From the Bishop of Wakefield
Sir, — Speaking at the General Synod (Synod, 13 February), Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor described England as terra oecumenica, and thereafter introduced the Synod to the ARCIC report Church as Communion. He reflected on how communion in the Church of God is impoverished not only within Anglicanism, but in all manifestations of God’s Church throughout the world.
In the subsequent debate, speakers referred to their own experiences: joint proclamation, joint social action, joint study, joint worship . . . and a common longing for the healing of the pain of separation felt so acutely at our Lord’s table. I referred to the joint assembly next month between the two Roman Catholic dioceses of Leeds and Hallam and the Anglican diocese of Wakefield.
All these essentially local experiences of common discipleship and what the Cardinal called “affective communion” are integral to the life of the Church of England today. They also are experiences that we need to encourage the sharing of across the globe: other nations’ experience is not always as positive as ours. We are keen, too, that they should be known of in the heart of the Vatican itself. There they will both encourage and enrich theological dialogue.
The Synod debate provided some glimpses of the importance of ensuring that Anglican-Roman Catholic international conversations are rooted in this terra oecumenica.
STEPHEN PLATTEN
Chairman of the Anglican Centre in Rome
Bishop’s Lodge, Woodthorpe Lane
Wakefield WF2 6JL