Anglican Orthodox Panel of Bishops Proposed
Episcopal News Service. October 22, 1981 [81274]
PITTSBURGH -- Governing bodies of Episcopalianism and Orthodoxy will be asked to name a panel of bishops to seek closer ecumenical relations between the two Churches as a result of the latest bilateral consultation.
The proposal came near the end of the Sept. 23-25 Anglican/Orthodox Theological Consultation in the US; a consultation which strove for a greater common understanding of the role of Tradition in the two Churches. If the proposal is approved -- and it faces many hurdles on both sides of the talks -- the resulting episcopal panel's mandate and structure would still have to be defined.
Much of the meeting was taken up with discussion of two papers from Episcopal seminary professors: The Rev. Dr. Lloyd G. Patterson, professor of historical theology at the Episcopal Divinity School and the Rev. Dr. James E. Griffiss, sub-dean of Nashotah House. Griffiss's paper, "History, Tradition and Experience," centered on the method of interpreting tradition, particularly Scripture, in the light of history and Christian experience in the Anglican tradition. Patterson's "Contemporary Liturgical Reform" outlined the development of the rite of Baptism and the Eucharist in the Anglican Communion, and critically reviewed current theological thought guiding liturgical study, renewal, and reform. In the talks, the theologians found considerable agreement between the two churches' understanding of Tradition. However, the Anglicans asserted that liturgical and sacramental traditions may need to be reformed as historical conditions and understandings warrant, while the Orthodox insist on testing possible change within any of the many liturgical traditions within Orthodoxy against the fullness of Tradition consistently regarded as spirit-led throughout the life of the Church.
At next year's meeting, the Consultation will pursue aspects of tradition, particularly the two Churches' theology and practice regarding the sacraments of Christian initiation -- Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion -- and a comparison of Eastern and Western spirituality in light of St. Gregory Palamas and Lancelot Andrewes.