The Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission

Wednesday evening we visited the Emaphethelweni Priory (Dominican) here in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg. The occasion was a seminar around ARCIC (The Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission). In the commission, which is now named ARCIC III there are two representatives from Africa. Both were present at the Emaphethelweni Priory on Wednesday. Professor Teresa Okure, a sister of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, and professor of New Testament and Gender Hermeneutics at the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria was one of the persons. The other one was Bishop Suffragan Nkosinathi Ndwandwe from Natal Diocese, Anglican Church of Southern Africa. We often fellowship together in the morning Eucharist in the Cathedral of the Holy Nativity.

It was interesting to learn more about this commission. From the start (1967) it was quite successful but later on the process slowed down due to disagreement over the ordination of women and also around human sexuality.

The two speakers focused especially on the Eucharistic division. With distress they told us about their last meeting, when they visited an ecumenical communion where people freely shared in the Eucharistic fellowship (even Roman Catholics). The members of the commission however were told (I can’t recall by whom) that they were not allowed to take part. We could see how hurtful the experience had been.

Sr Teresa is showing how they were blessed in the Eucharist service instead
of receiving the Body of Christ. She uses Bishop Nkosinathi in this small roleplay.

Interestingly enough, when I greeted Prof Okure, we directly realized that we had a common friend, Hans Engdahl. I know that he and Prof Okure have done some academic work together.

After the two speakers had talked we were allowed to ask questions. I especially remember one participant who spoke about the dying churches in Europe. He reacted to the way that Europeans dominates ARCIC. No representative from Latin America, only two from Africa and maybe also two from Asia but a whole bunch of people from Europe. How can this be, when the churches in the global south are growing and dying in Europe?

A relevant question! Let’s hope that ARCIC IV will respond to that. There are important questions to deal with. If I understood it correctly the commission doesn't discuss issues on human sexuality, because the Anglican Communion is also divided within itself. I still believe that the church leaders need to start discuss exactly those kind of questions.

As much as I hope the human sexuality could be put on the agenda, I also realize that not all African Christians would like that. I am puzzled how issues around human sexuality and family can be so provocative. The only answer is that it has to do with power. Even more important than, to discuss those issues openly. One the one hand is the unity of the church, which is important. On the other is the life of for instance homosexuals in our midst. Which is equally important. I believe that the unity of the church is of utmost importance also for minorities. But questions around power need to be asked all the time. For whom? By whom? Also when we discuss the Eucharist! For whom?