wfn.org | Episcopalians: Dialogue with Roman Catholics focuses on authority in the church

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

April 2, 2002

2002-076

Episcopalians: Dialogue with Roman Catholics focuses on 
authority in the church

by James Solheim

(ENS) The official dialogue between the Episcopal Church and the 
Roman Catholics, established in 1965, continued its discussion 
of authority in the church at its March 14-17 meeting in Menlo 
Park, California. It was hosted by Archbishop William Levada of 
San Francisco, Roman Catholic co-chair of the dialogue.

The Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation in the United States 
(ARC-USA) discussed in detail the 1999 document The Gift of 
Authority, produced by the Anglican-Roman Catholic 
International Commission. Members examined each paragraph of the 
document, identifying areas of progress and points that need 
further clarification. The document covers areas such as 
authoritative structures in the church, the role of bishops, 
clergy and laity in decision-making, and primacy. 

Bishop Christopher Epting, the Episcopal Church's deputy for 
Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations said, We had a very candid 
discussion and were able to help our Roman Catholic colleagues 
appreciate even more fully the diversity within the Anglican 
Communion--and particularly the way authority is exercised 
communally in the Episcopal Church in somewhat different ways 
than in the Roman Catholic Church, or even the Church of 
England. This difference has a bearing on the way we approach 
certain sections of the document, he said, adding that we 
flagged certain areas for further exploration and dialogue." 

A session at the meeting looked at a progress report on the 
Eucharist and Ministry Project and the publication in the future 
of a study guide for use in both churches at the local level, 
prepared by Dr. Ruth Meyers and Prof. Joanne Pierce. The guide 
will outline the areas of agreement as well as areas of 
difference that need further discussion.

Participants also considered papers on inculturation and the 
American experience in relation to intermediate structures of 
authority in the two churches, with contributions by the Rev. 
George Tavard, the Rev. Michael Battle, the Rev. Robert Imbelli, 
and the Rev. Robert Prichard. Bishop Edwin Gulick, Episcopal 
co-chair of the consultation, reported on the first meeting of 
the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity 
and Mission.

The September meeting of ARC-USA was cancelled because of the 
terrorist attacks but members expressed a determination to 
continue its dialogue work in the conviction that the most 
effective answer to terrorism is a united Christian witness in 
the service of peace and promotion of mutual respect and 
cooperation among the worlds religions.

The next meeting will be in Washington, DC, where the 
commission will continue its discussion of The Gift of 
Authority, as well as the Eucharist and Ministry Project and 
its study of inculturation.

Episcopal participants: Bishop Barry Howe, the Rev. Michael 
Battle, the Rev. Ruth Meyers, the Rev. Robert Prichard, the Rev. 
Ellen Wondra, Dr. Marsha Dutton, Dr. William Franklin and Prof. 
J. Robert Wright, serving as theological consultant. Staff in 
addition to Epting includes the Rev. Dirk Reinken, Sr. Sara 
Butler, Dr. Rozanne Elder, the Rev. Vince Heier and the Rev. 
David Veal.

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"The Gift of Authority" is available on the web at 
www.episcopalchurch.org/ecumenism/gift.html