Catholic will lead Council of Churches

When Joan Lipscomb, a parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Ravena, was recently elected president of the Capital Area Council of Churches' board of directors, she became the first Catholic to hold the position.

She has been a member of the board for two years and a parish delegate for the past 25 years. Members include Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptists and Catholics.

"The council is a fellowship of over 85 faith communities that include parishes and congregations in Albany and southern Rensselaer counties," she said. "Together, we work on many activities and projects, but our main purpose is to celebrate and promote Christian unity."

Ecumenism

Mrs. Lipscomb has been involved in ecumenical efforts since her conversion to Catholicism 40 years ago. She credits Bishop Edwin B. Broderick with establishing awareness of ecumenism when he headed the Albany Diocese in the early 1970s.

"He inspired me and many others to educate ourselves in the area of ecumenical relations with other Christians," she explained. "He opened up the way for ecumenical dialogue and encouraged education."

She also credits others for supporting ecumenism, such as Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, Rev. James Kane, Joan Dunham and Sister Libby Hoye, RSCJ, and Joseph Powers.

"They were all pioneers in the ecumenical effort in this Diocese and people of great faith," she declared.

Unity effort

Through the Capital Area Council of Churches, "we work together to foster a faithful future of service, advocacy and celebration," Mrs. Lipscomb noted.

After serving as a delegate from her parish to the council for the past quarter-century, she believes the Holy Spirit is responsible for the ongoing dialogue and increased understanding among Christian denominations.

"I think I was elected right now because it seems a sign of the times," she said. "By that, I mean we all seem to have a deepened mutual interest in the ecumenical effort and a commitment to ecumenism, particularly since the Second Vatican Council" of the 1960s. "I am hoping to increase the membership of Catholic parishes in our council, especially those that are willing to be fully committed to membership and to our ecumenical work.

Called to be Church

Mrs. Lipscomb said, "I have my Diocese to thank for where I am today. I have been very much supported and affirmed by Bishop Howard Hubbard. He has always been very visible in all the areas where I have served, and I know I am exactly where God wants me to be."

She sees a link between ecumenism and the current Called to be Chuurch effort.

"Called to be Church is engaged in encouraging us to reach out to our Christian brothers and sisters in understanding and faith so that we can all work together to promote the Gospel message in our communities," she explained.

(The Council of Churches plans ecumenical worship services on Good Friday, Thanksgiving Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It sponsors an Ecumenical Witness of Baptism program, whereby members of different denominations serve as witnesses to baptisms in local churches. The Council also produces an interfaith musical celebration each fall, awards yearly scholarships to seminary and college students, sponsors the Regional Crop Walk each spring, and supports an emergency homeless shelter at the First Lutheran Church in Albany. For information, call the office of the Capital Area Council of Churches at 462-5450.)

(3/8/07) [[In-content Ad]]