Evening star., 1952-09-12
Episcopa|ians Study
Steps 10 End Shortage
OF Qualified Pastors
By Cospor Names
Sfor SYoH rarYasaondanN

BOSTON,, Sept. 12.-StepS to
meet an acute shortage of clergy
men in the Episcopal Church
were considered today by the
House of Deputies at the 57th
General Convention of the
church.
Speakers today pointed out
that there was a desperate need
of ministers to fill pulpits in
numerous churches throughout
the country. The committee pre-
senting the issue pointed out
there are nearly 700 clergymen
needed now for churches without
ministers and predicted the num-
ber will reach 915 by 1855.
Lack of space and properly pre-
pared teachers limits enrolment
in the 10 seminaries operated by
the denomination. These semi
naries are all taxed to capacity
now, and approximately one of
three persons applying for admis-
sion are being turned away.
Two possible solutions are ~
further expansion of present SEM
inaries, which is not always feas-
ible, and (2) the starting of new
seminaries to take care of those
desiring to study for the Episcopal
ministry.
Disappointment was voiced by
numerous delegates and visitors
at the action taken yesterday by
the House of Clerical and Lay
Deputies on a resolution propos-
ing that women be seated as Dep
utieS. The members turned down
the measure, which had the back
ing of a Joint Commission that
has been considering the issue
since the 1949 convention.
Mrs. Theodore Wedel Of Wash
ington, chairman of the National
Executive Board of the Woman's
Auxiliary, in a statement said. Il
am sure that a great many of
the women of the church will be
bitterly disappointed in this action
of the House of Deputies. know
of no women who have political
ambitions for themselves, and I
am sure there are none who
want to see women take over the
general convention.
Cites Rights of Diocese.
1--WE feel sure that if this mo-
ton had been passed and again
passed at the next convention, a
very small number of women
might thereafter have been elect
ed as deputies. However. we feel
very strongly that any diocese
which chooses to send a woman
as one of it's delegation should
have the freedom to do so. =. I
regret that the House of Deputies
does not have this conception of
the democratic procedure of the
church."
The motion was defeated on a
vote taken by orders. This means
that the clerical and lay dele
gates vote separately, and that a
majority must be obtained in each
order for a motion to pass. The
votes were clerical 431a yes. 2614
no and 10 divided; lay, 30A yes,
3412 no and 13 divided.
May Come Up Again.
There was talk already of bring
ing up a similar resolution at the
1855 General Convention.
The House of Deputies post
poned action until Monday morn
ing on several similar resolutions
expected to arouse much heated
debate. The motions provide that
"only Episcopally ordained bishops
and priests shall participate in the
laying on of hands at the ordina-
ton of priests of this church"
DR.. Francis B. Sayre, former
United States representative in the
United Nations Trusteeship Coun.
Gil, last night told a mass meeting
1.-The United Nations in our time
Is the only world organization ir
existence to attain peace. It i.
our best hope. Christians mus
unite in it's Support-must keer
themselves currently informed o1
its policies and activities, must
help to correct its shortcomings
must insist without ceaSing thai
its policies be based upon Chris.
tian fundamentals"