Subject: Anglican-Roman Catholic Relations: The Gift of Authority

Moved By: Kim Murray from the Diocese of British Columbia

Seconded By: Stephen Andrews from the Diocese of Algoma

Note: The mover and the seconder must be members of the General Synod and be present in the House when the resolution is before the synod for debate.

BE IT RESOLVED:

That this General Synod:

1. notes the importance of our ongoing dialogue with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters;
2. thanks the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) for its work in the preparation of The Gift of Authority;
3. considers that The Gift of Authority has not found sufficient resonance among Canadian Anglicans for this Synod to be able to say that it has received it;
4. draws attention to the ‘Response to The Gift of Authority’ of the Anglican Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada, in particular its observation that more work should be done by ARCIC in exploring the practical working out of primacy and synodality as they express themselves at the local and diocesan levels; and its observations about the place of the laity in decision-making;
5. welcomes the initiative of the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) to prepare a Joint Declaration summarizing the Anglican Roman Catholic agreements achieved to date.
   

EXPLANATORY NOTE/BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The ARCIC agreed statement The Gift of Authority has been in circulation in the Anglican Church of Canada for 5 years. To date there has been negligible or negative response to the document, which would indicate that, unlike earlier agreed statements of ARCIC, The Gift of Authority has not found reception among many Canadian Anglicans. This fact is to be regretted. IARCCUM, a body called for by the Anglican Roman Catholic Leaders Meeting of May, 2000 in Mississauga is preparing a Joint Declaration, and the resolution encourages this as a better route forward.

The Canadian Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue has prepared a thoughtful and critical response to The Gift of Authority, now available in both French and English. This document has been sent to the Anglican Communion Office and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity from the Canadian dialogue.