Canadian Bishop Plans Ecumenical Visits
Episcopal News Service. April 15, 1982 [82095]
LONDON (DPS, April 15) -- A Canadian Anglican Bishop is preparing to depart on an historic journey on behalf of the Anglican Communion.
The Rt. Rev. Henry G. Hill, co-chairman of the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Discussions, will visit the Patriarchates of the Oriental Churches in the Middle East and India. This will be the first visit by an official representative of the whole Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church in the United States is a part. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Robert A.K. Runcie, when he was Bishop of St.Albans, was Hill's predecessor as chairman of the Doctrinal Discussions.
A principal aim is to discuss how the existing relationships with these ancient autonomous Churches may he developed, perhaps through dialogue.
This ecumenical journey has been under discussion for some time. It was suggested by the fourth Anglican Consultative Council in Canada in 1979. The proposal that Hill should undertake the task on behalf of the Anglican Communion received the support of the Primates of the Anglican Communion when they met in Washington, D.C. last year and the fifth Anglican Consultative Council at Newcastle, England. The Archbishop of Canterbury has written to the heads of the Churches concerned to commend Hill's visit. The journey will be in two phases, one beginning probably in May, the other in September.
The Bishop's itinerary includes visits to the following: Rome, to the Secretariat for Christian Unity; Larnaca, Cyprus, Archbishop of Kitium (Greek Orthodox); Damascus, the Holy Patriarchate of Antioch; Jerusalem, Bishop Faik Hladdad (Anglican) and the Oriental Churches; Cairo, the Holy Coptic Patriarchate; Addis Ababa, the Holy Ethiopian Patriarchate; Erevan, the Holy Patriarchate of Armenia; Beirut, the Holy Armenian Patriarchate of Antelias; and Bombay, the Holy Orthodox Syrian Church of India.
The tradition of the Oriental Patriarchates is much more rooted in monasticism and the contemplative life than is the western manifestation of Christianity. This will make ill's visit even more appropriate, as he resigned from the Diocese of Ontario, Canada, in January 1981, and moved into a contemplative community in Montreal. This community is a Roman Catholic Benedictine Priory which is open to Christians of other denominations who wish to gather for the Divine Office, silent meditation, and fellowship. At the time Hill declared, "I am convinced that the association with the Priory can provide yet another precious link between Western Catholicism, Anglicanism and Eastern Orthodoxy in the Benedictine tradition with its roots in the undivided Church."
Commenting on the significance of the historic encounters of his forthcoming trip, Hill stated, "We go as a world-wide Communion on a brotherly visit. We wish to talk with them about possibilities of theological dialogue. We do not, as yet, know if they want such a relationship. We also want to explore ways in which we can serve each other in a fraternal manner."
He added, "Many of the leaders of the Oriental Churches was educated in England so they have individual personal relationships with the Church of England, but this the first move by the whole Anglican Communion to raise the possibility of official dialogue."
Archbishop Edward W. Scott, Primate of Canada and a long-time friend of Hill, commented: "Bishop Hill goes as a representative of the world-wide Anglican Communion to indicate to the Oriental Churches our sense of fellowship with them. We realize the difficulties these Churches face in maintaining a Christian presence in the geographical area which saw the birth of our Faith. By the Bishop's visit we express our identity with them as they exercise their unique ministry and mission."