Ecumenical Officer Named for Anglicanism
Episcopal News Service. May 26, 1983 [83099]
LONDON (DPS, May 26) -- The first full time ecumenical officer for the worldwide Anglican Communion has been named.
He is the Rev. George B. Braund and he began his new work as Associate Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs with the London-based Anglican Consultative Council in May. He has been on the staff of the Council since 1980 as an associate secretary responsible for the mission, ecumenical and study roles of the Council.
In announcing the appointment, the secretary general, the Rev. Samuel Van Culin, said that it came "at a very important time in the development of the ecumenical affairs of the Anglican Communion.
"For Anglicans, 1983 marks the beginning of fresh rounds of talks with the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation. Discussions are continuing with the Orthodox Churches and the Final Report of the Anglican-Reformed Commission should be published in 1984.
"While Father Braund will relate closely to the work of these Commissions and will help coordinate the overall Anglican ecumenical effort, I see the task primarily as informational -- interpreting the fruits of these discussions so that the Churches of the Communion can respond effectively to them."
He added that Braund's previous experience, with its deep engagement with mission, would help ensure that the ecumenical work of the Anglican Communion "will be enriched by a heightened sense of purpose since the ecumenical calling is a call to mission."
Braund studied at Cambridge, then at Ely Theological College. After parochial and chaplaincy appointments he worked for 11 years with the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG), first as travelling missioner, then as overseas secretary. He is a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd and was its Superior from 1969-75.
Since joining the Council staff he has, among other duties, served as secretary to the Anglican-Reformed dialogue, the Anglican Communion's Mission Issues and Strategy Advisory Group, and the Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission (a task he will retain with his new appointment).