[No Title]
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official7532
- Date
- 1975 January 31 - February 1
- Source
- House of Bishops. Minutes
- Type
- Resolution
- Mover
- Bishop Gartrell
- Seconder
- Bishop Goodman
- Prologue
- Following plenary discussion, the House reached a general consensus, but not full unanimity, that to proceed by revision of the Plan of Union which would be an acceptable procedure to the Anglican Church and that even if we could prepare a plan satisfactory to Anglicans it might not be acceptable to the United Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
- Moved by: Bishop Stiff
- Seconded by: Bishop Goodman
- "That a draft statement be prepared." CARRIED
- Bishop Valentine accepted the invitation to prepare a draft statement, and Archbishop Clark agreed to assist in this (Appendix "D").
- Moved by: Bishop Garnsworthy
- Seconded by: Bishop Burch
- "That we adopt this statement."
- Text of motion
- "That this House of Bishops, fully appreciative of the work of the Interchurch Relations committee and the Committee on Union and Joint Mission, feels that the only response we can make at this time is the statement which is attached." CARRIED
- Notes
- It was agreed that the statement from the House of Bishops should go to the leaders of the United Church and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and to the Rev. Dr. R.B. Craig, Executive Officer, Committee on Union and Joint Mission, at the same time it is presented to the National Executive Council, and that the churches be given the right to distribute the statement to their Executives.
- It was the unanimous wish of the House that the Primate present the statement of the House of Bishops to the National Executive Council, and speak to it. Archbishop Scott agreed to do this, saying that he would lay special stress upon the intention of the Anglican Church to, "pursue this unity with all Christian people, and to continue with the United Church of Canada and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) our common search for a true and lasting union."
- Appendix "D"
- Feb. 1, 1975
- Statement of House of Bishops
- The House of Bishops, having met to give further consideration to questions of Christian unity and in particular to Plan of Union, is led to this statement of counsel.
- We are completely at one in affirming our primary and deep commitment to the unity of the Body of Christ. We reaffirm our intention to pursue this unity with all Christian people, and to continue with the United Church of Canada and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) our common search for a true and lasting union.
- We find ourselves agreed, too, that Plan of Union in its present form is unacceptable; most of us doubt that there is serious hope for a successful outcome to a further revision process. We base this conclusion in part on our perception that our churches have not yet reached a common mind on Faith and Order. We think also that the climate of feeling, at least in our own constituency, seems at the present time less favourable to organic union and more disposed towards other expressions of unity.
- As a House we are increasingly aware of and commit ourselves to exploring such other approaches to unity and sense that we are supported in this by the people of our church. We pledge ourselves to give leadership in the understanding the practice of the Lund Principle - "That we should do nothing separately that we can do together"; in particular we stress new opportunities to share in nurturing and caring for people in the peculiar pressures and hurts of our times.
- We acknowledge our corporate responsibility to work further and still more seriously at the great questions of faith and Order; we discern the particular contribution that is required of us in a renewed and deeper understanding of episcopacy in the life of the church.
- We have not been able to make this statement without prayer and study and self-examination; we offer it to the church with the continuing prayer that it may serve her unity.
- Subjects
- Plan of Union check
- Anglican Church of Canada - Relations - United Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada - Relations - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada
- Christian union - Canada
- Christian union - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops