Lectures on Christian Division and Reconciliation in Scranton
From Eirenikon: Ecumenical Symposium at the University of Scranton (also at First Things)
A symposium to be held at The University of Scranton on Friday, Oct. 15, will bring together scholars and clergymen involved in the work of ecumenism — the effort to bring into full, sacramental unity Christian bodies that have been long separated and sometimes hostile to one another.
At the beginning of the new millennium, a document issued by the Vatican sparked intense debate through ecumenical circles because of “its candid re-emphasis on singular and exclusive claims of the Catholic Church and its direct reference to what it called the ‘defects’ of other, non-Catholic Christian communities,” said Will Cohen, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology and religious studies at The University of Scranton.
Dr. Cohen explained, “Although the document’s main focus was on relations not between divided Christians, but between Christianity and other faiths, its comments on inter-Christian relations sparked intense controversy and debate, both within and outside the Catholic Church — debate about the nature of the Church, its purpose, the basis of its unity and the meaning of Christian division.”
The event begins with a panel discussion entitled “The Church of Christ and Ecumenism 10 Years after Dominus Iesus: a Symposium on Christian Division and Reconciliation” that will bring together theologians from Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Polish National Catholic and Anglican traditions to discuss Dominus Iesus ten years after its publication and to consider current prospects and challenges of ecumenical dialogue. The panel discussion, which will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in room 406 of the DeNaples Center, is sponsored by the University’s Education for Justice Office and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies
In addition, a Catholic Studies Lecture will be presented by Monsignor Paul McPartlan, the Carl J. Peter Professor of Systematic Theology and Ecumenism at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. … Monsignor McPartlan will focus his presentation on the progress of these two dialogue commissions in a paper titled, “An Exchange of Gifts: Catholic-Orthodox and Catholic-Methodist Dialogue.” The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. Monsignor McPartlan’s address will be followed by a question-and-answer period.
Afternoon speakers include the Right Reverend Anthony Mikovsky, Ph.D., pastor of St. Stanislaus Cathedral in Scranton, Pa., and Bishop Ordinary of the Central Diocese of the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC), as well as a member of the PNCC-Roman Catholic Dialogue; Reverend Dr. Ephraim Radner, professor of historical theology in Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto and a member of the Covenant Design Group, established in 2007 by Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury with the aim of developing an Anglican Covenant that would affirm the cooperative principles binding the worldwide Anglican communion; and Reverend Dr. John Panteleimon Manoussakis, the Edward Bennet Williams Fellow and assistant professor of philosophy at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. and an ordained deacon in the Greek Orthodox Church.
Both the afternoon panel discussions and the Catholic Studies Lecture are free and open to the public. For additional information, please contact Dr. Cohen at The University of Scranton at 570-941-4545.
Does the deacon have a special role in sponsoring reconciliation via ecumenicism?
Jim-
The North American Association for the Diaconate is an Anglican/Episcopal group that has a newsletter, an annual meeting, and an affiliated university for online training. One premise seems to be that the role of the deacon is similar across liturgical Christian churches so deacons can work well together and build bridges between their denominations.
While I have never attended one of their meetings, the idea is intriguing. Here is their link: http://www.diakonoi.org/
Jim
In my personal experience, I’ve found that deacons do relate well with each other, we have an affinity for one another and our shared work. It would be wonderful if we formed bonds across Churches as both a symbol of brotherhood and a way of working together to proclaim one Gospel.
A number of posts ago I noted an article that discussed the role of the deacon as first and foremost proclaimer of the Gospel. In the PNCC a key role because our theology considers the preaching of the Word, both the Word itself and the homily, to be sacramental. From there I would posit that the deacon’s role is primarily proclamation of the Word and his liturgical functions. The traditional understanding of deacon as servant then comes from those, not the other way around. This could be studied together.
Church history also indicates that the deacon, in proclaiming the Word, often drew the ire of others, because the deacon stood by the truth, without fear. This is key in ecumenical relationships, and I do believe the deacon has a role there. Yes, the role across Churches is somewhat similar, easing understanding and fellowship, but it is also necessary to declare truth without fear. Something we share in our diaconal heritage.
Deacons do tend to be high on orthodoxy because we are so far down the totem-pole we have to be honest in our self appraisal, we are not bishop or pastor, we stick to the delivered dogma of the Church instead of making-it-up-as-we-go-along (at least in the Catholic Churches). We share in this, which keeps us humble and focused.
Unfortunately, the ecumenical environment is high on chicken dinners, glad-handing, toasts, and pledges of “someday.” Clearly speaking the truth in this area, as sometimes only deacons can do, brings back the honesty necessary for these relationships. The future must be built upon honesty and a clear vision for what unity really is. Should the deacon be the one to speak truth to the ecumenical powers? Can we speak it together in some way?
As proclaimers of the Word and part of Tradition deacons, working together, might play the role that sees past the “inventions” of the ages to what the Word and Tradition demands of us as Churches, and what they call us to as the larger Christian world. Honesty and a commitment to the Gospel may be exactly what the ecumenical movement needs. The brotherhood of deacons as gadfly might just be what is needed.