious groups not”traditional”to Russia.

The bill is strenuously opposed by U.S. Christian groups that engage in missionary activities in Russia, and is just as strongly backed by the Russian Orthodox Church, which is concerned about the inroads foreign missionaries are making.

The bill recognizes four faiths as traditionally Russian: Russian Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. All other faith groups would be required to operate in Russia for 15 years before they could apply for state approval to own property, establish bank accounts or conduct other routine matters.

The Senate voted 95-4 Wednesday (July 16) to suspend aid to Russia if the bill goes into effect.”We must use (foreign aid) to promote American values as well as interests,”said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Voting against the amendment were Sens. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., Dick Lugar, R-Ind., and Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.

Yeltsin has yet to say whether he will sign the bill into law.

The Senate also voted to suspend aid to Russia if it does not cease assisting Iran’s nuclear program.

Prominent Baptist leader retains post after board vote

(RNS) The Rev. Henry J. Lyons _ despite controversy over his spending practices and alleged marital infidelity _ will retain his post as president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, after his denomination’s board gave him a vote of affirmation Thursday (July 17).

Lyons faced questions about his marital fidelity and lavish spending after his wife, Deborah Lyons, was charged recently with setting fire to an opulent Florida house her husband co-owns with his business partner, Bernice Edwards.

At an emergency meeting in Nashville, the board of the nation’s largest black denomination voted unanimously to keep Lyons as president, the Associated Press reported.

The board said in a statement after the meeting that it”moved and accepted the explanation of President Henry J. Lyons on issues … raised in the media.” The Rev. Charles Williams, a denomination spokesman, said Lyons addressed board members for about an hour and answered questions. Williams did not disclose details of Lyons’ remarks.

At a July 11 news conference at his St. Petersburg, Fla., church, Lyons denied having an affair with Edwards. Pinellas County sheriff’s officials said Deborah Lyons told them she believed her husband was having an affair with Edwards. But Deborah Lyons later retracted that statement in the media.

Among the revelations that have surfaced about Lyons and Edwards since the July 6 fire was a report that the two bought $130,000 worth of merchandise, including a 20-carat diamond from a Clearwater, Fla. company. The company has sued because it is still owed $89,000.

LWF strikes China, Hong Kong references from rights statement

(RNS) The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) _ holding the first international religious meeting in Hong Kong since the city reverted to Chinese rule _ eliminated references to Hong Kong and China in a statement on human rights.

The LWF, a worldwide communion of 124-member Lutheran denominations _ committed itself in a brief statement to”continuing and persistent support for human rights in all countries throughout the world where people still yearn for justice and fundamental freedoms.” But all references to Hong Kong and China _ including mention of imprisoned dissidents _ were dropped prior to the Wednesday (July 16) action. U.S. Christian activists say China persecutes its Christian population, an allegation China denies.

Hong Kong delegates were divided on the issue, according to the LWF’s information service.”If we raise these issues here, the LWF will be considered unfriendly and its activity unfriendly,”said Poon-Ki Simon Sit, president of the Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong.”It is not wise to make these remarks and allegations.” Other delegates urged speaking out.”To love a country you do not have to agree with everything,”said Lam Tak Ho, president of Hong Kong’s Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Hanover Bishop Hans Schmidt of Germany’s Evangelical Lutheran Church drew comparisons between the situation in China and that in Germany under Nazi rule.”During the Third Reich, churches were silent and later had to confess their guilt,”Schmidt said.”If we recognize that people are being tortured and persecuted (in China) we cannot be silent at such points.”

Fla. court rules against physician-assisted suicide

(RNS) The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday (July 17) against physician-assisted suicide.

The ruling came in the case of Charles Hall, 35, who is dying of AIDS and who wants his doctor to give him a lethal dose of drugs.

The court said,”It is clear that the public policy of this state as expressed by the Legislature is opposed to assisted suicide.” While Florida does not have a specific law allowing assisted suicide, a lower court had held that Hall was entitled to receive the lethal drug dose under a privacy provision in the state’s constitution, the Associated Press reported.

Hall lives north of Tampa Bay.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently that Americans do not have a right to have their doctors help them commit suicide.

Harvard church to allow same-sex weddings

(RNS) Harvard University’s nondenominational campus church announced Wednesday (July 16) that it will allow same-sex marriage ceremonies.

The decision was announced by the Rev. Peter Gomes, the gay pastor at Harvard University Memorial Church in Cambridge, Mass.”I am pleased to be able to extend the hospitality of the university church to all members of the university,”Gomes said, according to the Associated Press.

Gay marriage rites _ often called commitment or blessing ceremonies _ have no legal standing. The Unitarian Universalist Association and Judaism’s Reform and Reconstructionist movements are among the few leading religious groups that allow their clergy to in some manner participate in such ceremonies.

Vatican gets a voice in World Trade Organization

(RNS) The Vatican has been admitted as a non-voting observer to the World Trade Organization. Muslims promptly requested that Islamic groups be given the same status.

The Vatican was accepted Wednesday (July 16) by consensus after a lone objection from India was withdrawn during a WTO meeting in Geneva. Approval required a waiver of the WTO rule that observers apply to become members of the 131-nation body within five years.

The Vatican had made it clear it did not want full membership, only a voice in helping to shape the rules governing international trade.

Representatives from Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia said they did not object to the Vatican’s observer status, but wanted Muslim bodies to have the same opportunity.

Quote of the Day: Katha Pollitt, associate editor of The Nation

(RNS) Katha Pollitt, associate editor of The Nation magazine in New York, commented on the Southern Baptist Convention’s call for a broad boycott of Walt Disney Co. products, in part because of the company’s policy of extending health benefits to the partners of gay employees. Referring to a previous Southern Baptist call for increased evangelizing of Jews, she wrote:”Making a measurable dent in the profit of the Disney corporation is bound to be even harder than persuading the Chosen People to wash in the blood of the Lamb.”

MJP END RNS