Minutes of the Jan. 7-11, 2001 Meeting
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center, Ellenton, Florida
Convened and called to order Jan. 7 by the Rt. Rev. Richard L. Shimpfky.
In attendance: Standing Commission members Ms. Jackie B. Batjer (Abilene, Texas), the Rev. Theodora Brooks (New Rochelle, N.Y.), Dr. Louie Crew (Newark, N.J.), the Rev. Randolph K. Dales (Wolfeboro, N.H.), Mr. Fred Ellis (Dallas, Texas), Rt. Rev. J. Gary Gloster (Charlotte, N.C.), the Rev. Herbert McMullan (Fairfax, Va.), Ms. Mary Miller (Baltimore, Md.), Ms. Jacqueline Scott (Conifer, Colo.), Rt. Rev. Richard L. Shimpfky (Monterey, Calif.), and Rt. Rev. E. Don Taylor (New York City, N.Y.) .
National Church staff in attendance at various times during the meeting: the Rev. Cn. Brian Grieves, director of the Office of Peace & Justice; the Rev. Tony Jewiss, assistant to the executive officer for committees, commissions; and Tom Hart (via speaker phone), Peace & Justice Ministries director of government relations.
Absent: Commission members Ms. Mayra Arguelles (San Pedro Sula, Honduras), Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston (Cambridge, Mass.), and the Rev. Benjamin Musoke-Lubega (Detroit, Mich.).
As a returning member of the Standing Commission, Louie Crew opened with a history of the commission and a discussion of criteria to evaluate site visits, including: significance to the Anglican Communion, evidence of systemic injustice, verifiable information and consultation, significant American involvement, large-scale injustice, and invitation by involved parties. He supplied copies of the Standing Commission policies regarding conflicts of interest and sexual harassment and sexual abuse. Further, he informed the commission members of the canonical attendance requirement: "The term of a member shall become vacant in the event of two absences from meetings of the Commission occurring the the interval between successive regular meetings of the General Convention unless excused by the Commission or good cause." (Canon 1.1-2b) He pointed out the commission has a web site at http://www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/scaai.html. Also, people can communicate with the commission via email at eta@newark.rutgers.edu.
Brian Grieves said it is important the Standing Commission “report well on complex issues, to help unreflective Episcopalians to reflect on important issues and to speak to a need.” He gave an overview of international concerns, including China, the Middle East, Africa, Korea, and South America.
Tom Hart (via speaker phone) said his office uses three criteria to help prioritize actions:
Hart’s evaluation of international situations began with HIV in Africa. He stressed there is a "real sense of urgency" because it is a "pandemic of unbelievable perspective." Globally, education, "especially for girls," is one of the "most effective ways to increase productivity and decrease poverty," Hart said. He reviewed situations in Korea, South America, Sudan and the Middle East, also addressing globalization and urbanization issues.
The Standing Commission discussed and listed global hot spots and issues that it considers important, including: War on Drugs/Latin America, anti-violence against Christians and churches in India, Palestinian rights, HIV/AIDS in Africa, murder of Christians in Sudan, Islamic/Christian tensions, landmine cleanup, hunger, racism, Japanese rearmament, U.S. military in Okinawa, Cuba, Tibet, refuges, xenophobia, buildup of NATO, trafficking in women and children, U.S. militarism, the School of the Americas, Great Lakes region of Africa, justice issues of globalization and urbanization, Sierra Leone and West African warfare, the Koreas, and the possibility of refusing U.S. travel visas to leaders of countries with identified human rights abuses.
The Standing Commission then prioritized its hot spots:
It also prioritized it global issues:
Three site visitation subcommittees were established:
The three absent Standing Commission members will be contacted to confirm their involvement and invite them to join site visit subcommittees. Also, to help document the site visits, Richard Shimpfky said he will attempt to obtain three digital cameras, one for each subcommittee.
Meetings for the Standing Commission were set:
The Standing Commission unanimously passed a motion by Theodora Brooks, seconded by Fred Ellis, to have Randolph Dales represent it at an Anglican Peace with Justice Network international conference on peace with justice issues in New Zealand in November 2001. The commission will be responsible for his ground expenses and Brian Grieves' office for his airfare. Other upcoming conferences include a U.N. sponsored international conference on racism in New York, summer 2001; National Children’s Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., April 2001; and International Conference on Racism in South Africa, fall 2001. Louie Crew offered to disseminate a calendar of pertinent conferences. Commissioners are to gather calendar information and send it to Louie Crew.
Randolph Dales asked the Standing Commission’s liaison to Executive Council, Louie Crew, to confirm that $282,000 approved at General Convention in the budget for 2002 for convocation of interim bodies will be available to be spent on standing commissions’ work and not transferred to general funds. Louie Crew agreed check on the budget item.
As its concluding business, the Standing Commission unanimously elected:
Chaplain Dales officiated at a closing Eucharist, and the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Shimpfky Jan. 11.
Respectfully submitted by Secretary Scott
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