ARCHBISHOP John Bathersby of Brisbane has returned from the 2008 Lambeth Conference reinvigorated to promote ecumenical dialogue with the Anglican Church.
Archbishop Bathersby as the co-chair of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) was one of 75 ecumenical representatives invited to the once-a-decade Anglican conference held in Canterbury, England, from July 16 to August 3.
Anglican bishops from around the world gathered for the conference.
Archbishop Bathersby returned with fresh zeal for Catholic-Anglican dialogue despite divisions among Anglicans over issues such as the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of openly gay people – issues that complicate Catholic-Anglican relations.
He said the conference was filled with a sense of prayer, togetherness and friendship.
“When you are there you realise that there are differences but you only have to go into a group that meets together for bible discussion and you realise how much you share in common,” he said.
“They’re absolutely as passionate about Jesus Christ-the vision of Jesus Christ as I am.”
Archbishop Bathersby said this Lambeth Conference differed from previous conferences by the increase in the spiritual dimension.
He said each day began with Morning Prayer and worship followed by an extended bible study period.
“To have a group of people say ‘we all believe strongly in Jesus Christ, would give our lives for Jesus Christ, we want to get the Good News out to people who haven’t heard the Good News’ then you realise just what you share in common,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Bathersby said it was important not to just focus on differences between Catholics and the Anglican Communion.
“(When we do that) we don’t become conscious of the enormous faith we share together and the enormous good we can do together on mission if only we would open our hearts to one and other,” he said.
The archbishop said he had a “tremendous enthusiasm for ecumenism”.
“We can’t afford to neglect each other. We all believe in Jesus Christ, we all love Jesus Christ equally but again we need to hear the insights that will come from the shared experiences of each and every Christian.”
Archbishop Bathersby said we all became better people from the experience of others.
He said he spent his days at the conference sitting with Anglican bishops who were working in areas such as South America, Ireland and the United States who spoke about their unique challenges.
“Then from my own particular point of view in Australia I could talk about the way in which we try to promote the Gospel here and it was of enormous interest to them,” he said.
Archbishop Bathersby said the Anglican faith was equally as deep as the Catholic faith and ecumenical dialogue was about learning from each other.
“(President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) Cardinal (Walter) Kasper very often talks about the exchange of gifts that come with ecumenism, that we bring gifts to ecumenical dialogue just as the ecumenical partner brings gifts to that dialogue, and we can learn and we will learn the more that we can mix together and talk to each other,” he said.
He said Anglicans appeared far more open in their discussion of their faith.
“They seem to be able to talk very freely about Jesus and their belief in Jesus. Their talk about Jesus rolls easily off their tongues in a way that perhaps we haven’t been used to,” the archbishop said.
Archbishop Bathersby said he hoped IARCCUM and the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) would continue to play a role in the ecumenical dialogue despite the difficulties experienced by the Anglican Communion within its own ranks.
