New start for Anglican - Roman Catholic Committee

ARC gathering

The English group which works for unity between Anglicans and Roman Catholics has begun a new stage of its life. Meeting at Canterbury Cathedral from 23 to 24 March in a context of prayer and worship, the members of the newly configured English Anglican – Roman Catholic Committee set in train a programme of work for the next five years.

Evangelization in the context of an increasingly secular society will be a key theme. How our two churches can bear joint witness in the area of public affairs (on issues such as the common good as well as other social and ethical questions) will also form part of the agenda.

In addition, English ARC will seek to inform members of both churches about ecumenical progress already made over the last fifty years, emphasising what our churches have in common, and to encourage spiritual ecumenism, which involves joint prayer and worship (liturgies of the word). It will also engage with the developing work of the third Anglican – Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC).

English ARC will report to the joint meetings of English Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops, which happen every two years. At the end of its five-year programme, it will produce a report for our churches on the work it has undertaken.

English ARC, which was established in 1974, now comprises ten Roman Catholic and ten Anglican members, with the General Secretary of Churches Together in England as an observer. It is chaired by the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Revd Bernard Longley, and the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton.

The Archbishop of Birmingham said: "I look forward to working with the members of English ARC to find new paths towards the unity for which Our Lord prayed." The Bishop of Truro said: "I am excited by the commitment of English ARC’s new members and the prospect of a programme of work which will make a difference to our churches and their common witness both nationally and at the local level".

Source: Church of England