THURSDAY'S NEWS
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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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