Listening: What Roman Catholics can learn from Anglicans
Episcopal News Service. March 5, 2007 [030507-04]
Mary Reath, Chair of the American Friends of the Anglican Centre in Rome
A leading international authority on liturgy says Roman Catholics can receive gifts of transcendence—and transparency—from Anglicans.
The Rev. Keith Pecklers, SJ, professor of liturgy at the Pontifical Gregorian University, professor of liturgical history at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, and an on-air expert on church affairs for ABC News, gave two talks in New York on February 26.
At the General Theological Seminary (GTS), he presented an overview of a chapter written for the forthcoming book Receptive Ecumenism, edited by Paul Murray of Durham University, to be published by Oxford University Press.
Later in the day, he made a full presentation of the chapter, entitled What Catholics Can Learn From Anglicans, in Andrew Hall at St. Thomas Church in midtown Manhattan.
In both places he spoke of important ecumenical friendships that have been rebuilt since the 1960's, and of the natural cultural affinities that come from Anglicans and Roman Catholics living side-by-side.
"Without denying the real issues that continue to divide our churches, we must honestly admit and indeed, celebrate the truth that we hold much more in common, and there is more that we have to learn from one another's traditions," he said.
Theologians make essential contributions, he said, but in order truly to heal divisions and break down stereotypes, much more needs to be done together at the local level.
Pecklers spoke admiringly of Anglican worship for its ability to encourage reverence and mystery, and yet be also participatory and lively. He talked about being personally inspired by the liturgies at St. Thomas, St. Luke in the Fields and other New York Episcopal churches.
He praised the beauty of the Book of Common Prayer, of Anglican hymnody, of the widespread practice of Morning and Evening Prayer, and of Evensong, and of the beautiful blending of Anglican poetry and spirituality, from John Donne and George Herbert to Rowan Williams.
The question of authority was also an important element in his talk.
"In the first millennium before the division within Christendom both in East and in West, the Church functioned within collegial structures of synodality and consultation not unlike what one finds today throughout the Anglican Communion. Laity were active participants with their clergy in the choice of bishops who were called forth to shepherd the local church," he explained. "The Anglican Consultative Council offers an interesting example of collegiality: there is always episcopal, presbyteral, and lay representation in its international meetings.
"Some within Anglicanism might wish that their Communion had a more centralized structure to deal with delicate matters. ...Indeed the possibility of an authoritative voice that would speak out and ultimately make the final decisions would solve divisive problems–at least on one level.
"But within apparent weakness can also be found strength from which Roman Catholics can learn a great deal," he continued. "In the Roman Catholic Church, we would be terribly naïve to think that we do not have to deal with some of the same problems and confront the same challenges, but there can be the tendency to avoid the questions, hoping perhaps they will go away."
Of course, he said, it is an extremely delicate and painful moment for the Anglican Communion, but if both churches are pilgrim churches, "woven together in the Holy Spirit," it serves both churches to learn about each others' gifts.
"Anglicans teach Roman Catholics a great deal by their ability to live with the questions in an open, honest, and transparent way," he pointed out. "At times this appears to other Christians and Christian Churches as a gift; at times, it appears as something approaching internal chaos."
So in spite of current challenges, "it has been most impressive to observe the ecumenical consultation which has taken place as the Anglican Communion discerns a way forward amidst current difficulties."
He closed his talk by emphasizing the "tremendous room for collaboration on social outreach and mission," and cited examples of Anglican and Roman Catholic leaders working closely together to speak to local cultures in Louisville, Kentucky; Cork, Ireland; and the Sudan.
He emphasized the fact that through common baptism and the profession of faith that "Jesus is Lord," there are many opportunities for praying and working together. These ideas, he said, are fleshed out much more fully in the forthcoming agreed statement, "Growing Together in Unity and Mission," by the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM).
Questions at both GTS and St. Thomas centered on the difficulty of bringing the laity into the discussion without having Eucharistic sharing. Seminarians at GTS also asked for ideas about how to implement some of the ideas promoted in the talk. Pecklers suggested making contact with local Roman Catholic clergy and seminarians, and looking together for ways to pray and serve the world together.
The American Friends of the Anglican Centre in Rome sponsored Pecklers' visit to Manhattan to honor Father John Andrew, rector emeritus at St. Thomas Church and Vice Chairman of the American Friends, who will be celebrating fifty years in the priesthood this June.