Anglican Associated Parishes Council Meets
Episcopal News Service. May 13, 1982 [82123]
Michael n/OSB, St. Gregory's Abbey, Three Rivers, Mich.
MISSISAUGA, Ontario (DPS, May 13) -- The Anglican Churches in North America are dangerously confused about their official teaching on Baptism and the reception of Holy Communion, an American-Canadian liturgical group said recently. The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada were urged to make clear their own official teaching that Baptism, not confirmation, is full Christian initiation and makes a person eligible to receive Holy Communion.
The action came in response to numerous reports that bishops and clergy have been refusing communion to baptized, unconfirmed Anglicans, especially children. At its annual meeting here April 19-23, the executive council of the Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission passed this resolution:
"Whereas there seems to be great confusion relating to Christian initiation and the reception of Holy Communion, and whereas it is dangerous for the Church to he confused about such an important area of its life; be it resolved that the Houses of Bishops and the commissions dealing with worship in our two churches be urged to resolve the ambiguities and the resulting confusion in terms of our Churches' official teaching that Holy Baptism effects the fullness of Christian initiation."
"Liturgy and Social Responsibility" was the theme of this year's Associated Parishes council meeting. Associated Parishes is a voluntary organization of Canadian and United States bishops, clergy and laity dedicated to the liturgical renewal of the Church in accordance with The Book of Common Prayer.
Archbishop Edward Scott, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and Moderator of the World Council of Churches, told the council that one of the Church's most important tasks today is to help alienated, helpless men and women find a credible purpose for their lives. In the end, Scott said, it will be the realization that all are held in a love that can never be turned to hate.
Scott spent a day with the council at the invitation of council member the Rev. Borden C. Purcell, chairman of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
The Rev. David MacDonald, former Member of Parliament and federal cabinet member, led the council in studying the meaning for today of the early Christian community's common life as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
The Rev. Eugene Fairweather, Canadian Anglican representative on the AnglicanRoman Catholic International Commission, told the council that the commission feelsits recently-published final report sets out a stage of unity that is attainable now. Fairweather said the commission intended its report's definition that the Church is a communion of local churches to endorse Anglicanism's understanding of the goal of Christian unity as a "communion of communions" -- not a communion of local dioceses which all belong to one central headquarters.
Associated Parishes council member the Rev. William H. Petersen of Nashotah House, Wisc., an official representative to the Anglican-Lutheran dialogue, reported that progress had been so substantive that delegates feel the next stage should be three-way talks among Anglicans, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics. All three traditions insist on the importance of apostolicity, Petersen said, though each emphasizes a different sign of apostolicity: for Anglicans it is the episcopate, for Lutherans, the continuity of apostolic doctrine, and for Roman Catholics, the succession of popes. The delegates felt all three strands will be needed for a complete understanding of apostolicity, Petersen said.
The council heard reports from Canadians involved in producing the Canadian Alternative Services Book and celebrated the Holy Eucharist using the Third Canadian Order. The council studied the texts and admired the unobtrusive use of sexually inclusive language, permission to use a doxology after communion instead of a prayer, and a form of the reproaches in the Good Friday rite that makes clear Christians' share in the responsibility for the crucifixion.
The council also discussed and heard reports on adult baptism and the catechumenate, the diaconate, and revision of the American Hymnal, which will be before the U.S. General Convention this fall.
The officers of Associated Parishes are: the Rev. Canon Peter C. Moore, Albuquerque, N.M., president; the Rev. Henry T. Louttit, Jr., Valdosta, Ga., vice-president; Mrs. Marianne Kessell, Albuquerque, N.M. secretary; and Arthur S. Jenkins, Washington, D.C. treasurer/coordinator.