June 13, 2003
by Dan Webster

Episcopalians will be asked to consider the moral and ethical implications of genetic research, a bio-engineered food supply, as well as whether to take their church's message into the national marketplace of television and the Internet among proposed resolutions dealing with science and technology and communications.

"Reproductive cloning is not morally acceptable at this time as it endangers the safety of children who might be conceived and threatens their dignity as unique individuals," states the report of the Ethics and New Genetics Task Force of the Church's Executive Council. "Its use departs from accepted social and ethical values," the report adds.

However, the task force does put forth resolutions that would approve research on human stem cells, establish ethical guidelines for gene transfer, and state a role of the church in counseling and education on biomedical ethics. "We weigh the contention that existing law and policy endanger respect for life by treating it simply as a commodity to be bought or sold," reports the task force on the economics and politics of new genetics.

"The question of who should benefit from investment in research needs to be informed by considerations of justice, and by attention to those on the margins of society and who lack basic health care," states the task force. "The Episcopal Church's role includes education, pastoral care and advocacy for those who suffer from genetic and other disease," contends the task force. "To be effective ministers we need a solid education about genetic issues and we must speak for a just allocation of resources in health care."

Church's response to technology

Another group making recommendations to the upcoming Convention is the Committee on Science, Technology and Faith. It hopes to use the Internet to inform and educate church leaders on these emerging technologies and what the response of the church might be.

"Human genetic research is a subject in which the Church's application of moral theology is of immediate concern," the committee states in its report. "Provisions for education and guidance in matters of genetic testing, stem cell applications, and gene therapy are important to equip the leadership of the church."

During the past three years the committee has studied genetically modified foods, robotics and nano-technology and the Christian doctrine of creation especially from an Anglican perspective in preparation for the 2003 Convention. Its main focus has been on what the committee calls "food security." It calls the church to "foster research and development of the types of science and technology that preserve bio-diversity in food production,'" to maintain a healthy relationship between God's creatures and the varieties of food crops on which they depend.

The committee's approach to genetically modified foods revolves around the biblical concept of stewardship of God's creation by human beings. It also centers on justice issues for farmers, those who develop and own the new technology and what the effect might be on the national and world food supply.

"Bio-diversity in food production manifests the variety in God's Creation and the roles of caring and relatedness within God's Kingdom," the committee's report asserts. "Jesus' preference for the poor is a compelling argument against domination of countries' seed and food production by large commercial interests," the report argues.

Communication as key component

Most of the proposals around communications to be considered by bishops and deputies will focus on evangelism. The 20/20 Task Force, a group formed with the goal of doubling the participation in the Episcopal Church by the year 2020, claims that communication is a "key component to its success."

It will ask the convention to authorize a $750,000 national television ad campaign to raise the awareness level of the Episcopal Church and invite seekers, the unchurched and lapsed Episcopalians to come to a local Episcopal service. The ads have run locally in Utah and the San Francisco bay area with very positive results.

The ads were first shown in the San Francisco market celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of California. The six-week campaign aired just before and after Easter, 2000. Several congregations reported much higher Easter attendance.

In Utah the ads ran in November and December 2002. Survey results indicated a 16% increase in the number of viewers aware of the Episcopal Church following the ad run. The Diocese of Utah reported a tenfold increase in the number of visits to its website immediately after the ads began to run. This past Easter and Pentecost one suburban Salt Lake City parish baptized two new members who came as a result of seeing the ads on television. Several other parishes reported an increase in the number of newcomers many of whom who came because of the ads.

"Now is the time to take the initiative by telling the good news of the Episcopal Church rather than allowing the press to shape public perceptions of what this church is like," states a report from the Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism, out of which the 20/20 task force has worked.

"Perhaps the time has come to consider how to shape the image of the Episcopal Church to serve our commitment to being a church that makes disciples who make disciples, thereby fulfilling the 20/20 Vision," the commission asserts.

Lost opportunities?

The commission's report also acknowledges some shortcomings in the Church's communications strategy up to now. "In terms of communicating the message about what God is doing in and through the Episcopal Church, we have been slow to develop an effective presence on the World Wide Web. Given that the generations we are seeking to reach intermingle meaningfully and naturally both in real time and online, significant opportunities are being lost," contends the commission.

"It is vital that the church encourage the development and multiplication of the finest interactive web sites at the local level, but also that diocesan and national sites be upgraded in both content and presentation rather than being mere electronic versions of newsletters, organizational directories, catalogues of church publications, traditional magazines or church bulletin boards. The production of engaging web sites, web-delivered educational content and web-delivered training is certainly an area in which young Christians must take a lead," states the commission in making its case for better us of communications channels and technologies.

The commission is proposing resolutions to radically improve use of the Internet by the national church as a major tool of evangelism. It is asking that educational, spiritual growth and faith formation materials be placed on the national church website "and to develop software and freeware resources for downloading."

Also deputies and bishops will be asked to consider funding more multi-lingual publications recognizing the continuing growing diversity within the Church and the countries where it has congregations. (For the first time, the convention's Blue Book is available in Spanish.)

The Episcopal Church USA has struggled with its name for several years. The church not only is comprised of dioceses in all 50 states but also includes dioceses in Central and South America, Micronesia, Europe, the Caribbean and Taiwan.

Communications goes well beyond media and technology for this commission. Bishops and deputies will be asked whether they will urge all 2.3-million Episcopalians around the world "to be able to articulate his or her faith story beginning with Epiphany 2004." The convention may put the responsibility of communicating the gospel story squarely on each and every member should it pass this proposed resolution.

Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Dan Webster is director of communications for the Diocese of Utah and is a member of the electronic news team at the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis.