Anglican, United church dialogue advances in Canada

 — Sept. 16, 199916 sept. 1999

Anglican, United church dialogue goes one step further

[Belleville, Ontario] Talks between the Anglican and United churches in Canada — the first formal dialogue since the collapse of a proposed Plan of Union in 1975 — are progressing slowly, but enough to warrant two meetings this month. A recent gathering of church representatives in eastern Ontario showed there is “significant interest” in carrying on the discussions and furthering the relationship, organizers say.

The first meeting was held last April in Regina. It was the Anglican Church of Canada’s faith, worship and ministry committee which issued the invitation to the United Church to begin discussions about relations between the two churches, which already co-operate in many shared ministries across the country and in inter-church coalitions.

The churches have identified several issues which will be on the agenda in future talks, including: * theological issues and perceptions; * a desire to learn from both churches’ recent histories, especially the 1975 Plan of Union and the experience of amalgamating congregations; * shared ministry possibilities; * mutual recognition of ministries, the episcopate and lay presidency (the use of lay people to preside at the eucharist); * common vision for the future.

The group has proposed two or three similar meetings for the future, to be held in other parts of the country. Belleville, Ont., was chosen for the Sept. 9 meeting because of the number of rural parishes in the area and because of a long history of co-operation between the churches.

The next focus group will be in Vancouver later this month. Another meeting is scheduled for March, 2000, in Kingston, Ont.

For further information on the Belleville meeting, please contact Bob Hales (ecumenical officer for the Anglican Diocese of Ontario) or Harold Alston (member of the United Church Inter-Church Inter-Faith Committee); staff for the conversations are Peter Wyatt (United Church) and Alyson Barnett-Cowan (Anglican).

The Ven. Bob Hales, St. James Anglican Church, 10 Union St. W., Kingston, ON K7L 3W3, (613) 548-7254

Rev’d Harold J. Alston, Princess Street United Church, 484 Albert St., Kingston, ON K7L 3W3, (613) 542-6112

Rev’d Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan Director, Faith Worship and Ministry, Anglican Church of Canada

Rev’d Dr. Peter Wyatt General Secretary, Theology Faith & Ecumenism, United Church of Canada

Posted: Sept. 16, 1999 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=4955
Categories: News • In this article: Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Consultative Council, UCC, United Church of Canada Transmis : 16 sept. 1999 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=4955
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Consultative Council, UCC, United Church of Canada