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Theological Dialogue

ACNS 3046 - ACO - 1 July 2002

The International Commission of the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue

Abergavenny, Wales, 26th-28th June 2002

COMMUNIQUI

The International Commission of the Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue
met in Abergavenny 26 - 28 June 2002 as guests of the Church in Wales. Its
members were welcomed by the Archbishop of Wales, The Most Reverend Rowan
Williams, who had invited the Commission to meet in his Province. The
Commission is composed of representatives of the Orthodox Churches and the
member Churches of the Anglican Communion. Its meetings were held in the
Priory Centre adjoining St Marys Priory Church, where Morning Prayer was
said daily. The Commission enjoyed the generous hospitality of the parish
each day at lunch. The Chairman of the Monmouthshire County Council
entertained members of the Commission, County and civic dignitaries, and
local church leaders at a Civic Buffet in the Angel Hotel, Abergavenny.

The Dialogue began its work of exploring and reconciling doctrinal
differences between the Anglican and Orthodox Churches in 1973. Agreements
reached in its first two stages were set out in the Moscow Agreed Statement
of 1976 and the Dublin Agreed Statement of 1984. In its present third phase
the Commission has been examining the doctrine of the Church in relation to
the doctrines of the Holy Trinity, the Person of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

At Abergavenny the Commission continued its examination of the ordained
ministry of the Church begun last year at Volos, Greece. Anglican and
Orthodox papers on the ordination of women to the priesthood and the
episcopate were presented and discussed. An agreed statement on Priesthood,
Christ and the Church was approved.

The Commission intends to meet early in 2003. It plans to continue its
discussion of the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate, and
to consider non-priestly ministries in the church. Issues still to be
considered include reception by the church of new ideas and practices, and
questions regarding heresy and schism.

Metropolitan John of Pergamon       Bishop Max Thomas
Orthodox Co-Chairman                Acting Anglican Co-Chairman

Abergavenny, Wales, 28 June 2002

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