ESBVM

The triennial forum of Churches Together in England, of which ESBVM is a body in association, took place at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick from September 7th – 9th 2009, taking the theme Changing World: Changing Church? The moderator of the forum was Bishop Declan Lang, Catholic Diocese of Clifton, and the deputy moderator was Val Potter, County Ecumenical Officer of Dorset. Nearly three hundred delegates were present at the forum from the thirty one churches that are members of the CTE.

Like any big ecumenical gathering of this kind being in the company of Christians with a common purpose and hearing about positive stories of churches working together gave one encouragement to continue with the ecumenical effort. At the same time, one heard and shared constructive criticism of how the structures and instruments needed to change to be fit for purpose in the altered circumstances of both contemporary society and the churches. This particularly applies to the intermediate or county bodies.

The idea of thirty or forty years ago of achieving ecclesial institutional unity within a generation or so has now receded, the emphasis is now on churches working together on practical initiatives addressing the needs of society often in partnership with secular or statutory agencies. Additionally, the exchange of gifts that the different Christian traditions can offer to each other to enrich the spiritual lives of all Christians has become a greater priority. This is referred to as receptive ecumenism. There still remains the challenge of engaging the great majority of faithful across all the mainstream churches in the ecumenical dimension of Christian life. A more positive development is the increasing participation of the black-majority churches in the ecumenical structures. However, Christian communities of an evangelical complexion, often vibrant in themselves, remain, with some exceptions, outside the ecumenical structures.

There was also a feeling that the church leadership should also have a higher profile by being seen responding and addressing together issues raised by society as well as local clerical leadership across the board, as opposed to enthusiastic and committed individuals, encouraging their congregations to engage in ecumenical activity. Last, but not least, is the issue of funding of the ecumenical instruments and endeavours particularly in the current economic climate. The level of financial support will surely be at least one measure of the ecumenical commitment of all the churches engaged in this movement.

N.B. Access to the full text of David Cornick’s and Timothy Radcliffe’s address, the audio files of the biblical study by the archbishops and the four stories are available through the link:

http://www.churches-together.net/Articles/163221/Churches_Together_in/CTE/Forum_2009/Texts_Sound_Recordings.aspx .

Paul Paniccia
Inter-Church Relations Secretary

The Society has established itself in promoting ecumenical Marian activity over four decades through organising international congresses, national conferences and pilgrimages, arranging publication of theological papers and liturgical material as well as other activities through a network of local branches. This has been achieved through a dedicated membership drawn from across the main Christian traditions.

The Society’s existence precedes the current national ecumenical instruments by twenty years and could be regarded as an ecumenical pioneer in an area considered by many to be an obstacle to Christian unity. Although having had an independent existence with no formal links to any other ecumenical bodies it was felt that the Society’s profile could be raised and a specific contribution made to the wider ecumenical effort through a more formal link with the ecumenical structures in the United Kingdom. To this end an approach was made during 2007 to explore the possibility of the Society becoming a Body in Association with Churches Together in England. Such an association with CTE would not only allow the Society to participate in CTE’s sponsored events but would also be a gateway to a formal link with the umbrella ecumenical instrument, Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI) and, through CTBI, with the European ecumenical scene.

In December 2007 Sr Teresa Burke, Fr Mark Woodruff and Paul Paniccia of the Society met with Rev Bill Snelson, the then CTE General Secretary, and Rev Mark Fisher, CTE executive officer with responsibility for Bodies in Association with CTE. This meeting established the bona fides of the Society and paved the way for a formal application to be made to CTE. In February 2008 the application was approved by the board of CTE and in March 2008 the CTE Enabling Group also approved the application. The application also needed the approval of 75% of the member churches of CTE. Notification that this had been achieved was received in mid-May and the Society formally became a Body in Association with CTE with immediate effect. This was quickly followed by a communication from CTBI that the Society had been formally accepted as a Body in Association with CTBI as well.

The Society has already made a contribution through initiating the idea of a special commemoration of the centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, organised by CTE, which took place at Westminster Abbey on 18th January 2008. A number of Society members were present with Fr Bill McLoughlin and Sr Teresa Burke taking an active part in the liturgy. A spirituality day at the Abbey on 19th January to reflect this year’s Week of Prayer’s theme, Pray without ceasing, included a workshop, Praying with Mary, run by the Society and the Society’s Morning Office was publicly prayed in the Abbey. The new General Secretary of CTE, Rev Dr David Cornick, will be presenting a paper at the Society’s Aylesford conference this September. Such events, early on in the relationship, help to establish and build up the link between the Society and the national ecumenical instruments.

