Jackson advocate., 1963-08-31
Anglican Cong.
Clash On Race
Discrimination
Toronto

The second World Anglican
Congress has ended here after
a sharp clash among delegates
over the wording of a message
to the world Anglican Com
munion. Most disagreement
centered on what to say about
racial discrimination.
Chief Adejemi Olusola Law
son, chancellor of the Nigerian
Diocese of Lagos, angrily de-
nounced a draft message as
"sheer cowardice" for not put
ting the congress firmly on rec
ord against racial discrimina-
ton.
However, when the 1000
delegates from 10 nations fin
ally voted on the message,
fewer than half a dozen per-
sons objected TO including a
paragraph on the racial prob
lem.
Bishop A. M. Stockwood of
Southwark, England, described
the draft message as "piouS
CUFF" that read like "sorne-
thing my less competent deacon
would preach on his first Sun
day.
The final draft of the mes
sage denounced segregation
and other forms of discrimina-
ton as sins and voiced the
church's deep concern and
passion for all who suffer on
account of their race, color or
creed" It also pledged active
support for persons opposing
racial discrimination.
"We are ashamed that bar
riers of race should still per-
sist in the life of the church"
the final message said.
The 1l-day assembly was
called to examine the we'll
being of the Anglican Com
munion, known in the United
States and Scotland as the
Episcopal Church. In the
United States the church has
membership of about "a mil
lion.
The 500-Word message also
stressed need for unity in the
church and called for pro-
gram of mutual aid in the
Worldwide Anglican Com
munion.
Mark Gibbs Of Manchester,
England. a member of the
editorial committee that
worked over three drafts of the
message, defended it as "a re-
sponsible compromise and
therefore a good Anglican COM
promise
Archbishop Howard H.
Clark. Primate of all Canada
and chairman Of the final con-
grcss session. proposed inclu-
sion of "a word on race in the
final draft and the congress
agreed.
But he hinted that if the
message were too strong 1t
might cause trouble for Angli-
cans in South Africa. 1--WE must
remember our friends in South
Africa. &. We wish our con-
viction to come out strong and
clear but with responsibility"
The Government of South
Africa has been denounced by
various groups for practicing
racial-separation policy.
The congress also tangled
over the wording and status of
a series of 10 "recommenda-
tions" from proposals made by
study groups.
Church leaders baked at
putting the congress officially
behind a recommendation
calling on every member
church to devote one-tenth Of
its total income to overseas
mission work.
The Archbishop of Canter-
bury, DR.. Michael Ramsey, con-
tended that the congress was
getting into a muddle by pass
ing resolutions because it was
not a legislative body.
1t was finally decided to put
the recommendations into the
congress report as items
worthy of attention to church
members.
Included were recommended
tons for stronger action on
birth control. more help for
hungry nations, better UNDER
standing of non-Christian re-
ligions. frmer church guidance
on individual morality, and ap-
proval of the nuclear-test-ban
treaty. These were not dis
cussed in detail by the full con-
gress.