THURSDAY'S NEWS

Unity “does not necessarily mean uniformity” – report of the Committee for Christian Unity
(from Elaine Whitehouse, Communications Dept, RCB)

The Committee for Christian Unity submitted to the General Synod’s 2003 session a discussion document on the Understanding of Unity which it hoped would be a catalyst for a lively debate. The document discussed the phenomenon of unity as both gift and calling, and explored the possibility of “diversity-in-order”, whereby different denominations each express a way of being church and ecumenical experience gives form to positive appreciation of other churches’ lives.

Proposing the report, the Ven Gregor McCamley addressed concerns in the Church that the ecumenical process was “running out of steam” and that the Pope’s recent encyclical on inter-communion did “not make the situation any easier”.

Archdeacon McCamley emphasised that the report of the Committee started on a positive note with the unity that already existed between all who were “in Christ”. Speaking of diversity-in-order he told his listeners that Christian unity did “not necessarily mean uniformity” but “while allowing for diversity there must at the same time be order in any united Church”, and that “hard questions” would have to be faced in relation to authority and primacy.

During discussion of the report Mrs Maria Norton, representing the Diocese of Cork, shared her positive experience of a recent conference of all the churches in Bandon, which had resulted in enormous growth as people admitted the “bigotry of the past”.

The report also included the final report of the Joint Theological Working Party of the Methodist Church in Ireland and the Church of Ireland. The Working Party was given the task in 1989 of producing the Covenant approved at last year’s Synod and Methodist Conference.

On the subject of Methodist/Church of Ireland relations the Very Rev Robert Townley of Meath and Kildare urged Synod members to celebrate the conversion of John Wesley on 24 May together with their local Methodist congregations.

The Standing Committee this year brought a resolution establishing a Covenant Council tasked with facilitating the implementation of the Covenant at local, regional and national level. The Council will include ten members from each church.

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