ESBVM has published its latest pamphlet: Beginning with Agnes Smith: the Reformed and Mary by the Rev’d Dr David Cornick, General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

It is the text of Dr Cornick’s talk given earlier this year at the ESBVM Conference at Aylesford Priory.

Nearly 1,200 people attended a special service at Westminster Abbey on Friday January 18th to celebrate the centenary of the week of prayer for Christian unity. Christians from many traditions were led in a service of commitment by the Dean of Westminster Abbey, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Armenian Primate and representatives of the Orthodox, Korean and other Churches of Great Britain participated. Apart from the Abbey choir, Armenian and Gospel choirs also sang. The epistle was read in Korean by a minister from New Malden’s United Reform Church.

The Salvation Army Commissioner, Elizabeth Matear, gave the sermon on this year’s theme “Pray Without Ceasing”, saying that Jesus said we must always pray, “Through prayer we come together,” she said, “Prayer is dialogue ,not a one way street.” The Cardinal commended her for expressing “so beautifully” that we must never give up on praying and working for unity. “God’s power sustains us,” he said “on our ecumenical pilgrimage, deepening unity.” He led a prayer of commitment over Dr David Cornick of the United Reform Church, newly appointed General Secretary for Churches Together in England, with the Archbishop of Canterbury at his side, giving thanks that “the triune God has drawn our churches closer together in faith and life, witness and service.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury before giving the Dismissal spoke of the importance of recogniisng and giving thanks for the unique gifts of other believers.

American priest, Fr Paul Watson, founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and English vicar, Rev. Spencer Jones , conceived the idea of the January week of prayer in 1908. In 1934, Abbe Paul Couturier gave renewed impetus to the week of prayer for the unity of all Christians which inspired the World Council of Churches and was enshrined in the life of the Catholic Church at Vatican II.

Fr William McCloughlin OSM,General Secretary of The Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ESBVM council member Sr Teresa Burke, a Sister of Charity of St. Paul, and Atonement Friar, Fr Michael Seed ,the Cardinal’s ecumenical advisor, an Anglican sister and a young evangelical lay man from Sword of the Spirit were amongst those reading prayers of intercession. Following a prayer of commitment said by everyone,affirming “that what unites us is stronger than what separates us” the Lord’s Prayer was recited in many languages.

Introducing the final prayer and sign of peace the Archbishop of Canterbury said that we should give thanks for the unique gifts of other believers and be open to receive them.

The following day a special day of prayer was held at the Abbey and Fr Mark Woodruff, of the Society for Ecumenical Studies, and ESBVM Council member, gave an inspiring talk about the history of the ecumenical movement. Various workshops were held including one on praying with Icons with an Orthodox priest and two led by Fr Bill McLoughlin and members of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The afternoon session was particuarly well attended and extra chairs had to be found. At midday the Society’s Ecumenical Office was recited and sung by the youth choir from the Servite Church, Kensington and London and All Saints school, Blackheath led by Mr Ben Saul, Director of Music. The day concluded with Evensong sung by the Abbey choir.

In mid-February, the Society jointly sponsored a marian evening with two Churches Together groups in central Berkshire. Rev. Norman Wallwork gave a two-part talk. The first part reviewed Mary in the Lutheran, Reformed and Methodist traditions while, in the second, Norman provided a commentary on major aspects of the ARCIC agreed statement Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ.

The modest attendance was made up for by extent and quality of the discussion after the presentation. Norman’s talk stimulated a number of those present to reflect on the position of Mary in the Christian faith, something to which many of them had given little previous consideration. There was some interest at the extent of marian references in the writings of the leading Reformers. The event helped to correct preconceived notions of the place of Mary in Christian teaching and practice by non-Roman Catholic and non-Orthodox Christians.

However, the modest attendance was indicative of a barrier that the subject of Mary still presents for many Christians. It might be an area where the Society could articulate more clearly exactly how Mary can be a uniting and faith strengthening influence.