R ENDEZVOUS R EFUGEES T OP T HE W ay H ELP A ND B ISHOP ’ S IN R OME O U R A GEND A A HE A D G UID A N C E IN A DVENT A PPE A L A FFI R MING I N N EW D IO C ES A N L ay T ra INING A B UILDING O U R C OMMON Y O R K A ND S T ra TEG Y T HE P OWE R OF B OOST IN F A ITH C OLOGNE P R OG R ESS S PI R ITU A LIT Y M O R O cc O europe.anglican.org No.72 WINTER 2016 2 A PROFOUND TIME OF COLLEGIALITY AND COMMUNION THE E U R OPE A N EW IGHT ON A N N C IENT ILG R IM A GE A NGLI ca N N L A P – WA LKING TOGETHE R F ROM C A NTErbUry TO ROME The Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe The Rt Rev Dr. Robert Innes Bishop in Europe’s Office 47, rue Capitaine Crespel - boite 49, 1050 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 213 7480 Email: [email protected] The Suffragan Bishop in Europe The Rt Rev Dr. David Hamid Postal address: Diocesan Office Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1160 Email: [email protected] The Diocesan Office 14 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3QZ Tel: +44 (0) 207 898 1155 Bishop Robert reflects on a unique event during the Autumn. Fax: +44 (0) 207 898 1166 Email: It is not every week that I get the chance Vatican. We made a pilgrimage to the tombs of [email protected] to take part in something that feels of real the apostles Saints Peter and Paul. We studied, historic significance. In October 36 Anglican prayed and talked together. The highlight of Diocesan Secretary Mr Adrian Mumford and Catholic bishops from every continent the visit was a service of Vespers at St Gregory met together for seven days in Canterbury and on the Caelian Hill. This was the church from Appointments Secretary Rome. We stayed at Canterbury Cathedral which Pope Gregory sent out Augustine to Miss Catherine Jackson Lodge, joined in the Cathedral worship and evangelize the Anglo-Saxon people. During Finance Secretary visited the shrine of St Thomas Becket, where the service, Pope Francis presented Archbishop Mr Nick Wraight Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Robert Justin with a replica of the bishop’s staff first Diocesan Website Runcie famously prayed together. given to Augustine by Gregory way back in www.europe.anglican.org We then flew from Gatwick to Rome – 597AD. Then pairs of Anglican and Catholic Editor and Diocesan walking would have been more authentic but bishops were jointly commissioned by the Pope Communications Officer time sadly did not allow! – to stay near the and the Archbishop for mission in the world. The Rev Paul Needle Postal address: Diocesan Office Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)7712 463806 A F IFT Y YE ar J OU R NE Y C ONTINUES Friends of the Diocese Secretary: Mrs Jeanne French Bishop David is the Co-Chairman of the International Anglican-Roman Email: Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, IARCCUM. Along with his RC [email protected] counterpart Archbishop Donald Bolen of Regina, Canada, he planned the Design and Print recent summit of IARCCUM “bishops-at-large”. He writes; Adept Design, Norwich Distribution The origins of IARCCUM extend back 50 strategy and activity. Although ARCIC has CoDEStorm plc years and are connected to the recent 50th borne much fruit, the proposed instrument for anniversary celebrations of the Anglican practical collaboration leading to growing and Centre in Rome and Archbishop Michael working together for solutions to the problems Ramsey’s historic visit to Pope Paul VI in of the world, lay dormant for several decades. Front cover picture: 1966. In 1968, a Preparatory Commission After Archbishop George Carey’s visit to An animal blessing service in St Albans, proposed a theological commission (ARCIC) Pope St John Paul II in 1996 my colleagues Copenhagen, was dogged with a slight problem – a surfeit of canines who nevertheless with a matrimonial commission to address at the Pontifical Council for the Promoting seemed content to share in the service listening the issue of mixed marriages and also an Christian Unity arranged in May 2000 for attentively to the “paws for thought” by instrument, “led by the hierarchy”, to work Archbishop Carey and Cardinal Edward Reader, Ursula Sonnewald. In total the on such things as theological education, Cassidy to convene a meeting of bishops, at congregation numbered 13 dogs, 3 pictures of cats brought by their owners and 34 humans. collaboration on projects, promotion of the highest level of the two Communions. Picture by Bev Lloyd Roberts. common prayer, and cooperation on mission Many were Anglican Primates or RC SENT OUT UNITED 3 TWO BY TWO N EW L IGHT ON A N A N C IENT P ILG R