wfn.org | Episcopalians: Episcopal Church continuing its commitment to ecumenical dialogue

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April 1, 2003

2003-071

Episcopalians: Episcopal Church continuing its commitment to 
ecumenical dialogue

by James Solheim

(ENS) The Episcopal Church's patient participation in and 
commitment to ecumenical dialogue, with the stated ultimate goal 
of full communion, continues on several levels with different 
partners. Progress is sometimes slow but participants eagerly 
mark each successful marker along the way.

At the national and international level, Episcopalians and 
Anglicans regard dialogue with the Roman Catholics as very 
important--and quite successful over the years in sweeping away 
some of the dead timber of misunderstanding and stereotypes. 

"We're down to the important issues now, the bedrock, where our 
reasons for staying separate must be for reasons of the highest 
magnitude," said Prof. J. Robert Wright of the General 
Theological Seminary, using an expression of Roman Catholic 
theologian Karl Rahner. "And we do believe there are some issues 
that mean we must stay apart for the time being--but with a 
resolve to face those issues head on with renewed vigor because 
we can see more clearly the issues that divide us." 

Wright said the dialogues with the Roman Catholics and the 
Orthodox are "theologically the two deepest ones for us because 
there is something deep in our Anglican mentality where we know 
we belong with them, that we are a part of each other. 
Episcopalians express more discomfort over differences with 
Roman Catholics because we know these two churches are meant to 
be one," he said.

In May of 1999, the Anglican-Roman Catholic International 
Commission (ARCIC) released a statement "The Gift of Authority: 
Authority in the Church," exploring the specific ways that the 
two churches believe that the community of faith says "yes" to 
God. "There is no turning back in our journey towards full 
ecclesial communion," the statement says, calling on both 
parties to "make more visible the koinonia we already have" and 
to explore new forms of joint exercise of authority among the 
ordained and the laity. 

The statement also asks the Anglican Communion to consider a new 
relationship with the authority of the bishop of Rome, 
suggesting an interim period of association with the papacy as 
one step along the way. Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, who 
is now co-chair of the international dialogue through ARCIC, 
said after the statement was released that the catholicity and 
unity of the church already exist in the mind of God so it's not 
up to us to create them but rather yield up our various 
traditions to the motions of the Holy Spirit.

Dialogue in a changing world

At the regular semi-annual meeting of the Anglican-Roman 
Catholic Consultation in the USA (ARC-USA), participants noted 
that "the world situation has changed radically since the 
publication of The Gift of Authority in 1999. We nevertheless 
believe that the commitment to ecumenical relations among 
Christians has a positive contribution to make in times of 
conflict and vulnerability. In this context the bishops of our 
two churches have expressed their concern for peace in our 
country and in the community of nations," said that final 
statement, an assessment and response to "The Gift of 
Authority." 

"The Gift of Authority sketches a rich ecclesiology of 
communion, in which the many and varied gifts of the community 
are integrated into the Gift who is Jesus Christ himself to the 
honor and glory of God," the statement said. In a section 
addressing concerns, however, the statement noted that "the 
idealism and optimism of the document, though praiseworthy, do 
not take sufficiently into account the concrete difficulties on 
the path to full agreement regarding the matters under 
discussion or the historical instances of authority's abuse." It 
mentioned the role of bishops in the two churches, as well as 
the role and participation of the laity, as areas of further 
concern.

Chaired by Bishop Edwin Gulick of the Episcopal Diocese of 
Kentucky and Archbishop William J. Levada of the Catholic 
Archdiocese of San Francisco, participants in the March 27-30 
meeting agreed unanimously that the churches "ought to move 
ahead, theologically and practically, toward the goal of full 
communion." It was the 54th meeting of ARC-USA since it was 
established in 1965.

Relationships and trust

Commenting on the meeting, Bishop Christopher Epting, deputy for 
ecumenical and interfaith relations for the Episcopal Church, 
said, "While recognizing that we cannot go as far right now as 
'The Gift of Authority' suggests, I think ARC-USA wanted to take 
up document's challenge to begin living out the 'real but 
imperfect communion we share' even as we continue the 
theological dialogue so necessary for full communion. This is 
consistent with the approach of the new International Anglican 
Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission (IARCCUM). I hope 
we can find ways to make that happen." 

After noting that it hasn't addressed "some of the thorny 
theological issues" in the statement on authority, ARC-USA 
concluded, "We are convinced, however, that the most productive 
context for dealing with outstanding divisive issues is a 
relationship of mutual understanding, trust, and affection," 
expressing gratitude for the statement's "invitation to deepen 
our relationship."

