wfn.org | Vespers service introduces ecumenical guests to Lambeth

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

ACNS LC028 - July 21, 1998

Vespers service introduces ecumenical guests to Lambeth

by E.T. Malone, Jr.
Lambeth Conference Communications

Fire from a paschal candle lit one small taper, and the light
spread from that to another, and yet another, until the gloom in
the darkened hall was brightened by their glow. And the rising
smoke of incense, billowing high in the air, became a
light-reflecting cloud that lit all below it.

Thus began the Lambeth Conference's Monday night service of
light, an Ecumenical Vespers in which leaders of the Anglican
Communion introduced a wide variety of representatives from the
Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed, and
Baptist denominations and from world and regional Christian
associations. 

Vatican official Cardinal Edward Cassidy addressed the Conference
in a homily in which he praised the concept of Christian unity,
but voiced the concern of the Roman church that deviations in
theological practice among local churches present a grave
obstacle to reunion.

He did not specify any particular situations difficult to the
Roman Catholic Church, making no mention of ordination of women
as priests and bishops within the Anglican Communion and only a
general reference to controversies over questions of human
sexuality-issues that for the past two decades have at times
thrown a damper over Roman-Anglican dialogues, just as they have
drawn attention to the problem of collegiality itself.

"The theological practice of the local church must be compatible
with the theological practice of the universal church," he
insisted. The question of authority must be addressed, he noted,
declaring that, otherwise, theological chaos ensues.

"Is not some form of universal authority necessary even while
Christians are on the way to universal union?" he asked. "As we
go into the third millennium, the risen Lord still calls us to go
and make disciples in the nations." But, he added, the divisions
within Christianity are a detriment to evangelism.

Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey thanked Cardinal Cassidy
for his reflections, commenting, "This is a homily on which we
will ponder most carefully."

Songs, hymns, and litanies in the service reinforced the theme of
Christian unity and Anglican diversity. Patrice Njojo, Archbishop
of the Congo, reading in French, led a Litany of Thanksgiving.
Mrs. Gladys Chiwanga, wife of the Bishop of Mpwapwa, Tanzania,
read the Epistle in Swahili. The Gospel was read in Greek by
Bishop Jabez Bryce of the Diocese of Polynesia, the Anglican
Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia, chairman of the
Ecumenical Advisory Group of the Anglican Communion and chairman
of Section 1, "Called to be One." Following the homily, Orthodox
Metropolitan John of Pergamon led the participants in saying the
Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. And following the introduction
of ecumenical guests, Carlo Lopez-Lozano, the Bishop of the
Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church, led a litany of intercessions.

The Archbishop of Canterbury briefly thanked the ecumenical
guests for their participation. A primate or bishop extended
greeting to particular groups of guests, as follows:	

The Most Rev. Frank Griswold, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal
Church USA, introduced representatives of the Roman Catholic
Church - Cardinal Edward Cassidy, Archbishop Alex Brunett, Bishop
Philip Pargeter, Bishop Pierre Duprey, and Father Tim Galligan.
Presiding Bishop Griswold talked of the commitment toward unity
that is "already in the mind and imagination of God."

The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. David Hope,
introduced the Ecumenical Patriarchate: Metropolitan John of
Pergamon, Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain;
the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria: Archimandrite
Serafim Kykkotis; the Patriarchate of Antioch: Father Samir
Gholam; the Patriarchate of Moscow: Metropolitan Vladimir of St.
Petersburg and Ladoga, Archdeacon Andrei Chighov; the
Patriarchate of Romania: Bishop Nifon of Slobozia and Calarasi;
and the Church of Cyprus: Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kition.

The Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Ghais
Abdel Malik, in welcoming the representatives of the Oriental
Orthodox churches, said, "We praise God for the cooperation we
have with them in the Middle East, praying as well that God will
lead us to true unity in Christ Jesus." They included, from the
Armenian Orthodox Church, Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin:
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian; the Armenian Orthodox Church,
Catholicosate of Cilicia: the Very Rev. Nareg Alemezian; the
Coptic Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Bishoi of Damiette; the
Syrian Orthodox Church: Archbishop Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim
of Aleppo; the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of the East: His
Grace Geevarghese Mar Ivanios; the Malabar Independent Syrian
Church: the Most Rev. Joseph Mar Koorilose; and the Assyrian
Church of the East: Bishop Mar Odisho Oraham and the Rev. Yonan
Youil Yonan.

The Bishop of Hong Kong and Macao, Peter Kwong, introduced, from
the Lutheran World Federation: the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, the
Rev. Sven Oppegaard, and the Rev. Richard Stetson.

The Deputy Moderator of the Church of North India introduced,
from the World Methodist Council: Bishop William B. Oden and Dr.
Geoffrey Wainwright; the World Alliance of Reformed Churches: the
Rev. Dr. Jana Opecenska; and the Baptist World Alliance: the Rev.
David Coffey and the Rev. Chris Ellis.

The Archbishop of Central Africa, W. P. Khotso Makhulu,
introduced, from the World Council of Churches: the Rev. Dr. John
Pobee and the Rev. Dr. Thomas FitzGerald; the Christian World
Communion: the Rev. Su De-Ci and the Rev. Bao Jia-Yuan; the
Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland: the Rev. John
Reardon; and the Evangelical Alliance: the Rev. Joel Edwards. 

For further information, contact:

Lambeth Conference Communications
Canterbury Business School
University of Kent at Canterbury
Telephone: 01227 827348/9
Fax: 01227 828085
Mobile: 0374 800212

http://www.lambethconference.org