ANGLICANS and Roman Catholics in Australia are breaking new ground in ecumenism with the launch in Brisbane of an adult education program for the lead-up to Pentecost.
Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, who is Roman Catholic co-chair of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), and Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall of Brisbane combined to launch the program at a ceremony at the Anglican St Francis Theological College chapel at Milton, Brisbane, on April 21.
The three-week adult education program, Church as Communion – A Discussion Resource for Anglicans and Roman Catholics, is published by the Australian Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue group, AustARC.
Produced by a Melbourne-based AustARC writing team and edited by an Anglican-Catholic team in Brisbane, it is described as a study guide ‘to enable Anglicans and Roman Catholics to reflect, share and discuss important issues on the topic of ‘Church as Communion”.
It is promoted as being targeted for the three weeks before Pentecost (May 30 this year) but suitable for use at any time of the year.
Archbishop Bathersby, at the liturgy to launch the program, said he recommended it for use in Brisbane archdiocese ‘and indeed in our respective dioceses throughout Australia’.
Archbishop Aspinall said the study guide was being launched ‘at a time when there are significant strains within the Anglican Communion itself, which are impacting on our relationships with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters’.
Anglican co-chair of AustARC, Bishop Graeme Rutherford of Central Coast, NSW, in the foreword to the guide, said: ‘We may not think that the ARCIC texts have yet hit upon the correct blueprint for the future unity of the Church but my hope is that this study resource will allow our two Churches to remain open to the surprises of the Spirit.’
Roman Catholic co-chair of AustARC, Bishop David Walker of Broken Bay, NSW, in the foreword, said the program would help Anglicans and Catholics to reflect on the reality of the communion they share ‘and, thus, bring us closer together’.
The program each week consists of an opening prayer, brief notes on the ARCIC document Church as Communion, everyday stories, discussion questions and closing prayer.
To order copies of the study resource, phone (07) 3840 0599, fax (07) 3844 5101 or email mford@bne.catholic.edu.au
