Lambeth - Ecumenical relationships assisted by Lambeth Participation

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Lambeth Daily
Ecumenical relationships assisted by Lambeth Participation
Posted On : July 25, 2008 4:34 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
Related Categories: News

The inclusion of Ecumenical partners in the full 
participation of the Lambeth Conference marks a 
high point in Ecumenical relationships between 
the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church, 
according to Maronite Archbishop Paul Sayah of Haifa and the Holy Land.

Archbishop Sayah joined Archbishop of Canterbury 
Rowan Williams at a media conference today to 
explain some of the progress and challenges 
facing ecumenical relationships. The Maronite 
Church is an Eastern church which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

“Since 1966 when ecumenical dialogue really began 
between our Communion and the Anglican Communion, 
[various] declarations have affirmed this unity, 
a unity for which we work and for which our Lord 
prayed before he died,” Archbishop Sayah said. He 
praised the efforts of bodies such as ARCIC 
(Anglican-Roman Catholic International 
Commission) and IARCCUM (International 
Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and 
Mission) in furthering the relationship.

“The discussions are not always without 
difficulties, but what we share makes it possible 
to keep going forward
 it is of utmost importance 
that I join in prayer for the Anglican 
Communion,” he said. “Unity will come as a gift from above.”

Rather than being simply observers, ecumenical 
partners at this Lambeth Conference are 
participating fully, including in the Bible studies and the Indaba groups.

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said 
that he was hearing from the ecumenical partners 
a message that “your issues are everyone’s 
issues,” when it came to concerns about 
authority, the interpretation of scripture, and orthodoxy.

According to Archbishop Philip Aspinall, Primate 
of Australia and spokesperson for the conference, 
there are eight Lutheran bishops in attendance, 
eight Orthodox, four from Oriental churches, 
eight from the Roman Catholic Church, and 
eighteen representatives from non-episcopal churches.

Staff writer