Professor J. Robert Wright awarded Canterbury's 'Cross of St. Augustine'
Episcopal News Service. December 7, 2007 [120707-04]
Ecumenist, author and professor the Rev. J. Robert Wright was awarded the Archbishop of Canterbury's "Cross of St. Augustine" at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, on December 6 -- the Feast of St. Nicholas.
This coveted award was presented by the Most Rev. Drexel W. Gomez, Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the West Indies, on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the context of a meeting of the Inter Anglican Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations (IASCER). The award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the ecumenical movement and the Anglican Communion over many years.
In addition to being the St. Mark Professor of Ecclesiastical History at General Theological Seminary in New York City and the author of scores of books and articles, Wright has served on numerous international ecumenical bodies including the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, and dialogues with both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches. He is also the official historiographer of the Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Canon Gregory Cameron, director of Ecumenical Affairs for the Anglican Communion, commented on Wright's many accomplishments and highlighted his ongoing contribution to IASCER as it continues its work of monitoring and coordinating ecumenical activity and progress in the various provinces of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The meeting in Cairo was hosted by the Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, President Bishop of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East and Bishop in Egypt. It was at a dinner meeting in the parish hall of All Saints' Cathedral hosted by Mouneer and attended by ecumenical guests from the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches in the region, as well as by members of IASCER, that this major presentation was made.
"I can think of no one who deserves this honor more than Bob Wright," said Bishop Christopher Epting, ecumenical officer for the Episcopal Church. "He gives countless hours to serving this church in ecumenical and Anglican relations and continues to form new generations of ecumenists for the Episcopal Church by his teaching and advising of seminarians at GTS. The Presiding Bishop and I rely on him as a theological advisor to the office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations and it is a joy to have him recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Communion he serves so faithfully."