Ecumenism in Hallam and Sheffield

Ecumenism in the Dioceses of Hallam and Sheffield

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 September 2010 10:07

The late Pope John Paul II in the Document Ut Unum Sint (‘that they may be one’) stated that ‘the Catholic Church embraces with hope the commitment to ecumenism as a duty of the Christian conscience enlightened by faith and guided by love’. The question we have to ask ourselves frequently is: what does it mean to take on board our duty to be committed to ecumenism? On the day following his election as pope on the 20th April 2005, Benedict XVI said he was prepared to do everything in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism. Increasingly warm relations have existed with the Church of England since the historic meeting in 1966 between Pope Paul VI and Michael Ramsay, the Archbishop of Canterbury. This meeting gave the impetus to set up ARCIC, the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, which since then has produced agreed statements on all the major areas of Christian doctrine, as understood by the two Communions. Recently, following his meeting with Pope Benedict, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said their dialogue had gone much further that his expectations.

In the Dioceses of Hallam and Sheffield we their Ecumenical Officers meet every six weeks, along with the Ecumenical Officers of the Salvation Army, and the Methodist, United Reformed and the Baptist Churches. The Ecumenical Development Officer for Churches Together in South Yorkshire, the Rev Louise Dawson, is Secretary to the meeting. There we become aware of good ecumenical developments but also of the problems along the way. We find particular encouragement in our work from the excellent relationships between our respective Church leaders.

In the Diocese of Hallam the Mission and Unity Committee meets every six weeks .There are nine members of this group including the bishop. Again the Ecumenical Development Officer is in attendance and gives an up-to-date report of developments and difficulties. Just recently Nick Jowett has joined the meetings, seeking ways forward for local collaboration between the two dioceses. Twice annually the Mission and Unity Committee arranges a Spring and Autumn event within the Diocese. This is attended by all parish representatives from around the Diocese who present a report on all ecumenical developments and initiatives in their area. A key subject is chosen and a speaker, often of national significance, is invited to address the meeting. For example Bishop Michael Evans of East Anglia addressed the meeting on the16th May this year. His subject was The Grace given you in Christ, the joint report of the International Commission for Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Methodist Council. Bishop Evans is a member of the worldwide Catholic and Methodist Commission. Other subjects covered are developments coming from ARCIC, such as the recent joint document on Mary, entitled Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ.

In our local area we already have a number of concrete expressions of Catholic-Anglican ecumenism:

• The Emmaus Primary School in Sheffield and St Michael’s Secondary School in Barnsley are both joint Anglican-Catholic church schools.
• Anglican churches in Swallownest and Tickhill are giving hospitality to RC congregations.
• The annual Hallam Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes includes several Anglican clergy and laity led by Canon Christopher Smith of Doncaster Minster, and members of the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, several of whom are among the doctors and nurses in the party.
• The involvement of Anglican and RC churches in many Churches Together groupings.
• The close relationship of Bishops John and Jack, especially noteworthy in promoting inter-faith understanding and combating racist political tendencies locally.

There may be other interesting examples of collaborations, and we would be very pleased to hear of them. We would also be delighted to hear from members from either church community with suggestions and ideas about how we might further good relations and deepen collaboration. Could there, for example, be training events or consultations for clergy or laity from the two churches, perhaps looking at recent ARCIC documents? Is there scope for greater collaboration on issues of faith and social justice?

Pope John Paul II in his document for the New Millennium said of ecumenism: ‘the journey may sometimes seem a long one but the invocation “that they maybe one” is a binding imperative, the strength that sustains us. It is on the prayer of Jesus that we base the hope that even within history we shall be able to reach full and visible communion with all Christians’.

Fr Gerard Harney
Ecumenical Officer
Diocese of Hallam

Canon Nick Jowett
Ecumenical Officer
Diocese of Sheffield