Canadian and U.S. Anglican Leaders Meet
Episcopal News Service. December 3, 1981 [81321]
The Rev. Richard J. Berryman, Media Officer/Anglican Church of Canada
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Canada -- Canadian Anglican archbishops and their "counterparts" -- the Council of Advice of the Episcopal Church House of Bishops -- found a wide range of common concerns as they shared their first joint meeting here last month.
The Nov. 10 meeting brought together Anglican Primate Edward W. Scott and three of the four Canadian archbishops with Presiding Bishop John M. Allin and all nine presidents or vice-presidents of the Episcopal Church's interior provinces. The nine bishops serve as a council of advice to Allin but, unlike their Canadian brothers, have no metropolitical authority.
The first joint session was spent largely in general conversation on each country's political, sociological and ecclesiastical situation. From this, a rough agenda was drawn, of matters of mutual concern for discussion.
In the afternoon the group was joined by the Rt. Rev. David E. Richards, executive director of the Office of Pastoral Development of the Episcopal House of Bishops and the Rev. Richard G. Johns, Director of Personnel for the Canadian General Synod, They presented a report and led a discussion on continuing education for bishops.
This began with a review of what is happening in each of the churches, both for the transition into the episcopate by newly elected and consecrated bishops, and for on-going regular educational opportunities. The role and extent of the use of sabbaticals was explored, and current programs and resources available on both sides of the border were shared.
The significant actions that came out of this session concerned possibilities for future collaboration by the two Houses of Bishops in their continuing education concerns. It was agreed that Richards and Johns should continue to work together towards the holding of two events a year, one in each country.
One other suggestion was discussed and referred to Johns and Richards. This would be a major International Summer School for Bishops and their wives. It would run for two or four weeks in July or August, probably in 1984 to avoid any conflict with Canada's General Synod and the World Council Assembly, both of which are in 1983.
The session ended with commitment by the group to Allin's call to "hold ourselves accountable in both Houses for the development of a significant program of continuing education."
Other matters were largely concerned with world-wide relationships, particularly the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Anglican Council of North America and the Caribbean (ACNAC).
It was agreed that ACC-5 (held in Newcastle, England in September this year) was wise in declaring that his is not the time for a world-wide Anglican Congress of the type held in Toronto in 1963. Developments in parts of the Anglican Communion have not as yet crystallized sufficiently to be evaluated. Parts of the Anglican Communion in the Third World, particularly in Africa, feel much closer to their ecumenical links, especially through the WCC, whose Assembly will be held in Vancouver in 1983. There also was considerable feelings that rising costs may be spelling an end to such great world gatherings. That thought led to a discussion of the possibility of regional Anglican "Congresses" in years ahead.
In discussing the WCC '83 Assembly, the prelates were quite candid in questioning the continuing effectiveness of such huge gatherings. Allin said such big and complicated events should be "evaluated with a cold eye." He felt that, "When we go to these assemblies we heighten and illustrate the problem." Scott agreed that we must question the continuation of such large assemblies but added, "If it is not to be assemblies, what is the best way to relate internationally and regionally?"
It was agreed that ACNAC needs evaluation and, if necessary, alternate ways of doing the same thing must be developed. The Presiding Bishop emphasized, "It's not just an annual meeting. It's a connecting problem - a strategy session." Richards asked if there existed "a hard statement of purpose" against which we can evaluate ACNAC.
One possibility discussed was a meeting of the three Houses of Bishops somewhere in the southern region. This would necessitate Spanish translation of all sessions. However, Bishop Lyman Ogilby of Pennsylvania warned that the bishops alone are not the Church. He said, "The people out there hear 'bishops, bishops, bishops' and perceive that their voice is not heard." Finally it was agreed that, whatever the composition, future meetings of the ACNAC region must be restricted to numbers small enough to be economically feasible.
A further possibility discussed was to include South America in a "hemispheric" gathering and ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to attend for at least one day of the meeting.