IM A GE – WA LKING TOGETHE R F ROM C A NTErbUry TO ROME This felt like a momentous occasion Communion. And that did feel odd and Specifically, I hope Anglican clergy in and something that would not have been wrong… and of course, I hope it will be Belgium will meet with and work with possible just a few decades ago. I was overcome one day. Bishop Johan’s staff and clergy to work privileged to be present. I was thankful All the bishops were male. Once you together. More widely, and across the to God that communities that until very have grown used to women being a diocese, I think this event demonstrates recently were suspicious and cautious in normal part of church leadership then you the deep ‘togetherness’ of our two their dealings with each other could now notice the lack immediately. However, the churches and so will benefit many of our have an official, high-level meeting at gathering was accompanied and resourced congregations where that message isn’t which real fellowship and deep discussion (I almost said ‘led’…) throughout by the always understood. could happen. There was a great deal of remarkable lay Catholic theologian, Dr. Ten or fifteen years ago, the mutual affection and respect. Anna Rowlands from Durham, who is ecumenical movement enthusiastically Much of our discussion was given married to an Anglican priest. hoped full visible unity between over to the pastoral challenges and But the purpose of our pilgrimage Anglicans and Catholics was just around opportunities we face. In these discussions was not to seek to overcome the real the corner. That is, we now realise, not I couldn’t easily tell the Catholics and differences that exist between us over such the case. But the Canterbury/Rome Anglicans apart! Whether Anglican or things as the ordination of women and the event was generously ‘permission giving’ Catholic, Australians are concerned with varying approach to some ethical issues. for joint work between our churches in the treatment of indigenous peoples and It was to celebrate and make clear all that mission, evangelism, social action and South Africans with nation-building we can do – particularly in shared mission reconciliation. The powerful gestures at post-apartheid, whilst the Papua and evangelism – on the basis of the its heart showed a level of recognition of New Guineans contend with sorcery, substantial amount of unity that already Anglican ministry that goes far beyond witchcraft and polygamy. And of course, exists between us. official doctrine. I still hope and pray that’s how it is to those outside the church I was twinned and commissioned for visible unity. But that will be a unity – our internal differences mostly seem with Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp, of some federated kind, it won’t be the rather unimportant. and Bishop David was twinned with absorption of one church into the other. Differences in denomination were, Archbishop Robert Le Gall of Toulouse. And for me: a practical hope – I’d love however, more obvious in our worship. For myself, the meeting reinforced a to see the Pope and the Archbishop of We wore different costumes. Anglican personal friendship. Our commissioning Canterbury step off the plane together bishops couldn’t receive the sacrament encourages us to look at joint programmes when the Pope visits Northern Ireland when we shared a Catholic mass. And of lay training, bible study and theological in 2018. That would really demonstrate Catholic bishops couldn’t receive the education. We are encouraged to invite the benefits of ecumenical friendship sacrament in an Anglican service of Holy each other to synods and conferences. between us. presidents of Episcopal Conferences. That meeting led to a new joint promoting local and national dialogue They were to consider how a new stage working group, IARCCUM, a unique and study, and fostering common prayer. of common life could be brought about. instrument in the ecumenical world. It is It is a source of deep joy to all the At the meeting, in the city of Mississauga, not just about dialogue or cooperation. bishops who gathered from around the near Toronto, bishops came as pairs It is “to make manifest in common action, world and shared experiences, challenges from their country or region. There is witness and prayer the very real fruit of our and wisdom in a profound time of something deeply scriptural about this, theological agreement.” It puts into practice collegiality and communion. We pray drawing from the Emmaus image of an important agreement on the nature they are now inspired to go out into the disciples journeying together.