The response from ARC-USA named issues requiring further 
investigation before Anglicans and Roman Catholics can take 
those steps toward a deeper communion. Among the issues are 
identifying the essential elements essential for full communion, 
the relationship between Anglicans and the bishop of Rome. Since 
Anglicans have serious reservations about the doctrine of 
infallibility, the response asked for further clarification on 
the issue.

CUIC seeks to resolve ministry issue

The Consultation on Church Union, a church unity effort by nine 
US churches with roots that go back 40 years, launched a new 
plan in Memphis January 20, inaugurating a new effort called 
Churches Uniting in Christ--with more realistic goals in light 
of continuing roadblocks to church unity. "Today we celebrate a 
brave new beginning of a new journey," said Jeffrey Newhall, the 
last president of COCU. "We don't know where it will take us, 
but now we know we will all get there together."

COCU's vision was based on a 1960 sermon at San Francisco's 
Grace Cathedral by Dr. Eugene Carson Blake of the United 
Presbyterian Church calling for a new church that would be 
"truly catholic and truly reformed." At the official formation 
of COCU two years later, participants agreed to add "truly 
evangelical" to Blake's formula. It began as a movement for 
organic union but COCU later abandoned its hopes for a merger 
and looked for ways to establish closer ties among the churches 
without giving up their own identity.

One of the major challenge now for CUIC is to resolve differing 
views of ministry among the nine participants--the African 
Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion 
Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian 
Church (Disciples of Christ), the Presbyterian Church USA, the 
United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, the 
International Council of Community Churches and the Episcopal 
Church. (The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the 
Moravians are partners in mission and dialogue but not full 
members of CUIC and the Roman Catholics send an official 
observer.) Until the ministry issue is solved, it won't be 
possible to allow clergy exchanges among the churches.

While the Episcopal Church has voted to continue its 
participation, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold said that the 
church's representatives "will not be able to commend it to our 
General Convention for consideration until agreement has been 
reached with regard to the reconciliation of ministries that is 
called for" in the covenanting document for CUIC. Wright will 
represent the Episcopal Church on a committee charged with 
drafting a possible plan for reconciling ministries in CUIC. 
"I'm struck by the number of Protestant churches that look upon 
us as hold-outs," he said. "We are not ready to embrace papal 
authority but neither are we prepared to give up on a visibly 
structured church with episcopal authority at its core."

Commitment on fighting racism

The coordinating council of CUIC released a short statement 
after its March meeting. "To assist grassroots implementation of 
this renewed plan for unity, representatives introduced new 
communication resources including a video, a study pamphlet, and 
an informative brochure," the council noted. "Though complex 
issues will need to be resolved, members of the Ministry Task 
Force are hopeful that by 2007 their labors will provide 
foundational agreements that will eventually lead to full 
communion among these member churches."

The council also reported that it "heard a heartening report 
from its Racial Justice Task Force" regarding plans for a 
one-day event next September 15 in Chicago on "Eradicating 
Racism: Liberating Tomorrow's Children." Both COCU and CUIC have 
made a commitment to fight racism a major cornerstone of the 
unity efforts, stimulated by the participation of three historic 
black churches in the conversations. 

At the September event "each member church will be asked to 
elucidate the meaning of its commitment and how those 
commitments can be implemented," said the Rev. Dan Krutz, an 
Episcopal Church representative on the coordinating council. The 
Rev. Jayne Oasin, the Episcopal Church's staff officer for 
social justice, chairs the task force planning the Chicago 
event. 

Krutz said that the local/regional task force "is working on a 
model for local implementation of CUIC's goals for moving the 
churches to a deeper level of commitment to one another in 
mission, worship and other areas of church life," highlighting 
the work in 10 local areas to serve as models.	He added that 
the liturgy used for the inauguration of CUIC in Memphis is 
being adapted for use in local settings.

"I was very encouraged by this meeting," said Bishop Christopher 
Epting, the Episcopal Church's deputy for ecumenical and 
interfaith relations. "We have lost some momentum since the CUIC 
inauguration in Memphis just over a year ago because this is a 
new organization and new leadership. But the three task forces 
are functioning well now and important work is being done. We 
have to remember the exciting prospect of some 22 million 
Christians working together through this association," he said.

------

Other links:

ENS story on CUIC launch: 
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens/2002-017.html

History of COCU and CUIC: http://www.eden.edu/cuic/news/html

Ecumenical resources: http://episcopalchurch.org/ecumenism.html

"CUIC and Ministry: The Real Beginning or the Final Ending?", by 
J. Robert Wright: 
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ecumenism/eir/resources_detail.cfm?ArticleID=1
20

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.