wfn.org | [ENS] Theological education: Archbishop of Canterbury underscores

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Theological education: Archbishop of Canterbury underscores global
importance

Anglican Consultative Council receives report in Nottingham business
session

By Neva Rae Fox

ENS062105-1

[ENS, Nottingham] -- Citing the importance of theological education and
the
need for its expansion, a panel focusing on Theological Education for
the
Anglican Communion (TEAC) presented a report that included goals,
audiences
and timeline at the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).

"The gospel overflows in theology," Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan
Williams said in his presentation on the subject. "Theology is perhaps
first
and foremost a celebration - a celebration that helps us find a way, or
a
truth that leads us into a life."

The six members of the TEAC panel are: the Rev. Mwita Akiri from
Tanzania;
Clare Amos, secretary to TEAC; Pauline Makoni from Central Africa; Sue
Parks, conference manager for Lambeth 2006; Robert Paterson, Church in
Wales; and Williams.

The TEAC report recognized issues including a general lack of
theological
literacy; "inadequate engagement with contemporary thinking, culture and
society"; confusion about callings of those involved in the church's
public
ministry; inadequately or inappropriately trained priests; inappropriate
practices of the ministry of a bishop in changing contexts; and a weak
or
selective commitment to Christians of other traditions.

The report opened the afternoon session of the first full day of the
Anglican Consultative Council meeting (ACC-13) in Nottingham, England.
The
ACC is the principal consultative body of the Anglican Communion and its
77
million members in 164 countries.

The morning's agenda included the Presidential Address given by the
Archbishop of Canterbury (see related story at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_62966_ENG_HTM.htm). The morning also
included a nearly hour-long closed session called by the ACC Chairman,
Bishop John Paterson of New Zealand. Members only attended the session,
for
which all observers left the lecture hall. No report was offered on the
content of the closed session as the morning's business resumed.

Framework for theological education

TEAC is exploring seven "Marks of Mission" which provides a framework
for
its task:

*	To proclaim the good news of the Gospel
*	To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
*	To respond to human need by loving service
*	To seek to transform unjust structures of society
*	To safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain and new the
life of the earth
*	To worship and celebrate the grace of God
*	To live as one holy, catholic and apostolic church

The focus, Parks explained, is "not just to do mission, but to be a
people
in mission. Our understanding of mission needs to make that clear."

The TEAC committee is addressing the Marks of Mission in five target
groups:
laity; vocational deacons, catechists, lay ministers and those who need
to
be licensed; priests; bishops; and the Anglican way, which Amos
explained is
"what is or what should be the specific Anglican component in the
education
of the church."

Amos pointed out that some issues, such as languages, will overlap into
the
five target groups.

The report plus additional information is available at
www.anglicancommunion.org/teac

The next meeting of the group will be held in July in Oxford, when the
discussion will focus on outcomes, setting guiding principles and
sharing
resources. In January 2006, the full committee will meet with target
groups,
all leading up to the final report to be presented at the 2008 Lambeth
Conference.

A question during the open discussion period prompted the Archbishop of
Canterbury to address the practice of lay people presiding at worship.
"The
Anglican Church has always been consistent about this," he answered.
"The
reason for that prohibition is this: When we meet for Holy Communion, it
isn't the action of only that church, but church throughout the whole
world
in the communion. Ministry that is not just local, but is recognized by
the
wider church. That is what ordination is. Holy Communion is the act of
the
whole church."

Constitutional Changes

The afternoon concluded with a close look at proposed ACC constitutional
changes. Lawyer Canon John Rees explained that prior to final approval,
the
changes must be endorsed by two-thirds of the member provinces.

Many of the proposals focused on wording changes, such as using the term
"delegates" rather than "members", and changing references to the
gender-neutral "chairperson" and "vice chairperson."

The proposals also call for expanding the object of ACC: "to advance the
Christian religion and in particular to promote the unity and purposes
of
the Churches of the Anglican Communion in mission, evangelism,
ecumenical
relations, communication, administration and finance."

Members suggested ACC should ensure a lay representation from each
province
and equal representation regardless of the size of the province.

Eliciting the most comments were recommendations stemming from the
Windsor
Report, specifically the addition of all 37 Primates as ex officio
members
of the ACC.

Currently there are 73 ACC members, including the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
Under the proposal, ACC would potentially increase by 37 members to a
total
of 110 members.

A jump in costs and a potential uneven balance of men and women were
among
the views voiced against the proposal. Some noted that this was not the
first time this proposal was presented, noting it had been defeated as
recently as the last ACC meeting in Hong Kong.

The discussion was still strong as the session expired. Therefore the
topic
will be continued during the Wednesday morning session.

Archbishop's address; ecumenical greetings

The Archbishop of Canterbury's 45-minute address to the ACC emphasized
themes of Christian friendship and discipleship.  (Full reports: Audio
stream available online at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_62543_ENG_HTM.htm. Full text online
at
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/39/75/acns3991.cfm)

The Monday session was highlighted by two ecumenical greetings; in the
morning by Esme Beswick, co president of Churches Together in England
who
told the assembly: "We acknowledge the significance of this meeting
which
can only happen in the body of Christ."

In the afternoon, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos, bishop in the
Mar
Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, noted: "I hope and pray the Anglican
Communion will share decision for the life of the church on all levels.
Let
us resolve that our actions will be dictated by convictions and not by
convenience."

ACC-13, assembled in Nottingham, England, is a regularly scheduled
meeting
of representatives from each of the 38 Anglican provinces, including the
Episcopal Church. At this gathering, representatives from the Episcopal
Church and the Anglican Church of Canada are attending as observers, not
members. Both voluntarily withdrew from active membership in accordance
to a
request from the February Primates following the release of the Windsor
report last October.

-- Neva Rae Fox is a member of the Episcopal News Service team for
ACC-13.
She is director of communications for the Diocese of New York.

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