Archbishop reaffirms call for Christian unity

 — Sept. 15, 198515 sept. 1985

[REGINA – Canadian Press] The Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the world’s 70 million Anglicans, has called again for greater Christian unity.

“We must seek Christian unity not as a fearful coalition in headlong retreat from the secular world,” Most Rev. Robert Runcie told about 1,300 people at a service yesterday in the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts.

“We must seek unity together to signal the wider unity of the whole human race in a divided and fragmented world; a world which so desperately needs the signs of God’s reconciling love.”

Runcie has woven the unity theme into homilies at interdenominational services he has held since arriving in Canada about two weeks ago.

He described Canadian Christianity as “something of a unique ecumenical laboratory.”

The statement was reflected in the 50 or so spiritual leaders who flanked the altar during the 90-minute service.

And to show the Anglican church’s strong presence in northern Saskatchewan, one of the readings and a subsequent song was entirely in Cree.

Following his 10-minute homily, Runcie accepted a red sash from Bishop Roland Wood of Saskatoon. Metis leaders had presented the sash to Wood this summer as “a sign of reconciliation” with the Anglican church for the 1885 Metis rebellion.

An identical sash is being presented to Pope John Paul II.

Runcie joked he would “compare sashes” when he meets the Pope. Both will be in India at the same time later this year, he said, but gave no date.

Runcie is in Brandon, Man., today.

Posted: Sept. 15, 1985 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=6190
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, bishops, Robert Runcie Transmis : 15 sept. 1985 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=6190
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, bishops, Robert Runcie