Anglican-Baptist Conversations Continue in Caribbean Setting
Episcopal News Service. February 6, 2003 [2003-025-6]
A Caribbean phase of international conversations between Anglicans and Baptists was held in Nassau January 26-28 2003. The regional meeting follows four previous phases held in Norwich (for Europe) in 2000, Yangon (for Asia/Pacific) in 2001, Nairobi (for Africa) in 2002, and Santiago, Chile (for Latin America) earlier in January 2003. Participants came from Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, 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.
On the first evening, the Most Rev. Drexel Wellington Gomez, Archbishop of Nassau and Primate of the Church of the Province of the West Indies, and the Rev. Peter Pinder, Baptist Regional Secretary for the Caribbean, welcomed the delegates on behalf of the local churches.
The Anglican and Baptist representatives gave an overview of the life of their respective communions in the Caribbean. Papers were presented on 'Anglican Life in the Caribbean,' 'Baptist Life in the Caribbean,' 'Colonization, Liberation and the Mission of the Church in the Caribbean (Baptist and Anglican),' 'Eucharistic Theology (Baptist & Anglican),' 'Anglican Identity,' and 'Baptist Identity.'
The plenary discussion drew together rich insights from the Caribbean context and related them to the themes emerging from previous regional conversations: continuity and story; recognition and acceptance; contextual mission and ministry; baptism and Christian initiation; membership and community; oversight and episcope; and confessing the faith. Many common concerns from Baptists and Anglicans were shared with regard to the 'Caribbeanization' of witness and worship. In reflecting on the story of Baptist and Anglican life in the Caribbean, many perspectives were shared on the ways to choose which external influences to welcome and which to resist.
The meeting included shared prayer and devotions conducted by Baptist and Anglicans and also Holy Communion in Holy Trinity Anglican Church. The meeting was hosted by the Diocese of Bahamas and Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Nassau. The participants were guests for dinner at the home of Archbishop and Mrs. Gomez and also at the home of Ruby and Kendall Nottage.
The next phase will be held in September 2003 in North America. There is a continuing committee consisting of four Anglicans and four Baptists who will draft a report following the regional meetings to be submitted to the Anglican Consultative Council and the Baptist World Alliance by 2005.