VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/04/07) - The second round in the second series of conversations between the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and the Vatican takes place December 2 to 8 in Rome, Italy. The first round in this series was held at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, in the city of Birmingham in the United States, from December 10-15, 2006. American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is a prominent member of the BWA.
The theme of the second round of meetings is "Baptism and Lord's Supper/Eucharist as Visible Word of God in the Koinonia of the Church." The BWA has previously held theological conversations with the Anglican, Lutheran, Mennonite, Reformed, and Orthodox churches.
"We value the connection we have with the BWA and support the continuation of these well-intentioned conversations," said Rev. Leo S. Thorne, Ph.D., associate general secretary for Mission Resource Development, ABCUSA and member of the Doctrine and Interchurch Commission of the BWA.
The current meetings are jointly planned by the Study and Research (S&R) Division of the BWA, headed by Fausto Vasconcelos, and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Paul Fiddes of England, co-chair of the Commission on Doctrine and Interchurch Cooperation of the BWA S&R Division, chairs the conversations along with Arthur Serratelli, Roman Catholic Bishop of Patterson, New Jersey, USA. Joining Vasconcelos, Fiddes and Serratelli in Rome is BWA General Secretary Neville Callam, as well as other noted Baptist and Catholic leaders, scholars, and academics.
The Baptist team consists of permanent members, and persons specially invited as "esteemed guests." Permanent members include Fred Deegbe from Ghana, Lilian Lim from Singapore, Tadeusz Zielinski from Poland, Tomas Mackey of Argentina, and Timothy George, Steven Harmon and Nora Lozano of the United States.
Guests for this round of conversations include Massimo Aprile of Italy, and Curtis Freeman and Denton Lotz from the USA. Tony Peck, BWA Regional Secretary for Europe, will also participate.
The first series of talks between the BWA and the Vatican took place between 1984 and 1988. The current series, which began in December 2006, continues until 2010.
The BWA General Council, meeting in Mexico City in July 2006, approved the present series of theological conversations with the Vatican.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/