wfn.org | ACNS3586 Anglican-Baptist International Conversations (ABIC)

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ACNS 3586     |     COMMUNIQUI	   |	 19 SEPTEMBER 2003 

Anglican-Baptist International Conversations (ABIC) North American phase

The North American phase of the international theological conversations
between Anglicans and Baptists was held at Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova
Scotia, from 10 - 12 September 2003. This regional meeting follows five
previous phases held in Norwich (for Europe) in 2000, Yangon (for
Asia/Pacific) in 2001, Nairobi (for Africa), in 2002, Santiago, Chile (for
Latin America) and Nassau (for the Caribbean) in January 2003. Participants
came from the United States and Canada, representing their respective
Churches and joined the members of the "Continuation Committee" which is
conducting these regional gatherings on behalf of the Baptist World Alliance
and the Anglican Communion.
The Anglican and Baptist representatives gave an overview of the life of
their respective communions in North America. Seven substantive papers were
presented on Common Challenges facing Anglicans and Baptists in North
America, Baptist Life in North America, A North American Baptist
Understanding of Continuity, two papers on The Nature and Role of the Church
from Anglican and Baptist perspectives and paired papers on Authority.

The plenary discussion drew together insights from the American and Canadian
contexts and related them to the themes emerging from previous regional
conversations, namely: continuity and story; the meaning of recognition;
mission and ministry; baptism and Christian initiation; membership of the
Church; the Eucharist or Lord's Supper; oversight and episcope; and
confessing the apostolic faith. Discussion focussed on how each tradition
handled diversity of views within their tradition, and the nature of
denominational allegiance as well as the diversity between the two
communions. The meeting began with a celebration of an Anglican Eucharist in
the local parish church, and included shared prayer and devotions conducted
by Baptists and Anglicans. The meeting was held by kind invitation of Acadia
University, and the lunches were hosted each day by the Acadia Divinity
College. 

The participants were guests for dinner at the home of the Dean of Arts, Dr
Bruce Matthews and his wife one evening, whilst Archbishop Arthur Peters,
former Archbishop of the ecclesiastical province of Canada, Dr Gail
Dinter-Gottlieb, President of Acadia University and Dr Lee McDonald,
Principal of Acadia Divinity College, joined the commission for lunch in the
course of the meeting.

ABIC is the official instrument of the Anglican Consultative Council and the
Baptist World Alliance engaged in theological discussions which have the
following objectives:

1. To enable Anglican/Baptists to learn from each other and to deepen
understanding of relationships between our two communions in the light of
their histories.

2. To share with each other how we understand the Christian faith and to work
toward a common confession of the Apostolic Faith.

3. To identify issues of doctrine and the nature of the church to be explored
further in possible future conversations.

4. To look for ways to cooperate in mission and community activities and
increase our fellowship and common witness to the Gospel.

The current phase will be concluded in March 2004 in Oxford, United Kingdom,
when the Continuation committee consisting of four Anglicans and four
Baptists who will draft a report following the regional meetings to be
submitted to the Baptist World Alliance General Council in 2004 and the
Anglican Consultative Council in 2005.

The following persons participated in the Nova Scotia meeting:

Anglicans

Continuation Committee

Bruce Matthews (Co-Chair), Canada
Gregory Cameron (Co-Secretary), Anglican Communion Office
Paul Avis, England
Rubie Nottage, the Caribbean
(Terrie Robinson, administrative staff, Anglican Communion Office)

Archbishop Samuel San Si Htay (Myanmar) was unable to be present

North American Representatives:

Alyson Barnett-Cowan (Anglican Church of Canada)
Howard Loewen (Episcopal Church, USA)
Saundra Richardson (Episcopal Church, USA)
Ronald Stevenson (Anglican Church of Canada)
Douglas Theuner (Episcopal Church, USA)
David Wheeler (representing Episcopal Church, USA)

Baptists

Continuation Committee:

Paul Fiddes, (Co-Chair), England
Tony Cupit, (Co-Secretary), Baptist World Alliance
William Brackney, North America (proxy for Ken Manley, Australia)
Malcolm Yarnell, North America (Southern Baptist Convention)

North American Representatives:

Curtis Freeman (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship)
Steve Harmon (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship)
Alan Stanford (Southern Baptist Convention)
Andrew MacRae (Canadian Baptist Ministries)
Audrey Morikawa (Canadian Baptist Ministries)

For further information please contact:

The Revd Canon Gregory Cameron
Anglican Communion Office, London
Tel.: +44 20 7620 1110
Email: gregory.cameron@anglicancommunion.org

The Revd Tony Cupit
Baptist World Alliance
Tel.: +1 703 790 8980
Email: tony@bwanet.org

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