Ecumenical Commission Frets About Relations with Rome and Consultation on Church Union
Episcopal News Service. February 8, 1996 [96-1375]
(ENS) Even the warm Florida sunshine couldn't dispel the apparent chill as members of the church's Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations (SCER) met January 24-26 at Duncan Conference Center to discuss the uncertain future of two crucial dialogues -- one with the Roman Catholics and one with eight other churches participating in the Consultation on Church Union (COCU).
"We need to quietly and carefully reconsider our relations with Rome in light of its recent teaching on the ordination of women," said Prof. William Franklin of the General Theological Seminary in New York. Pointing to what he called "great clouds of uncertainty about what the future holds," Franklin said that last November's statement from the Vatican asserting that "women may not be ordained to the ministerial priesthood" was troubling because of claims that it was being "set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal magisterium."
Franklin argued that SCER should "maintain its links but send a clear signal that things can't continue without acknowledging these developments." While contending that "Anglicans face some difficulty in honestly articulating our frustrations and anxieties," he said that it was time to join forces with those who are questioning the Vatican's position.
After considerable discussion, many commission members supported a postponement of the next dialogue with the Roman Catholics, scheduled for June, "to allow time for mutual consultation and reflection upon the future agenda." Several people said it might be helpful to invite appropriate Catholic representatives to SCER's September meeting to help shape a "realistic agenda." At the same time, commission members were eager to express gratitude for "the warm relationships with the official representatives of the Roman Catholic Church" in the USA dialogue, "who have for us kept alive the hopeful spirit of the Second Vatican Council." It cited the 1994 agreement between the two churches on the Eucharist as sacrifice as a sign of progress.
As part of that consultation, SCER will invite the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to send a representative to its September meeting in hopes of shaping "a realistic future agenda" for the dialogue. As part of its resolution, SCER expressed gratitude for "the warm relationships with the official representatives of the Roman Catholic Church" in the USA dialogue, "who have for us kept alive the hopeful spirit of the Second Vatican Council. It cited the 1994 agreement on the Eucharist as sacrifice as a sign of progress and said it had "high hopes for continued progress toward reconciliation."
Introducing a day-long discussion on the future of the Episcopal Church's participation in the COCU, Bishop William Burrill of Rochester traced the history of the original 1960 proposal by Presbyterian Stated Clerk William Carson Blake and Bishop James Pike of California. He expressed "puzzlement" over attempts by the Episcopal Church in recent years to withdraw from COCU's plan to pull together nine churches in a covenanted relationship.
"If you don't like it, fix it -- but don't do away with the possibilities it represents," said the Rev. Rena Karefa-Smart, ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Washington (DC) who serves with Burrill on COCU's executive committee. "It fills a place on our ecumenical map," she said, pointing out that "COCU is the only place where black churches are involved in efforts of church union."
"Isn't it possible that the Holy Spirit is not leading us to COCU?" asked Bishop Harry Shipps, former bishop of Georgia. He chaired a theology committee that seriously questioned further involvement of the Episcopal Church, based on "theological reservations." He and other SCER members said that continuing bi-lateral dialogues with other churches held more promise, using the current proposals for full communion with the Lutherans as a good example.
Burrill countered that members of the eight other COCU partners "are the people with whom we live, work and pray." He argued that COCU "is a crucial place for the Episcopal Church to be," arguing that the Episcopal Church is "really out of touch" if it ignores its relation to the black churches.
Dr. Paul Crow, ecumenical officer for the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ, said that COCU had tried to respond to the Episcopal Church's concerns and "head off misinterpretation." And the Rev. Dan Hamby, an Episcopalian who is executive director of COCU, said that he had been "astonished" to hear that Episcopalians found the COCU proposals "ecclesiologically deficient."
Prof. J. Robert Wright of the General Seminary said that the Episcopal Church "has raised warning flags all along the way," demonstrating a lack of "unqualified endorsement."
Karefa-Smart said that COCU had been hounded by the perception that the 1988 report, "Churches in Covenant Communion," was "final" and not open to any further revision. She is convinced that "we are at a new moment," that further discussion could "move us to a new point." Crow agreed that "some may want to play the game of caricature," charging that part of COCU's struggle has been the "mental and spiritual absence" of the Episcopalians in the last 10 years. "If you leave, it would destroy COCU but also redefine ecumenism" in the US, he said.
Franklin warned of a "lack of energy and ecumenism for COCU," even suggesting that "COCU may be a construct of an earlier era that has not been able to adapt itself" and has become an obstacle in the ecumenical movement because it "stands in the way of our dialogue" with participating churches.
In expressing his personal sadness that there isn't more support in the Episcopal Church, Bishop Christopher Epting of Iowa added that it might be easier for the other eight churches in COCU to "move forward without us." For him the reconciliation of ministries and the episcopate "is still the issue," dampening his initial enthusiasm.
While admitting that withdrawal of the Episcopal Church would be "a great loss" because it is the only "catholic partner" in COCU, a great deal of cooperation is emerging at the local level, according to Midge Roof of Indianapolis, president of the Network of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers. She doesn't sense much enthusiasm for COCU at this point but she is convinced that "honest discussion will continue -- and is badly needed."
"We may even be on the verge of entering a deeper, resonating dialogue," said Bishop Rustin Kimsey of Eastern Oregon, chair of SCER.
- received a report from an informal meeting of Anglicans and Lutherans in London discussing the convergence in Europe and North America, precipitated by a rather negative response to the Concordat proposals by a Church of England committee;
- heard a report from Burrill on efforts to raise funds for bishops from the developing world to attend the 1998 Lambeth Conference;
- discussed plans for a joint meeting of Episcopal and Lutheran bishops to lay plans for action on a proposal for full communion between the two churches;
- received progress reports on dialogue with other churches, including the Polish National Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches;
- discussed the future of the Episcopal Church's involvement with the National Council and World Council of Churches;
- expressed gratitude to Diane Porter, senior executive for program, for her efforts to fund the dialogues with other churches.
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