Episcopal, Roman Catholic Leaders Explore Accords
Episcopal News Service. June 25, 1981 [81186]
WASHINGTON -- For the first time since official dialogue began between them, broadly representative leaders of the Episcopal and Roman Catholic Churches in the United States have met to consider the practical implications of emerging doctrinal agreements.
Headed by the ranking bishop of each church, thirteen Roman Catholics and thirteen Episcopalians met for four days at the College of Preachers here, and arrived at nine specific recommendations for future action.
In contrast with the more theologically oriented panel which has met over the past fifteen years, this group represented national lay leadership, diocesan bishops, religious communities of both churches and top officials of church ecumenical organizations.
Recommendations directed to various groups and individuals in both churches addressed the strengthening of mixed marriages, improved communications between the churches, and support to the ministries of lay and clergy, among other topics. Of particular concern was the consideration in the American churches of documents being prepared by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. After reviewing agreed statements on the Eucharist and ministry prepared by that body, the conference suggested that competent Episcopalians and Roman Catholics confer together at all levels of church life on such future documents which affect relations between the two churches in the United States.
The Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, addressed the gathering as did the president of the United States Catholic Conference and National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Most Rev. John Roach. Co-chairmen for the meeting were Bishops Ernest Unterkoefler of the Diocese of Charleston (Roman Catholic) and David Reed of Kentucky (Episcopal), chairmen of their respective churches' national ecumenical commissions.
The nine recommendations included:
- Establishing a joint commission to develop a standard pattern for pastoral ministry to Anglican-Roman Catholic married couples;
- Encouraging broad-based consideration of final Anglican-Roman Catholic international report;
- Shared exploration of family resources and programs;
- Further series of episcopal meetings to focus on spirituality and the exercise of the Order;
- Survey of inter-communion practices;
- A conference to explore lay participation in the Church;
- Improved communication including direct links at a primatial level; sharing of appropriate minutes and reports and wider sharing at national and diocesan gatherings and a joint parish brochure on emerging agreements;
- A joint task force to study resources in common for social ministry;
- Systematic sharing of resources to support local ministries.
Other Episcopal participants were: The Rt. Rev. Edward W. Jones, Bishop of Indianapolis; the Rt. Rev. Arthur A. Vogel, Bishop of West Missouri and co-chairman, Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation, U. S. A.; the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker, Bishop of Washington; the Rt. Rev. Arthur E. Walmsley, Bishop Coadjutor of Connecticut; the Rev. William B. Lawson, President, Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical Officers; the Rev. Canon Kermit L. Lloyd, Director of Chaplaincies, Pennsylvania Council of Churches; the Rev. J. Robert Wright, Professor of Ecclesiastical History, General Theological Seminary, New York City; Mother Mary Grace, Mother Superior General, Community of St. Mary; Dr. Charles Lawrence, President, House of Deputies, General Convention of the Episcopal Church; Mrs. Betty T. Baker, Presiding Officer, 1982 Episcopal Churchwomen Triennial Meeting; the Rev. William A. Norgren, Ecumenical officer, Episcopal Church; the Rev. Clement W. Welsh, Warden, College of Preachers, Washington, D. C.