c. 2003 Religion News Service

Presbyterian Court: Moderator `Acted Improperly’ on Special Assembly

(RNS) The highest court in the Presbyterian Church (USA), in another skirmish over the volatile issue of homosexuality, has ruled that Moderator Fahed Abu-Akel “acted improperly” in attempting to convince commissioners (delegates) not to press for a special meeting of the denomination’s General Assembly.

But the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, as the court is known, dismissed the complaint against the moderator saying that in this case he “was not required to call a special meeting” because he had not received “sufficient requests” to trigger the constitutional requirement that a meeting be called, Presbyterian News Service reported from Kansas City, where the judicial commission is meeting.

At issue is a petition to recall commissioners who attended last summer’s General Assembly, the church’s highest legislative body. Those calling for the special meeting said it was needed to discipline churches that allegedly have defied a church ban against noncelibate gay pastors.

Top denominational officials had expressed dismay at the petition, citing in part the costs involved in holding a special session just before the new General Assembly _ with different commissioners _ convenes in Denver on May 24.

In its March 19 ruling, the judicial commission said Abu-Akel’s opposition to calling the special session “had the appearance of seeking to undermine the rights of commissioners” to last year’s General Assembly.

But the commission also said the moderator, who serves a one-year term as the top official of the denomination, was right to require verification of the standing and signatures of the 57 commissioners from last year’s General Assembly requesting the special session. Such a verification process, it said, “was required for the maintenance or order and the just execution of the office” of moderator.

_ David E. Anderson

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Creates Its Own Recording Label

(RNS) The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which has recorded more than 150 albums on various industry labels, has created its own recording label.

The decision, announced Monday (March 17), marks a new juncture for the well-known group. It will now direct and produce its own recordings, including CDs, videos of some concerts and documentaries.

“The creation of our own label is a real landmark for the choir, something we’ve hoped to do for years,” said Mac Christensen, president of the choir, in a statement. “Having a solely owned label will give us greater creative freedom, the ability to control all aspects of the production, and greater influence over distribution and marketing.”

The first release by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir label will be a CD titled “Consider the Lilies.” It is scheduled to debut in April.

The choir performs an average of 75 times per year, has won a Grammy and an Emmy, and has performed for 10 U.S. presidents.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Vatican and Russian Orthodox Church Take First Step Toward a Thaw

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church have opened a series of meetings aimed at improving relations frozen for more than a year in a dispute over the creation of Roman Catholic dioceses in Russia, the Vatican said Thursday (March 20).

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, met in Geneva on Wednesday with Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, who is in charge of external church relations, the council said.

“In an open conversation, they agreed to hold further consultations aimed at resolving the problems which exist between the two churches,” the brief statement said.

Relations between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches, strained since the fall of communism, have been frozen since February 2002 when Pope John Paul II promoted four apostolic administrations in Russia to the status of dioceses, making up a new ecclesiastic province of Moscow.

Patriarch Alexey II canceled a scheduled visit by Kasper and virtually severed relations with the Vatican. The Russian government then expelled a Roman Catholic bishop and four priests.

In recent months, however, Alexey has signaled a willingness to resume talks and indicated he might even consider a papal visit to Moscow. The government has also promised to grant visas to non-Russian priests.

The main issue dividing the churches for more than a decade is the patriarchate’s contention that Catholics are seeking converts in traditional Russian Orthodox territory, which extends beyond the borders of the Russian Federation into neighboring Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. They are also at odds over Catholic property confiscated and turned over to the Orthodox Church under communism.

_ Peggy Polk

Brigham Young University Gets 12th President

(RNS) A medical doctor and former representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Europe has been named the new president of Brigham Young University.

Dr. Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. will become the 12th president of the university on May 1, the church announced Tuesday (March 18).

Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the LDS church, announced the transition during an assembly at the university.

Samuelson will replace Elder Merrill J. Bateman, who will return to full-time service as a general authority, which is an officer in the administration of the religious body. Bateman became president in 1996.

Samuelson, a Salt Lake City native, also has served as a general authority as well as the president of two areas of the church, the Utah North Area and the Europe North Area. He will be formally invested as president of the university in Provo in September.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Quote of the Day: Peggy Halsey of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries

(RNS) “Why is domestic violence considered a women’s issue when it involves the whole family?”

_ Peggy Halsey, a staff member of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, speaking during the March 5-9 meeting in Nashville, Tenn., of the National Association of Conference Presidents of United Methodist Men, which committed to working toward the eradication of domestic violence. She was quoted by United Methodist News Service.

DEA END RNS