Unity Talks Between Episcopalians and Orthodox
Diocesan Press Service. May 6, 1964 [XXI-9]
While representatives of six Protestant churches were meeting in April in Princeton, N. J., for their third Consultation on Church Union, unity talks also were going on in New York between the Eastern Orthodox and Episcopal Churches.
The two-day consultation, the fourth held by the two churches, took place April 15-16 in the official residence of Archbishop Iakovos, Archbishop of North and South America and president of the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops.
No definite conclusions about the extent of unity between Anglicans and Orthodox have been reached, but representatives from both agreed that more complete understanding has emerged from discussions of the Eucharist.
Understanding the central place of the Eucharist in the total faith of the Church has been one of the thornier issues in the talks, Dr. Paul Anderson, an Episcopal delegate, said.
The question here, he added, has been: "Is the Eucharist the central element in the faith and practice of the Church or does it play a less important role?"
Both Anglican and Orthodox delegates agreed it Is a central factor but frequency of communion remains a topic for further discussion.
Anglican Eucharistic practices were set forth in a study paper presented by the Rev. Dr. Arthur Vogel of Nashotah House, Nashotah, Wisc. The Orthodox position was outlined in a paper read by the Rev. John Romanides, professor at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary, Brookline, Mass.
Unity discussions between the two churches in the U.S. began in 1960. They are taking place within the framework of conversations and negotiations instigated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Athenagoras I, Ecumenical Patriarch.
Orthodox and Anglican delegates will meet again Sept. 1-2 at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary, Brookline, Mass.
The Anglican delegation was led by the Rt. Rev. L. L. Scaife, Bishop of Western New York. The delegation included: Dr. Anderson, the Ven. Ralph Deppen, Diocese of Chicago; the Rev. Steven Garmey of New York; .Dr. Edward R. Hardy of the Berkeley Divinity School in New Haven, Conn.; the Rev. Robert B. MacDonald of Philadelphia, Pa.; the Rev. James P. Morton of New York; Dr. Arthur Vogel of Nashotah, Wisc.; the Rev. Kenneth Waldron of Middletown, N. Y. and the Rev. Canon Edward N. West of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City.
Participating as guests were the Rev. T. R. Millman, Wycliffe College, Toronto, Canada, representing the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Rev. Herbert Waddams, Canon Residentiary of Canterbury, England, representing the Church of England.